ERIC Number: EJ1169351
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016-Dec
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1323-9686
EISSN: N/A
Parents' Experiences with Their Children's Grade-Based Acceleration: Struggles, Successes, and Subsequent Needs
Dare, Lynn; Smith, Susen; Nowicki, Elizabeth
Australasian Journal of Gifted Education, v25 n2 p6-21 Dec 2016
Grade-based acceleration is when high-ability children progress through school at a rate faster than typical by being placed with older classmates. This educational practice can help meet the learning needs of high-ability children. In this study, 56 parents of high-ability children who underwent grade-based acceleration in Australian schools shared their experiences through an online questionnaire. We posed the following research question: "What are the experiences of parents whose children accelerate into classes with older classmates?" Our findings revealed that parents perceived successful academic, social, and emotional outcomes of acceleration for their children. However, parents encountered some resistance towards acceleration among teachers, which may have interfered with the availability of accelerative options. For some parents, ill-informed attitudes among other adults placed a strain on parents' social relationships. Parents also described their accelerated children's educational needs, which were not universally met within their respective schools. Practical implications for parents and teachers considering acceleration are discussed.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Parent Attitudes, Experience, Acceleration (Education), Academically Gifted, Talent, Online Surveys, Questionnaires, Teacher Attitudes, Interpersonal Relationship, Student Needs, Educational Practices
Australian Association for the Education of the Gifted and Talented. School of Education, The University of New South Wales, Sydney NSW 2052, Australia. e-mail: EditorAJGE@aaegt.net.au; Web site: http://www.aaegt.net.au/?page_id=736
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Australia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A