Bangor School Department
Grades 4-5 Accelerated Program Overview

Philosophical Orientation of the Accelerated Program

It is the belief of the Bangor School Department that accelerated courses must appropriately challenge both identified Gifted & Talented (G/T) students and non-identified high-achieving students. Accelerated courses are designed and paced for students with demonstrated high ability, achievement, interest, skill and independence in English / Language Arts (ELA) and / or mathematics. Students who earn grades of "B" or better in accelerated courses are generally considered appropriately placed.

Program Synopsis

The Bangor School Department offers accelerated instructional programs in ELA and mathematics at both grade 4 and 5 at the Fairmount School and the Mary Snow School. Accelerated courses take place daily during each school's defined ELA and math instructional blocks, and a teacher with training and State of Maine endorsement in G/T pedagogy provides direct instruction at both grades 4 and 5 in both subject areas.

With a foundation in higher order content and processes and with explicit connections to local and state curricula and standards, the courses are "accelerated" in that they are paced for students to master three years of content standards in two years of instruction as demonstrated by performance on local, state and national assessments. Accelerated courses have increased expectations for student independence, for depth of involvement and for thoughtful completion of short and long-term assignments both in and out of school.

Enrollment in the G/T Program

Accelerated ELA: Students who under BSD Policy IGBB are identified as G/T for General Intellectual Ability (GIA) or who, entering grade 4, are in the process of GIA identification, are recommended to participate in the Accelerated ELA class. Additionally and to the extent practicable given the number of G/T identified students, those students whose achievement profiles (inclusive of G/T screening criteria) indicate high potential for success in a rigorous program are provided an option to participate in Accelerated ELA.

Accelerated Math: G/T identified and non-identified grade 4 students whose achievement across local (Grade 3 cumulative test and fall diagnostic test), state (NECAP), and national (TerraNova3) mathematics assessments are predominantly in the highest percentage, percentile and scaled score ranges are recommended for the placement in Acclerated Math. In addition to Accelerated Math, both schools offer multiple levels of math instruction (including another level of advanced math) coupled with frequent monitoring to appropriately challenge all students.

Parent Requests: Reflecting the Bangor School Department's belief in open access to the most challenging instructional programs, the Grade 4-5 Accelerated Program also considers parent requests for enrollment of students not otherwise identified through the processes described above. Parents wishing to explore this option are asked to communicate directly with the Director G/T Programs @ 992-4170.

Monitoring Student Progress:

It may become apparent to a family and/or to the G/T teacher that an accelerated class is not the most appropriate placement for an enrolled student and that he or she might be better challenged in another instructional setting. In these instances, parents and teachers are encouraged to communicate openly to determine the best plan for transitioning the student to another class. Conversely, teachers at each school will monitor the first quarter academic progress of students not recommended for or enrolled in the G/T program to identify those who might be more appropriately challenged in accelerated class(es).

For More Information:

Paul Butler, Director of G/T, Title I & Special Projects

Ryan Enman, Fairmount School Principal (941-6260)
Victoria Levesque, Fairmount School G/T Teacher

Michael H. Missbrenner, Mary Snow School Principal (941-6290)
Shelley Cormier, Mary Snow School G/T Teacher

September, 2010