Advanced Academic Services (AAS)
General Overview
In ACPS, we believe all students have the fundamental right to an education that promotes the development of their potential. Each child has a unique profile of academic strengths and abilities. ACPS is committed to providing challenging learning experiences for all students that build on individual strengths and optimize abilities, including Advanced Academic Services (AAS), formally known as Talented and Gifted Services.
Grades K-3: General Intellectual Aptitude (GIA)
General Intellectual Aptitude services are enriched and integrated classroom activities designed to enhance creativity and problem solving without being specifically tied to one subject area.
Grades 3*-5: Specific Academic Aptitude (SAA)
*For current 3rd graders, a referral is required to be screened for 4th Grade SAA services which begin in the 2024-25 school year.
- Math and Language Arts: Direct instruction from a teacher specializing in teaching talented and gifted children with an enriched or accelerated curriculum and significantly above grade-level expectations.
- Science and Social Studies: Differentiated Educational Plans (DEPs) outline individual enrichment and extension activities to be completed in the general education classroom.
Grades 6-12: Specific Academic Aptitude (SAA)
Students in middle school and high school have access to online courses, Honors and Advanced Placement (AP) classes, independent study, Dual-Enrollment in college courses, or access to summer residential Governor's School.
Overview of AAS Program Screening Process
|
Current Grade |
Referral Window Opens |
Referral Deadline for the Current School Year |
Parent/Guardian eligibility notification will occur by: |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Grades 5-8 Tier III- SAA Services* |
August 21, 2023 |
By September 30, 2023 |
By November 1, 2023 |
|
Any ACPS student in Grades K-7 |
October 1, 2023 |
By January 31, 2024 |
By May 15, 2024 |
|
New students to ACPS in Grades 4-8 |
First Day of Entry |
Within 30 days of enrollment |
Within 90 days of the Permission to Screen form signed |
Additional Information Can be Found Here:
- AAS Overview 8/18/23 School Board Brief
- 2023–2024 Advanced Academic Services (AAS) Screening Timeline
Referral and Overview Information
Information for screening for the 2023–24 school year will be released in August 2023.
Who can be eligible for the AAS Program?
A student who shows evidence of superior performance and exceptional academic potential. This includes:
- All ACPS students, K-12
- All genders, cultures & backgrounds
- All English Language Learners
- Students receiving specialized services
ACPS AAS Program services include:
Grades K-3: General Intellectual Aptitude (GIA)
Enriched & integrated classroom activities designed to enhance creativity and problem-solving without being specifically tied to any one subject area.
Grades 4-5: Specific Academic Aptitude (SAA)
Math and Language Arts
Direct instruction from a teacher who specializes in teaching talented and gifted children with a curriculum that is accelerated and significantly above grade-level expectations.
Science and Social Studies
Differentiated Educational Plans (DEPs) outline individual enrichment & extension activities to be completed in the general education classroom.
Grades 6-12: Specific Academic Aptitude (SAA)
Students in middle and high school have access to online courses. Honors and Advanced Placement (AP) classes, independent study, Dual-Enrollment in college courses or access to summer residential Governor's School.
- Online Courses
- Honors and Advanced Placement (AP) Classes
- Independent Study
- Dual-Enrollment in college courses
- Access to Summer Residential Governors School
Young Scholars (K–8)
The Young Scholars Model is designed to help identify students from historically underrepresented populations for gifted services. The model provides additional opportunity to nurture talent and build confidence so that students can meet their potential. The goal is to prepare Young Scholars for challenging courses and success in the future. The Young Scholars model supports the notion of providing equity of opportunity to students so that any child who has an exceptional ability to think, reason, and problem-solve will be able to participate in advanced academic classes.
There are no referrals needed for Young Scholars. Schools take the lead on identifying students.
AAS Resources
Gifted Organizations, Contacts and Research Centers
ACPS believes that students among all ethnic, racial and socioeconomic groups should be provided with an education that enables them to achieve excellence, developing their abilities to the fullest.
Contact Information
![Megan Tempel-Milner, Ph.D., Director of Advanced Academic Programs (K-12)]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1657152540/acpsk12vaus/hhjdihqn8fdqhw6qkfuy/blank.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1657152540/acpsk12vaus/hhjdihqn8fdqhw6qkfuy/blank.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1657152540/acpsk12vaus/hhjdihqn8fdqhw6qkfuy/blank.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1657152540/acpsk12vaus/hhjdihqn8fdqhw6qkfuy/blank.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1657152540/acpsk12vaus/hhjdihqn8fdqhw6qkfuy/blank.png","width":1228}])
Megan Tempel-Milner, Ph.D., Director of Advanced Academic Programs (K-12)
Alexandria City Public Schools
1340 Braddock Place
Alexandria, VA 22314
megan.tempel-milner@acps.k12.va.us