Advanced Academic Programs (AAP) Elementary Continuum of Services

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is committed to challenging all students through talent development efforts and differentiated instruction to meet the needs of advanced learners.

FCPS and specifically CWES offers a continuum of advanced academic services for all students in Grades K-6. The continuum of services approach recognizes unique student needs and focuses on matching services, not labeling students. Through the continuum, students have:

• Multiple entry points for deeper learning opportunities in specific areas of need as they develop.
• A cluster group of students with similar academic needs to continue growing in their learning.

Access to Rigor, Grades K-6

ALL CWES students have opportunities to think critically, reason, and problem-solve.

• All teachers use critical and creative thinking strategies in their lessons.
• CWES classroom teachers provide opportunities using materials from the AAP CurriculumFramework a minimum of once per month.

Because Access to Rigor is for all FCPS students, there is not a screening process. 

Subject-Specific Services Grades K-6

Some students are strong in a specific subject area. Classroom teachers may adjust instruction for students in these area(s) by:

• Providing different assignments and resources in those subjects,
• Grouping students by their strengths, interests, and readiness, and
• Providing additional challenges using materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework.

Student needs for subject specific differentiation are re-evaluated each year at the local school. 

Part-Time Services, Grades 3-6

Some students have advanced academic needs in multiple subject areas in addition to specific subject differentiation. They need Part-Time AAP services.

• Students work with other students that have similar academic needs through weekly pull-outclasses or weekly co-taught lessons with the AART and classroom teacher.
• Teachers provide frequent opportunities to use materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework in Language Arts, science, social studies, and/or mathematics.

Part-Time services continue through Grade 6. Students do not need to be evaluated each year. 

Full-Time Services, Grades 3-8

Some advanced learners need a full-time advanced academic program with differentiated instruction in all four core content areas (Language Arts, mathematics, social studies, and science). CWES is a center school where students eligible for Full-Time AAP services are clustered with peers and receive:

• Full-time use of materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework in Language Arts,mathematics, science, and social studies, and
• Curriculum that is differentiated through acceleration, depth, and complexity of content.

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

Screening Dates for Advanced Academic Program Services 

Screening for Full-Time services occurs during specific screening cycles:

• Fall screening is available for students who are new to FCPS since January.
  • The fall screening referral window is from the first day of school - October 15.
• Spring screening is available for any Grade 2-7 FCPS-enrolled student.
  • The spring screening referral window is from the first day of school - December 15.