Advanced Academic Programs (AAP)

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) believes in developing the strengths and talents of all students. Every student needs to be challenged and engaged in exciting learning experiences.

FCPS policies and procedures are grounded in equity and inclusion. Our commitment to providing rigor to all students is part of the FCPS strategic plan. AAP offers a continuum of advanced academic services to meet a broad range of student needs. We take a holistic approach that uses a variety of assessments to determine the level of service to match the child’s current needs.

With the FCPS talent development model, all students in FCPS will receive:

• Critical and creative thinking lessons.
• Access to AAP curriculum and strategies.

Some students need a differentiated curriculum to address their cognitive and social-emotional needs. These students receive additional AAP services based on:

• Academic needs beyond peers at their grade level.
• Strengths in language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies.
• A need for increased depth, complexity, and pace of instruction.

Students’ advanced academic needs may change over time. The AAP continuum of services develops and builds on students’ current strengths and talents.

Overview

Elementary Services (K-6)

Middle School Services (7-8)

High School Services (9-12)

Full-Time Services Screening and Identification

FCPS offers a continuum of services for elementary students to meet their current academic needs. The continuum of services supports the two main goals of the Advanced Academic Programs Office:

• Talent Development
• Meeting the Needs of the Advanced Learner

Access to Rigor: Grades K-6 – All students receive talent development lessons with critical and creative thinking strategies and AAP curriculum lessons.

Subject-Specific Services: Grades K-6 – Identified students receive AAP curriculum lessons in the general education setting in areas of academic strength.

Part-Time Services: Grades 3-6 – Identified students receive AAP curriculum lessons in more than one academic content area. The Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART) leads these lessons. Programming has increased depth and complexity in several content areas.

Full-Time Services: Grades 3-8 – Identified students receive AAP curriculum lessons full-time. Programming has increased depth, complexity, and pace in all academic content areas.

Honors Classes: Any student seeking academic rigor may enroll in honors classes. Students should consider taking honors classes in areas of strength or interest.

Full-Time Services: Eligible students may either attend their assigned AAP center school or enroll in Honors classes at their base school.

Any student may enroll in advanced courses in high school as long as they have met the course prerequisites.

Honors Classes: Any student who seeks academic rigor may enroll in honors courses. Students should consider taking honors courses in areas of strength or interest.

Advanced Placement (AP): AP coursework is similar to first-year college courses. They help prepare students for college-level coursework.

International Baccalaureate (IB): The IB program provides rigorous coursework. Students engage in deep thinking, reading, and writing with an international perspective.

Dual Enrollment: FCPS teachers teach Dual Enrollment courses. Students may earn college credit through agreements with a college or university.
 

FCPS Advanced Academic Programs is committed to identifying and developing strengths and talents in all students including:

• Students with high abilities and learning challenges
  • Twice Exceptional (2e)
• Students with high academic potential who are from culturally and linguistically diverse populations
  • Young Scholars
  • Multilingual Learners

FCPS aims to provide each student with the level of service they need to be challenged and make continuous academic growth.

Students currently attending FCPS may apply by following these published deadlines and instructions.

All students are evaluated for Subject-Specific and Part-Time services using multiple measures during the spring screening window in May.

For consideration outside of the May screening window:

• Contact your school's AART for questions regarding student eligibility or placement in Subject-Specific and Part-Time services.
• Submit the Subject Specific or Part-Time Services Referral Form to the Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART) at your local elementary school

All decisions regarding these services are made at the local school.

Eligibility decisions may be appealed once per school year by contacting the AART in writing and providing new information about the student.

There are three pathways for students to be considered by the central selection committee for AAP Full-Time services:

• Universal screener referral (Grade 2 only)
• Staff referral
• Family referral

Universal Screener Referral (Grade 2 only)

One pathway is an annually determined universal screener referral for second grade students.

Universal screener referral students are not guaranteed eligibility, but they are automatically referred for screening.

Staff and Family Referrals (Grades 2-7)

Staff, parents, or guardians may refer students for screening before the referral deadline.

• Students must be in grades 2-7.
• Turn in the Advanced Academic Programs Full-Time Services Referral Form to the school.

Full-Time Services Referral Form (PDFs)

Parents are reminded to submit a referral form in the referral window if they want to be sure that their student is screened for Full-Time services. Parents should not wait for the announcement of the universal screener referral.

Referrals are not accepted after the window closes as local schools will begin scheduling and coordinating the steps required to complete the student portfolios immediately after the window closes.

Learn more about pathways to screening for AAP Full-Time services.

• Referrals for Full-Time AAP screening will be collected between August 21 and December 15, 2024.
• Referral forms may be dropped off at the local school or emailed to the Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART) and principal at the local school.

Full-Time AAP Services Referral Form (PDFs)

Students new to FCPS as of January 1, 2024: The Fall Screening deadline for Full-Time Services Referrals is October 15, 2024.

Full-Time Services Testing and Identification Timeline

Required

A referral form is required for any student (grades 2-7) whose parent would like them screened for Full-Time services.

Full-Time Services Referral Form (PDFs)

Optional

Parents may submit:

• the parent/guardian questionnaire
• up to two pages of student work samples
• Achievement test results (SOL scores already included)
• Private ability test results (from a private, clinically licensed psychologist, or George Mason Cognitive Assessment Program)

These optional materials should be submitted to the Advanced Academic Resource Teacher at the local school when submitting the referral form.

Guidelines for Sharing IEP or Section 504 Information with the AAP Screening Committee

IEP and/or 504 information will only be shared with the AAP Central Screening Committee with parental consent.

• Notify your AART or School Administrator of your intent to share IEP/504 information in writing.
• Share a copy of what you would like included in the screening file.
• The screening committee will only access IEP/504 information provided by the family. 

Discontinued

Awards, certificates, and letters of recommendation will not be part of screening files.

Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT)

• The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) will be offered to all students in grade 2 this school year.
• Ability testing for select students in grades 2-7 students enrolling after the main October CogAT window will occur using the CogAT in spring 2025 (those in the AAP Full-Time Screening process).

Naglieri Nonverbal Abilities Test (NNAT3)

• Grade 1 students
  • The NNAT3 will be offered to all students in Grade 1.
  • Testing will take place in November-December 2024.
• Grade 2-7 students
  • Access to NNAT3 assessments in fall 2024 will be limited to:
    • Students using their one-time ability retest.
    • Multilingual Learner students for whom the CogAT was found to be inappropriate.
    • Selected students who enroll in FCPS after the fall CogAT window.

Retests

Parents or Guardians may request a one-time retest of either the CogAT or NNAT3.

• FCPS policy permits one retake of one ability test per student.
• Submit the request to the local school by contacting the AART or assistant principal.
• The one-time retest for the NNAT3 or CogAT test is an option for families who feel their child did not perform well on the ability test for a variety of reasons.

General Information

While private testing that follows guidelines may be submitted, testing is only one type of data considered. All ability tests are considered within the larger context of the overall screening portfolio. FCPS does not encourage families to seek additional testing beyond what FCPS provides to all students.

Learn more about ability testing dates on the Full-Time Testing and Identification Timeline

• Transportation is available for students who live outside of the school’s transportation boundary but within the school's AAP boundary.
  • Use the boundary locator to determine the AAP Full-Time Center placement for middle and elementary students.
• A bus ride for students being transported from outside of the school boundary can be longer than an hour without traffic.
  • ​​​​​​​When deciding to enroll in an AAP Full-Time Center school, consider the travel time for your child.
• Centralized bus stops are finalized at the end of each school year and may be adjusted annually as enrollment continues to change.
  • The AAP stop for an elementary student may differ for a middle school student.
  • Final stop information is available in ParentVue in August.  
• It is the responsibility of a family member to transport the child to and from the bus stop location or make alternate arrangements that work best for their child and schedule. 

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) has shifted from a focus on labeling students as gifted to a focus on identifying student strengths. FCPS provides advanced academic services designed to develop and nurture students’ academic strengths over time.

Advanced Academic Programs identification and placement practices are guided by an understanding of current research about ability and intelligence showing that both:

• Develops over time.
• Can be nurtured.
• Shows in different ways for individuals and across cultures.
• Is complex and affected by both genetic and environmental influences.