Accelerated Learning

At-risk students often are behind in their learning when they come to school. Rather than providing a slowed-down instructional program, schools need to provide accelerated learning for these students. Accelerated learning provides a relevant and demanding curriculum, instructional approaches that build on students' strengths, problem solving and authentic applications, and high expectations for all students.

The person most associated with accelerated learning is Henry Levin of Stanford University in Stanford, California. Levin has developed a network of schools committed to this concept. The model is based on the following premises:

• Learning environments characterized by high expectations and status.

• A deadline for eliminating the achievement gap (usually set at the end of elementary school).

• A challenging, interdisciplinary curriculum focusing on student engagement, critical thinking, concepts applied to real world and personal experiences, and concrete problem-solving.

• Involvement and empowerment of teachers and parents.

For further information, refer to What Are Accelerated Schools? (National Center for the Accelerated Schools Project, 1991)

References