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 offers a continuum of advanced academic services for all students in Grades K-12. 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.

Teachers, Advanced Academic Resource Teachers (AARTs), and school administrators work together to provide the following levels of service at the elementary level:

Access to Rigor, Grades K-6

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

• Critical and Creative Thinking (CCT) Strategies  are used in lessons.

 • Teachers use advanced academic curriculum each quarter.

All students in FCPS receive Access to Rigor Services as a part of their Tier I Instruction. No referrals or screening process needed.

Subject Specific Advanced Differentiation, 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 using materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework
• Grouping students by their strengths, interests, and readiness

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.  

• AARTs and classroom teachers provide opportunities to work with a cluster group of students with similar academic needs 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). 

Students eligible for full-time AAP services are cluster grouped on a full-time basis and receive:

• Full-time use of materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework in Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies
• 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.

Holistic Approach 

Best practices in advanced academic identification include: 

• universal screening 

• holistic review of multiple data points, and 

• use of tools that are inclusive of diverse cultures 

**Holistic means all of the parts of a file are considered together and none are weighted in decision making.

Please visit the Advanced Academics Identification and Placement for Current FCPS webpage for detailed instructions on how to refer for Subject Specific Differentiation, Part Time, and Full Time services. 

If your student is new to Fairfax County Public Schools this school year, please visit the Advanced Academics FCPS webpage.  Scroll to the New Elementary and Middle School Families section.

Please follow the Identification Timeline for Full Time Services. Referrals for school based (Subject-Specific Differentiation and Part Time) services can be submitted to the AART at any point during the school year prior to our Spring Screening in May.  

View Bonnie Brae's 2024-2025 Full Time Screening Process Overview.

What part does universal ability testing play in the screening process?

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

• 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. 

FCPS offers two ability tests to all students (universal screener): 

Testing Schedule

• Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test (NNAT) in Grade 1

• Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) in Grade 2 

Retakes

Parents or guardians may request a one-time retest of either the CogAT or the NNAT in grades 3-6. Requests must be made during the fall testing windows. Please contact the school testing coordinator Natalie Vershaw, @email, no later than September 15 to request the CogAT or October 15 for the NNAT.

Young Scholars Model

FCPS Young Scholars Program website

The FCPS Young Scholars Model seeks to identify and affirm, from an early age, students with high academic potential from groups historically underrepresented in advanced academic programming. The goal of the model is to eliminate barriers for Young Scholars’ access to and success in advanced academic opportunities in elementary, middle, and high school.

Twice-Exceptional (2e) Students 

FCPS Twice-Exceptional (2e) Learners website

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

FCPS 2e Handbook:  (Printable PDFs) العربية | 中文 | English | فارسی | 한국어 | Español | اردو | Tiếng Việt

Q: How do I apply for Advanced Academic Services?

FCPS does not use an application system for Advanced Academic Services.  We refer students to make a match to a student by name and need.  Through our school based and county screening process, we use a holistic approach to match students with an appropriate level of service based on their strengths and interests.     

All Bonnie Brae students in a general education receive a level of Advanced Academic Service. To refer a child for Advanced Academic Services, please complete an AAP Referral Form (linked below) and submit it to the AART by email (preferred) or hand delivery.

Q: Who provides Advanced Academic Services to students?

All levels of Advanced Academic Services are primarily provided by classroom teachers. The AART and Instructional Leadership Team (literacy/math coaches, and SBTS) support teachers to plan and instruct using AAP curricula, Portrait of a Graduate and Critical and Creative Thinking strategies.         

Additionally, AARTs provide weekly enrichment to students receiving part time services.

Q: When are Advanced Academic Services provided?

Advanced Academic Services occur during the school day during whole and/ or small group instruction in your child’s identified area(s) of content strengths. Services may also be provided during a Scottie Time enrichment block.

Q: My child was identified as having a subject-specific area of strength in the area of mathematics or part time services, why aren’t they grouped in the Advanced Math course?

Advanced Math is a course that provides one pathway of differentiation for students. Students eligible for full time services receive Advanced Math in grades 3-6. Other classes will have built in extensions to add greater depth and complexity to grade level standards.  

Students will be screened for Advanced Math through FCPS criteria. You will be notified in a separate letter if your child is eligible to take this course.

Q: How are students who are identified as twice-exceptional and/or multilingual supported with Advanced Academic Services?

General/ Special Education, ESOL teachers and AARTs collaborate to ensure students receive their Advanced Academic Service level of support with appropriate accommodations to help each student build strengths and talents.

Q: What is the difference between the full time service model at Bonnie Brae vs the center model at White Oaks Elementary?

Please see the below chart for characteristics of the center program (left) vs Bonnie Brae’s local program (right). Shared commonalities are on the center of the chart.  

Q: My child is grouped in a full time services classroom but was not found eligible for full time services, do I need to complete a Full Time service referral for next year?

Yes, only students who have been found eligible for full time services through the FCPS screening process are guaranteed a placement in a local level classroom.  Other learners grouped in full time service classrooms have class placements re-evaluated annually. 

Q: What does Advanced Academics Services look like in Secondary school?

AAP services in middle school look a little different than in elementary school. Middle school students may receive services in IB Middle Years Programs, Honors courses, and full-time Advanced Academic services. Please review the presentation provided under the AAP Family Newsletters and Presentations section to see how services are provided in middle school and beyond.