Advanced Content and Enrichment
(ACE)
Story Wheels are a creative way of reporting on a book read in language arts. Mr.Claxton poses with seventh grade students studying life science.
The Advanced Content & Enrichment Program (ACE) provides Oak Hill Middle School students with a highly enriched curriculum. Students grow academically through research and discovery, and fast-paced, rigorous, challenging classes. They assume responsibility for conducting projects that challenge their critical thinking and application skills.
Barbie Bungee Jumping Project helps students understand concepts of physics.
Program Goals
The Baldwin County School System strives to ensure the continued development of the potential of the gifted/talented students through the following goals:
To provide a curriculum which extends and enriches learning.
To provide an instructional program which encourages students to become independent learners, effective problem solvers, and creative thinkers.
Delivery Models
The Advanced Content Class Model is used in grades 6-8. Gifted students are grouped on the basis of achievement and interest in specific academic content areas. Students who demonstrate exceptional ability and motivation in particular content areas are included. Classes are limited to 21 students per teacher. The curriculum is accelerated and emphasizes process skills, problem-solving activities, research projects and other higher order thinking skills.
Continuation
Continued placement in Baldwin County’s Advanced Content/Enrichment Classes (ACE) includes satisfactory performance in the Advanced Content Class in which he/she is placed. Incoming sixth graders must have a year-end average of 90 or above in a subject to participate in ACE classes in that subject area. The student must maintain an 85 average or above on the report card in each particular class. The eligibility team will monitor a student’s grades at the end of each nine-week grading period. The eligibility team will consist of the student’s ACE teachers and a school administrator.
If a student fails to meet the required average of 85 in any of his/her ACE classes, he/she is placed on academic probation for that class for the remainder of the year. Parents are notified that he/she is in danger of not meeting continuation criteria. Any student having a year-end average below 85 in any Advanced Content Class is suspended from the class in which the grades were made for the following year. The student may, however, remain in any other ACE classes in which the 85 averages are maintained. Eighth graders in the ACE program must have a year-end average of 85 or above in a subject area to be placed in an advanced class for that subject area in the ninth grade at the high school.
The student shall have a final review by the eligibility team before cessation of services occurs. The eligibility team can, in individual cases, decide that sufficient evidence of achievement and progress have been made to warrant continuation in the program. The eligibility team considers the following indicators:
Medical intervention
Recommendation of a school counselor based on socioeconomic changes or changes in the family unit (death, divorce)
Illness during the semester
If the student withdraws from active participation in the program, he/she may not re-enter the program during the school year. To re-enter the program, the student must have an overall academic average of 85 in that subject from the previous year. The parents/guardians of the student will be notified in writing if the student is withdrawn from an Advanced Content/Enrichment Class. Should the parents/guardians choose to withdraw the student from the class, the teacher of the Advanced Content class should be notified in writing.