ABSTRACT
Acceleration allows bright students to move through the curriculum at a faster rate or at a younger age than is typical. The largest effect sizes Rogers found were in the subject acceleration and for whole-grade acceleration. Students being considered for whole-grade acceleration should be evaluated through a comprehensive process, such as the Iowa Acceleration Scale, and those considered for subject acceleration should be evaluated via achievement and aptitude testing. A student who is very advanced in reading and writing ability but struggles in math and is of average ability in science and social studies might be an excellent candidate for subject acceleration in reading and language arts, but a poor candidate for a whole-grade skip. Radical acceleration, defined as accelerating by two or three grade levels, is used as frequently as single-subject acceleration or skipping one grade, but it can be effective for select, highly able students.
