Our Hollin Meadows ES Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART), Dr.Triplett, collaborates with the school staff to determine the appropriate level of advanced academic services. Ongoing observation and assessment ensure that student needs are being met.

Advanced Academic Programs (AAP) are divided into four levels, and Hollin Meadows ES offers students all of the levels, including a Local Level IV program as an option. Here is a description of each of the four levels of service.

Level l

Critical and Creative Thinking Lessons, Grades K-6 

The first level is provided to all students in kindergarten through grade six and consists of model lessons that are designed to teach critical and creative thinking skills. The lessons are modeled in all classrooms by the Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART) and the thinking strategies are then used throughout the year by classroom and other teachers who work with students. Student responses to these lessons are used as part of the identification process for Levels II-IV. Parents may also practice these strategies during family conversations and activities. 

Level II

Differentiated Lessons in Areas of Academic Strength, Grades K-6

Students identified by a local school screening committee are offered differentiated lessons (Level II) in areas of specific academic strength. The AART collaborates with classroom teachers to provide additional challenges through lessons and resources within the general education program. Screening for this level of service is ongoing throughout the school year. 

Level III

Part-Time Advanced Academic Programs, Grades 3-6

Students identified by a local school screening committee for Level III part-time advanced academic services are challenged through models and strategies designed to extend and enrich the POS in the four core subject areas. Students receive direct instruction from the AARTeacher.

Screening

Screening for Level II and Level III can happen at any time during the school year, but is done schoolwide in spring to determine services for the next school year. Parents or guardians may initiate the screening by submitting the AAP School-Based Services (Level II-III) Referral Form to the AART at Hollin Meadows ES prior to spring screening. Parents or guardians who submit a referral will be notified by Hollin Meadows ES of their student’s eligibility status. 

Level IV

Full-Time Advanced Academic Programs, Grades 3-6

Students found eligible for placement in full-time Level IV Advanced Academic Programs through a central selection process receive a highly challenging instructional program in the four core subject areas.

The full-time advanced academic program is differentiated in depth, breadth, and pace of instruction. It provides an appropriate level of challenge for highly gifted learners with a strong emphasis on critical and creative thinking, and problem-solving.

The mathematics curriculum is accelerated by one grade level, and readings and resources that are used in other subject areas are also presented at advanced levels. 

Hollin Meadows ES Local Level IV program - How the Local Level IV differs from the Level IV Center

The Hollin Meadows ES Local Level IV program provides an important option for advanced learners who need the challenge of a full-time AAP center curriculum and do not want to leave their local school.

The Level IV Center for Hollin Meadows ES is located at Stratford Landing ES.

Teachers in both settings are trained in gifted education and teach the same advanced academic curriculum to students who are ready for a highly challenging instructional program in the four core subject areas.

The main difference is in the make-up of the class. All of the students in full-time, center-based classes at Stratford Landing ES have been identified as center-eligible by a central selection committee and will be coming from several neighborhood schools to comprise the center class. In a Local Level IV classroom at Hollin Meadows ES, the students are a mix of students who are center-eligible and high achieving students who are capable of working at advanced levels, all enrolled in the local school. 

Testing 

Please visit the Testing and Identification Timeline for Students Attending FCPS webpage for information about the tests related to the AAP program.

Referrals for Full-Time AAP Level IV

Level IV Referral Deadline: December 15, 2023

Parents of student in grades 2-7 may refer for full-time Level IV placement.

Students who are not in the second-grade pool will not receive notification.

Parents or guardians of students not in the second-grade screening pool may initiate the full-time AAP Level IV screening process by completing and submitting an Advanced Academic Programs Level IV Referral Form to the local school. The referral form plus forms for additional optional information are available on the FCPS website (link below) and in the Parent Information Packet available at the local school.

Note: Please do not wait for test scores before submitting a referral for your student as there will be no referrals for Level IV screening accepted past the deadline. If you are waiting for test scores and would like your student screened for Level IV, please submit the referral by the published deadline (even if you have not received the test scores for your student).

The FCPS Testing and Identification Timeline link below includes the deadline for submitting the Advanced Academic Programs Level IV Referral Form for students in Grade 2 who are not in pool and students in Grades 3–6.

Young Scholars

We also participate in the Young Scholars program, a K-6 initiative that is designed to increase the proportion of historically underrepresented students in gifted programs.