Accelerated Placement
This page was updated on Wednesday, March 19 after the Board of Education approved the process for the Accelerated Math Program for 2025-26.
“Accelerated placement” is the placement of a student at the instructional level that best matches the student’s needs by allowing access to a curriculum that is usually reserved for children who are older or in higher grades than the student. Accelerated placement options must include, but need not be limited to, early entrance to kindergarten and first grade, individual subject acceleration, and whole grade acceleration.
Eligibility for accelerated placement shall also be open to all students regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, disability, English language proficiency, or socioeconomic status.
D60 Accelerated Math Program
Students who will be entering grades 3-8 are evaluated for potential acceleration in mathematics instruction. This happens annually, based upon the timeline and criteria listed below. Families of students who are newly eligible for acceleration are notified prior to the end of the current school year.
Students who demonstrate high ability in math standards and mathematical practices may benefit from accelerated math. A criteria is developed to determine students who are demonstrating these skills and practices. The Illinois learning standards in math are what students should know and be able to do within the foundations of math. Mathematical practices are how students think, reason and approach mathematical learning.
Characteristics of an Accelerated Learner
Acceleration at the intermediate grades happens during a common mathematics instruction block. At the middle school level, there are several different middle school math courses that identify students’ various instructional pathways.
Maercker District 60 Math Progression
Accelerated Math Placement Process
Acceleration criteria is listed below, by grade level reviewed. Please click the grade level heading below to see detailed criteria.
Placement Timeline
Wednesday, March 19 | Principal Coffee Chat on the Accelerated Math Program at Westview Hills Middle School - View the presentation |
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April 28- May 9 | Spring MAP Testing - The NWEA MAP test is a computer-adaptive standardized test that measures a student's math skills. |
May 5-9 | Parent notification of additional accelerated math testing |
May 12-16 | End of year assessment and Teacher Survey. The EOY assessment examines the students' end of the year standards knowledge and mathematical practices of the grade they are going into. In the Teacher Survey, teachers are asked to evaluate the frequency of characteristics of an accelerated learner observed in students. These learning traits correspond to mathematical practices and habits of mind that are outlined in the Illinois Learning Standards as well as those behaviors that define students who are typically successful in accelerated coursework. |
May 21-23 | Parent notification of Accelerated Math Placement |
May 30 | Last Day for appeals for Accelerated Math |
Appeals Process
A request for an appeal may be made by a teacher, principal or parent/guardian of a student. The appeals process is outlined below.
Requests for appeal must be submitted through a Google Form by the last day of school.
Students will take an additional assessment the first week in June.
The Appeals Committee, consisting of staff members who teach math, differentiation specialists, and administrators, will meet the 2nd week in June to review the data.
Notification of final placement will be by the last week in June.
The appeals decision will be final for the following school year. The Appeals Committee will review only one appeal per student per year.
Past Parent Presentations
On Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025 a Parent Feedback Session was held focused on the Accelerated Math Program. As part of our Blueprint Strategic Plan, D60 is hoping to enhance the effectiveness and transparency around the Accelerated Math program across the district. A committee consisting of five members on our 6th-8th grade team and 10 members on our 3rd-5th grade team have regularly met this year to make improvements and gathered feedback from parents.