Accelerate or Alienate: Intervention for Gifted Students

William, Arjun, and Benjamin are all in the same math class. William quickly masters new math concepts and is given the chance to zoom ahead and complete coursework before his classmates. What is the term for this practice of letting William move through educational material at a faster pace than his peers?

• Acceleration

• Remediation

• Differentiation

• Standardization

Abigail and Daniel are both gifted students, and their teachers are thinking about moving them up to a higher grade. What is a common concern educators have when making decisions like this?

• They may become bored

• They may face social or emotional challenges

• They may not learn basic skills

• They may have too much homework

True or False: Gifted students who are accelerated often regret the decision later in life.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Studies show that most students who were accelerated are satisfied with the experience and often wish they had been accelerated earlier.

Isla and Anika are both gifted students, and Isla has just been offered the chance to skip a grade! Which of the following is a possible positive outcome Isla might enjoy from this exciting acceleration?

• Increased risk of alienation

• Enhanced academic engagement

• Lowered self-esteem

• Reduced motivation

In Ms. Thompson's classroom, Kai is known for finishing his assignments way ahead of everyone else. Afterward, Kai often looks bored and doodles in his notebook. What’s the biggest risk of Ms. Thompson not accelerating Kai?

• Getting ahead of their peers

• Missing out on foundational material

• Emotional burnout, boredom, and lifelong disengagement

• Making the teacher's job harder

Write your answer: What percentage of students in the U.S. actually receive acceleration?

A. 2%
B. 10%
C. 25%
D. 50%

Answer explanation

Correct Answer: A (2%)

Despite strong evidence supporting it, acceleration is rarely implemented—often due to myths, school policies, or adult discomfort.

Which of the following is NOT a form of acceleration?

• Subject Skipping

• Grade Skipping

• Curriculum Compacting

• Personalized Learning Plans

Answer explanation

While helpful, personalized learning plans aren't acceleration by definition. Acceleration involves advancing through the curriculum at a faster pace or earlier time.

At a lively school board meeting, Zoe, Olivia, and Benjamin are curious about whether acceleration should be allowed for gifted learners. What evidence-based argument could you share to help them understand the benefits of acceleration?

• Acceleration has no impact on academic achievement.

• Studies indicate that acceleration can lead to higher academic achievement and satisfaction among gifted learners.

• Acceleration is only beneficial for average students.

• Gifted learners prefer to stay with their age group regardless of academic needs.

Imagine you have a student like James, who is not only a whiz in academics but also gets along great with everyone. As an educator, how would you design an exciting educational journey for James to help him shine even brighter, while making sure he still feels connected with his classmates?

• Keep James in his current grade with no changes

• Accelerate James and provide mentorship opportunities with older peers

• Assign more homework in the current grade

• Place James in remedial classes for socialization

Fill in the blanks:

....................activities build upon the regular curriculum to offer a greater context and a deeper dive into the subject matter. ... ....................... programs move high-performing students into a higher grade level which is most appropriate for their grasp of the educational subject matter.