Which practice involves moving students through the curriculum at a faster pace, including possible grade skipping?

• A. Ability grouping
• B. Authentic Assessment
• C. Acceleration
• D. Asynchrony

Answer: (C)

Acceleration is the practice of moving students through the curriculum at a faster pace, sometimes including skipping grades. It targets students who are ready for more challenging material, letting them access content beyond their current grade level and stay engaged. This can take the form of subject-specific acceleration or whole-grade acceleration, with appropriate supports to address social and emotional needs and ensure a smooth transition. While ability grouping changes how content is taught within the same grade to match readiness, it doesn’t inherently advance students through additional content at a faster pace. Authentic assessment focuses on the tasks used to measure learning, not pace. Asynchrony describes uneven development across domains or students, not a strategy to accelerate progression.