Accelerated Math: Accelerated Math is a program which delivers content to students at the next instructional level and begins in fourth grade. For example, fourth grade students recommended for  Accelerated Math would receive instruction in fifth grade math. Instructional strategies of differentiation, acceleration, and compacting are implemented within these classrooms.  

Students are recommended for the program via two different avenues:

• Gifted Identification in math consists of a multi-measure approach. In second and fourth grade, all students are given the Cognitive Abilities test. This is a Norm referenced assessment of verbal, mathematical and non-verbal reasoning skills. Students are also evaluated using achievement scores from Math MAPS and a characteristic form filled out by the classroom teacher.
• Accelerated Math Placement Test is a local assessment which correlates directly to the math curriculum students will receive while attending Yorkville District 115. This assessment is unique as students are assessed using the priority standards of their current math grade level and the priority standards for their next math grade level. The goal is to make sure recommended students have mastered the content from their current year and can apply their math skills to the following grade level, which they will skip if they are accelerated. This placement is also a multi-measure approach using the current math MAPS performance and a characteristics form filled out by the classroom teacher.   

Curriculum Compacting: Curriculum Compacting is a technique for differentiating instruction that allows teachers to make adjustments to the curriculum for students who have already mastered the material to be learned, replacing content students know with new content, enrichment options, or other activities. 

Distance/Online Learning: Through distance/online learning, students enroll in courses offered by an organization outside of their school, through community colleges, four-year colleges or universities, or other organizations. 

Dual Credit: Dual credit provides the opportunity for high school students to enroll in courses approved by a postsecondary institution for college credit, as well as other colleges and universities that will accept the transfer credit. 

Early Entrance to Kindergarten or Grade 1: In this form of acceleration, students enter kindergarten before they reach the Illinois school entry age of five-years-old by September 1 of the school year. Parents must contact the district office to request early entrance testing (there is a cost for testing). 

Enrichment: Activities that deepen and/or extend the learning and allow the student to go beyond the current curriculum are considered enrichment courses. The Gifted Resource Department supports grade-level teachers to provide greater challenges within the curriculum, based on students' needs. 

Gifted/Talented Program: Students are identified for the Gifted/Talented Education program in the area of math and/or reading/language arts at the end of second, fourth, and sixth grade. A combination of cognitive (Cognitive Abilities Test) and achievement (MAP) scores along with a teacher recommendation are used for placement. Beginning in third grade, identified students are placed in gifted cluster classrooms. These classrooms contain a mixed ability grouping of average-to-high ability students. 

Individualized approaches can target student learning within the regular school day. Based on the current district curriculum, enrichment units have been created in both math and reading/language arts. These units allow for tiered learning, investigation, and research, promoting higher-level thinking skills. 

Self-paced Instruction: In self-paced instruction, students proceed through learning and instructional activities at a self-selected pace. It is distinguishable from continuous progress in that the student has control over all pacing decisions. 

Subject-Matter Acceleration: Subject-matter acceleration is available for students who show mastery of the grade-level curriculum, yet need an intervention that provides more advanced work in a specific subject area. 

Whole-Grade Acceleration: Whole-grade acceleration is available for students who are placed in a grade level ahead of peers who are the same age. Decisions to allow a student to advance a grade level must be made by a team of professionals using a wide range of data.