Overview of Available Elementary Services (Grades K-6)

Advanced Academic Programs (AAP)

Tuesday, September 15^th, 2026

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Linda Simon, Advanced Academic Resource Teacher

Lane Elementary School

Session Outcomes

• Understand Fairfax County Public Schools’ philosophy on Advanced Academic Programs
• Understand how Lane students’ needs for advanced learning are met through a variety of services in the continuum

Fairfax County Schools (FCPS) Beliefs

• All students deserve an excellent education.
• Students learn best when educators, parents, and students work together.
• High expectations lead to high performance.
• All students need opportunities to use strengths and pursue interests.

Virginia Department of Education ‘Gifted’ Definition

“Gifted students means those students…who demonstrate high levels of accomplishment or who show the potential for higher levels of accomplishment

when compared to others of the same age, experience, or environment.”

Virginia Department of Education Gifted Regulation

All Virginia school divisions must:

• identify gifted students, and
• provide instructional services to meet their needs.

The Virginia Department of Education requires schools to write a plan that details how gifted students will be identified and served. The plan must be approved by the local school board.

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The FCPS Local Plan for the Gifted

can be found by going to www.FCPS.edu

and searching “local plan”

Two Goals of the Advanced Academic Programs

FCPS AAP strives to develop the talents

of all students and provide challenge through:

• Talent development opportunities

for all students

• Differentiation to meet the needs

of advanced learners.

Talent Development

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What does Talent Development look like in Fairfax County Public Schools?

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• Instructional opportunities to use AAP curriculum and strategies, regardless of identification.
• Students identifying and exploring their areas of interest.

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Differentiation to Meet the Needs of Advanced Learners�

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What does Differentiating for Advanced Learners mean in Fairfax County Public Schools?

• Meeting students by name and need.

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• Access to differentiated curriculum and learning environment including: different pacing, increased depth and complexity, and removing scaffolds.

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• Time to work with similar academic peer group to ensure peer-to-peer feedback to promote growth.

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• Academic advising and complementary supports for success through implementation of the Young Scholars model.

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AAP Continuum of Services

AAP offers a continuum of services to challenge and engage all students K-12. Our goals are:

• Provide deeper learning and talent development opportunities to all students
• Identify and build upon student strengths and abilities
• Provide multiple entry points to meet diverse student needs through the continuum of services

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We believe talent can be nurtured and developed in all students. AAP services for a student may change over time.

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Adapted from the Integrated Continuum of Special Services by Sally Reis and Levels of Service by Donald Treffinger.

Advanced Academic Programs�Grades K-12��Young Scholars Model

The FCPS Young Scholars Model seeks to identify and affirm, from an early age, students with high academic potential who may face barriers to their continued success in advanced academic opportunities as they progress from elementary through secondary school.

Advanced Academic Programs�Grades K-12��Young Scholars Model

Students identified as Young Scholars are supported and nurtured in various ways, potentially including:

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• Cluster grouping
• Inclusion in subject-specific, part-time, and full-time AAP services
• Lane after-school opportunities

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Advanced Academic Programs��Twice-Exceptional (2e) Students

Twice-exceptional (2e) students have exceptional abilities and exceptional learning challenges.

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FCPS has created a 2e handbook to help schools and families understand how to identify and serve 2e students.

To find the FCPS 2e Handbook:

Go to www.fcps.edu and search 2e

Advanced Academic Programs �AAP ELEMENTARY SERVICES, Grades K-6 ��

Adapted from the Integrated Continuum of Special Services by Sally Reis and Levels of Service by Donald Treffinger.

Adapted from the Integrated Continuum of Special Services by Sally Reis and Levels of Service by Donald Treffinger.

ELEMENTARY�Grades K-6�

Access to Rigor AAP Services�

�Access for all students

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All students have opportunities to think critically, reason, and problem-solve during Tier 1 instruction (instruction for all students).

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• Critical and creative thinking strategies are used in lessons
• Teachers use advanced academic curriculum each quarter

ELEMENTARY�Grades K-6��

Access to Rigor AAP Services�

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Critical and Creative Thinking Strategies

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ELEMENTARY�Grades K-6�

Access to Rigor AAP Services�

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AAP Curricular Resources

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ELEMENTARY�Grades K-6��Access to Rigor AAP Services�

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Access for all students

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All students in FCPS receive Access to Rigor Services as a part of their Tier I Instruction.

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No referrals or screening process needed.

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ELEMENTARY�Grades K-6�

Access to Rigor AAP Services�

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Access for all students

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WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE AT LANE?

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• Teachers plan and collaborate during weekly grade-level CLT meetings with support from Ms. Simon, Mrs. Jennings (reading resource teacher) and Mrs. Cohen (math resource teacher).

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• K-3 classes have AAP as a special every other week, focusing on CCT strategies and AAP curriculum lessons.

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• Planning and pacing guides have embedded extension and enrichment activities for teachers to use in the classroom

• Classroom teachers utilize AAP curriculum resources with all students in various subject areas

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Adapted from the Integrated Continuum of Special Services by Sally Reis and Levels of Service by Donald Treffinger.

ELEMENTARY�Grades K-6��Subject Specific AAP Services

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Some students are strong in one or more specific subject areas. Classroom teachers may adjust instruction for students in these areas by:

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• Providing different assignments and resources in those subjects
• Grouping students by their strengths, interests, and readiness those subject areas

ELEMENTARY�Grades K-6��Subject Specific AAP Services

Parents, guardians, and teachers may refer a child for Subject Specific AAP services.

• Submit a referral form to the AART.
• Parents/Guardians will be notified after 30 business days regarding the committee decision
• In May, all students are also considered for subject-specific services for the following school year.

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Teachers routinely provide enrichment and extension to students throughout the course of the school day, based on student academic needs and interests.

Subject Specific AAP services are simply a more formal way of recognizing this.

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Subject-specific AAP Services are re-evaluated each year at the local school.

ELEMENTARY�Grades K-6��Subject Specific AAP Services�

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WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE AT LANE?

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• Teachers plan and collaborate during weekly grade-level CLT meetings with support from Ms. Simon, Mrs. Jennings (reading resource teacher) and Mrs. Cohen (math resource teacher).

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• Classroom teachers utilize AAP curriculum resources and strategies to support and develop student strengths. Ms. Simon shares resources and plans with individual teachers or grade level teams as needed throughout the year.

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• Subject-Specific AAP services can take the form of differentiated assignments, small groups during reading/math workshop, Advanced Math, extension activities, etc.

Adapted from the Integrated Continuum of Special Services by Sally Reis and Levels of Service by Donald Treffinger.

ELEMENTARY�Grades 3-6��Part-Time AAP Services�

Some students have advanced academic abilities in multiple subject areas. They need Part-Time AAP services.

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AARTs and classroom teachers provide opportunities to work with a group of students with similar academic needs in multiple subject areas.

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ELEMENTARY�Grades 3-6��Part-Time AAP Services �

Part-Time AAP services continue through Grade 6.

Students do not need to be evaluated each year.

Parents, guardians, and teachers may refer a child in grades 3-6 for Part-Time AAP services.

• Submit a referral form to the AART.
• Parents/Guardians will be notified after 30 business days regarding the committee decision.
• In May, all students are considered for school-based services for the next school year.

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ELEMENTARY�Grades 3-6��Part-Time AAP Services

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WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE AT LANE?

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• Students receiving Part-Time AAP services meet with Ms. Simon weekly during language arts or the FIT block, OR they are included in AAP curriculum lessons with the full-time AAP cluster students in their classroom

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• Part-Time AAP services use a variety of AAP curriculum resources, including Jacob’s Ladder; William & Mary Language Arts, Social Studies and Science units; Caesar’s English; Document-Based Questions; Project M3; Socratic Seminar.

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Adapted from the Integrated Continuum of Special Services by Sally Reis and Levels of Service by Donald Treffinger.

ELEMENTARY�Grades 3-6��Full-Time AAP Services�

Some advanced learners need a full-time advanced academic program, including differentiated instruction in all four content areas and a different placement in order to have a peer group with similar academic needs.

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Students eligible for Full-Time AAP services receive:

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• Advanced Language Arts, mathematics, science, and social studies curriculum

• A high degree of frequency and intensity of differentiation through acceleration, depth, and complexity of content and skills.

ELEMENTARY�Grades 3-6��Full-Time AAP Services�

Parents, guardians, and teachers may refer a child to be screened for Full-Time AAP services.

• Fall Screening (only available to students who are new to FCPS since January 2026) - referral and optional materials are due by October 15^th.
• Spring Screening - referral and optional materials are due by December 15^th.
• Parents/Guardians will be notified according to the published Testing and Identification Timeline.

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Full-Time AAP services continue through Grade 8. Students do not need to be evaluated each year.

There will be an information session about the screening process for Full-Time AAP services

on Thursday, October 22^nd

ELEMENTARY�Grades 3-6��Full-Time AAP Services

WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE AT LANE?

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• Lane started a Local Full-Time Advanced Academic Program with 3^rd grade in 2021-2022. Now in our sixth year, we have Full-Time AAP clusters in grades 3-6.

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• Students eligible for Full-Time AAP services are clustered together in a classroom with an AAP-trained teacher.

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• AAP curriculum is provided in all subject areas through a mixture of whole-class and small-group instruction (workshop model).

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• Ms. Simon and the AAP office support the full-time clusters and teachers with curriculum planning and co-teaching.

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ELEMENTARY�Grades K-6��Universal Ability Testing�

FCPS offers an ability test to all students (universal screening)

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One-time Retest Option

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• Parents/Guardians may request the one-time retest of an ability test by contacting the AART or school testing coordinator.

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• The deadline to activate your one-time retest option for this school year is Friday, October 2^nd.

ELEMENTARY�Grades K-6��Universal Ability Testing�

What part does ability testing play in the screening process?

• Best practices in matching students to AAP services includes looking at the whole student.
• Ability testing is one of several data points considered in student portfolios.
• Ability testing is not weighted more than other items in student portfolios.

Universal ability testing means that all students take an ability test. This is just one part of a holistic approach to matching students to available AAP services in FCPS.

Who to Contact

Elementary Schools:

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• Linda Simon (lesimon@fcps.edu)

Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART)

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• Kristie Cohen (kmcohen@fcps.edu)

Elementary Math Resource Teacher and School Testing Coordinator

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AAP Office:

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• AAP@fcps.edu or 571-423-4740

Middle School Contacts

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• Advanced Academic Resource Teacher:
• Director of Student Services
• School Counselor

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High School Contacts

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• Director of Student Services
• School Counselor

Who to Contact

Advanced Academic Programs �MIDDLE SCHOOL SERVICES��Grades 7-8��

Adapted from the Integrated Continuum of Special Services by Sally Reis and Levels of Service by Donald Treffinger.

Twain and Edison

MIDDLE SCHOOL�Grades 6-8 (in select schools)��International Baccalaureate�Middle Years Program (IB MYP)��

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Program (MYP) is available in some FCPS middle schools.

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The program encourages students to understand connections between content and the real world through critical and reflective thinking.

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In schools that have IB MYP, all students participate.

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Twain MS has IB MYP

Hayfield does not

MIDDLE SCHOOL�Grades 7-8��Honors Courses�in Areas of Academic Strength or Interest�

Honors classes provide opportunities for students who want to be challenged in one or more subjects:

• English
• Science
• Social Studies
• Mathematics

Honors courses in middle and high school are open enrollment. Students may choose to enroll in 1, 2, 3, or 4 Honors classes.

MIDDLE SCHOOL�Grades 7-8��Mathematics Courses in Middle School and Beyond

There are many math course options available in FCPS. It is important for students and families to understand and plan the best pathway during their middle and high school career.

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• Visit the Course Sequencing: High School Mathematics public webpage.

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• Go to www.fcps.edu and search High School Mathematics.

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Adapted from the Integrated Continuum of Special Services by Sally Reis and Levels of Service by Donald Treffinger.

MIDDLE SCHOOL�Grades 7-8��Full-Time AAP Services�

Some advanced learners need a full-time advanced academic program, including differentiated instruction in all 4 content areas and access to a peer group with similar academic needs.

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Students eligible for Full-Time AAP Services receive:

• Advanced Language Arts, science, and social studies curriculum,
• Honors level Mathematics classes,
• Curriculum that is differentiated through acceleration, depth, and complexity of content.

MIDDLE SCHOOL�Grades 7-8��Full-Time AAP Services�

Parents, guardians, and teachers may refer a child to be screened for Full-Time AAP Services.

• Fall Screening (only available to students who are new to FCPS since January) - referral and optional materials are due by October 15.
• Spring Screening - referral and optional materials are due by December 15.
• Parents/Guardians will be notified according to the published Testing and Identification Timeline.

Eligible students may attend their AAP center or stay at their local middle school.

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Full-Time AAP Services continue through Grade 8. Students do not need to be evaluated each year.

Advanced Academic Programs �HIGH SCHOOL SERVICES��Grades 9-12��

Adapted from the Integrated Continuum of Special Services by Sally Reis and Levels of Service by Donald Treffinger.

Twain and Edison

HIGH SCHOOL�Grades 9-12��Advanced Academic Programs

In high school, students may select advanced courses to meet their advanced academic needs. Advanced academic opportunities include:

• Honors courses
• Advanced Placement (AP) courses
• International Baccalaureate (IB) courses
• Dual Enrollment (DE) courses

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There is a separate application process for Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.

HIGH SCHOOL�Grades 9-12��Honors Courses��

Honors classes provide opportunities for students who want to be challenged in one or more subjects:

• English
• Science
• Social Studies
• Mathematics

Students may choose to enroll in 1, 2, 3, or 4 Honors classes.

HIGH SCHOOL�Grades 10-12 (in select schools)��Advanced Placement

The Advanced Placement (AP) program provides students with opportunities to take college-level courses in high school.

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AP course curricula are designed by The College Board, in conjunction with university and high school faculty. �

AP courses include an externally administered AP exam that may award a student college credit. Some AP courses, such as AP Computer Science Principles, AP Seminar and AP Research, include performance-based assessments.

HIGH SCHOOL�Grades 9-10 (in select schools)��International Baccalaureate�Middle Years Program

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Program (MYP) is available in some FCPS high schools.

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The program encourages students to examine connections between content and the real world through critical and reflective thinking. All students complete a Personal Project in 10th grade and reflect on service experiences.

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In schools that have IB MYP, all students participate.

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Edison has IB. Hayfield does not.

HIGH SCHOOL�Grades 11-12 (in select schools)��International Baccalaureate�Diploma Program�

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program (DP) is available in some FCPS high schools.

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This program develops students’ knowledge through international mindedness, critical thinking, and reflection. The program encourages students to be curious, principled, and compassionate.

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Students can take one or more IB DP courses, or they can pursue the full IB diploma. Diploma candidates take IB courses in all subject areas, complete an Extended Essay, and reflect on service experiences.

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Colleges may award credit based on exam scores and individual university policy.

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HIGH SCHOOL�Grades 11-12 (in select schools)��International Baccalaureate�Career-related Program�

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Career-related Program (CP) is available in some FCPS high schools.

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The IB CP provides an opportunity for students to explorer career pathways while taking IB courses. Students take at least 2 IB DP courses; pursue a career-related pathway; and complete a Reflective Project, service learning, and language development.

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Colleges may award credit based on IB DP course exam scores and individual university policy.

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Edison offers the IB Diploma Program but not the Career-Related Program. Hayfield does not have IB.

HIGH SCHOOL�Grades 11-12 (in select schools)��Dual Enrollment Courses

Dual enrollment courses are taught at the high school by an FCPS teacher. College credit is offered through agreements with a college or university.

�Students must meet the requirements set by the college or university to enroll in the course. They will work with their high school to register for the course.

�Each high school determines if they will offer dual enrollment courses based on their needs.

For more information: www.fcps.edu

For more information: www.fcps.edu

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FCPS Advanced Academic Programs 

www.fcps.edu, Search AAP

FCPS Advanced Academic Programs

www.fcps.edu, Search AAP

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