Seattle Public Schools Advanced Learning programs serve the learning needs of students who are academically gifted, academically highly gifted, and high achievers/motivated learners through programs that provide rigorous and accelerated curricula.

Advanced Learning offers three programs:
(click on these links below for program details)

• Accelerated Progress Program (APP)
  (Grades 1-12)
• Spectrum (Grades 1-8)
• Advanced Learning Opportunities (ALO)
  (Grades 1-8)

Current Issues

Accelerated Progress Program (APP) Review

Advanced Placement Examinations

The College Board's Advanced Placement (AP) exams were administered this year from May 5 through May 16, 2008 (late exams for special circumstances were administered May 21 - 23). More than 1700 students from twelve Seattle Public School high schools took over 2800 exams in 20 subject areas. These exams culminate a full year of rigorous course work and represent the hard work of high school students and their teachers. See Advanced Placement for more information.

Testing for Eligibility as Academically Highly Gifted/Academically Gifted

Testing for eligibility as Academically Highly Gifted or Academically Gifted is necessary for enrollment in the Accelerated Progress Program (APP) and the Spectrum program. The deadline for nomination forms for the school year 2007-2008 testing cycle was October 8, 2007. Advanced Learning tested close to 3,900 students during this testing cycle. Letters of eligibility have all been mailed, and the testing has been completed. Nomination forms for the 2008-2009 testing cycle will be available in September 2008.

Summer Testing for Eligibility as Academically Highly Gifted and Academically Gifted

Summer testing is available only for students who relocated to the city of Seattle after October 1, 2007 and were unable to participate in the school-year testing cycle. See Forms for Summer Information and Application Packets.

2006-2007 Testing Cycle

In the 2006-07 school year, 3416 students participated in testing. Preliminary data analysis indicates that our efforts of addressing the needs of students with factors (i.e., students who are bilingual and students qualified for free/reduced price lunch) have paid dividends in terms of identifying more of these students as eligible as academically highly gifted/gifted. This moves us toward achievement of the Advanced Learning goal in the District's 5-Year Plan to increase access to and diversity of the student group participating in Advanced Learning programs. Remember, eligibility criteria were NOT changed for this group - students found eligible met the same rigorous standards as all other students. Data analysis of the past three testing cycles will be coming soon.

Accelerated Progress Program (APP) Capacity

Answers to questions raised by the APP Advisory Committee concerning the middle school configuration.

Options considered by Program Placement when making a final recommendation to place the program at both Hamilton and Washington middle schools.

APP Advisory Committee New Members for 2008-2009

The APP Advisory Committee (APP AC), formerly known as APP Task Force, is a continuing committee which has been in existence since the inception of the Accelerated Progress Program in 1978, although membership, leadership, and structure have changed over time. It is comprised of a group of volunteer parents and teachers charged and appointed by the Superintendent of Seattle Schools to advise the district on APP matters.

The APP AC is now looking for a few parents/guardians who are interested in working with the District on the big picture issues relating to the APP program. If you are interested in participating or have questions regarding the committee or its membership, please contact APP AC Chair, Stephanie Bower stbower@comcast.net.

Open positions for next year include Lowell parent representative, Washington Middle School parent representative, and Diversity Representative. To apply to be a parent representative on the committee, letters of intent should be submitted to the committee Chair no later than 5:00pm, Friday, May 30, 2008.