Concurrent 60 min

Equitable Use of Standardized Tests When Assessing for Readiness for Academic Acceleration

Saturday, November 15, 2025

3:45 PM - 4:45 PM ET

Location: Convention Center, 306/307

Grade Level: 3-12, Professionals
Content Level: Intermediate
Target Audience: Administrators, Classroom Teachers, Counselors and other Clinical Professionals, Gifted Coordinators, Parents

Susan Assouline, PhD

Emeritus Professor
University of Iowa Belin-Blank Canter
Highlands ranch, Colorado, United States
Ann Lupkowski-Shoplik, PhD

Administrator, Acceleration Institute and research
University of Iowa Belin-Blank Center
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

The broad-spectrum intervention of academic acceleration includes multiple forms that can be applied to individual or groups of students. When determining readiness for one or more forms of acceleration, educators consider several factors including information from achievement, aptitude and ability tests. Presenters offer guidelines for interpreting test information that meets equity goals and indicates student readiness for advanced learning.

Learning Objectives:

Participants will describe guiding principles for tests when considering equitable access to acceleration for advanced students.
Participants will explain the importance of applying universal screening equitably and recognize the need for additional objective information about learners' needs via achievement, aptitude, and ability testing.
Participants will define academic acceleration as a broad-spectrum intervention for advanced learners and demonstrate an understanding of applying guidelines and principles for screening and assessment.