R&E Symposium

Academic Acceleration: What Do Students Say?

Saturday, November 15, 2025

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM ET

Location: Convention Center, 406

Grade Level: 3-5, 6-8, Professionals

Ann Lupkowski-Shoplik, PhD

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

Emeritus Professor
University of Iowa Belin-Blank Canter
Highlands ranch, Colorado, United States

Short Description: Making decisions about academic acceleration requires consideration of objective and subjective factors, including the student’s views about grade skipping. Our research study (n= 73) investigated acceleration from the student’s point of view, including their opinion about possible acceleration, their view of the level of challenge of classwork, how their performance compares to other students, and possible concerns about the intervention.

Learning Objectives:

Respond to myths concerning student perspectives about academic acceleration.
Describe the importance of students’ opinions and experiences for acceleration decisions.
Explain how research can inform decisions about how to evaluate a student for a potential accelerated placement.