What is Profoundly Gifted

The purpose of this chapter is to provide an overview of the history and research on acceleration followed by practical guidance for making informed decisions on acceleration cases and guidance on developing policies that support acceleration. The chapter begins by defining acceleration and providing a brief history of acceleration practices in the United States. Descriptions of 20 forms of acceleration are included to guide the reader as they develop an understanding of the wide variety of accelerative options that span grades Pre-K through college. A synthesis of the research related to the cognitive and affective development of advanced learners and long-term outcomes of accelerants is provided. Discussion of myths about acceleration and reasons why there is a gap between research and practice follow with recommendations for tools and processes to help make informed decisions about candidates for acceleration as well as development of research-based acceleration policies.