FAQ GATE/APAAS - Irvine Unified School District

Q. What is differentiated instruction?
FAQ GATE/APAAS
A. Differentiated instruction is adding elements of acceleration, complexity, and depth into the existing
core curriculum where applicable.
Q. What is APAAS?
A. APAAS stands for Alternative Program for Academically Accelerated Students. The Program is
intended to benefit those students whose capacity for intellectual achievement and need for
acceleration go beyond what could be provided in a GATE clustered class.
Q. Who is eligible to apply for APAAS?
A. All students in grades three through five who reside within the Irvine Unified School District
boundaries and meet the minimum requirements.
Q. What are the minimum requirements to apply for APAAS?
A. The minimum requirements for a student to be considered for APAAS are all of the following:
1. academic achievement in which student has earned a B or higher in all academic subjects on
2 nd trimester report cards,
2. CST standardized test scores in proficient or advanced range in both English Language Arts
and Math,
3. if student has completed the OLSAT test, scores are 75 th percentile or above,
4. ability for student to achieve success with consistently high expectations, rigor, and an
accelerated pace in all subjects.
5. student ability to handle rigorous academic environment with an accelerated pace of instruction
Q. Which schools have the APAAS classes?
A. Brywood, Deerfield, Eastshore, Santiago Hills, Turtle Rock, and Westpark (year round).
Q. What is the difference between APAAS and GATE?
A. The GATE program is organized with gifted students placed together in a cluster group in a regular
classroom. Sizes of the cluster group will vary from site to site and grade level to grade level.
Specialized training with differentiated instruction and meeting the needs of the gifted learner has been
provided for the teacher. All students identified as gifted may take part in the GATE program.
The APAAS program is similar to the GATE program, however all students in the class are high-ability
learners with a strong work ethic. The purpose of the APAAS program is to meet the needs of the high
ability student who requires a more rigorous program with an accelerated pace in all subjects
throughout the day. Students must apply and be accepted to participate in the APAAS program based
on specific criteria.
1

Q. What criteria are used for the APAAS selection process?
A. A review committee analyzes each applicant’s achievement test scores, OLSAT and/or IQ scores (if
available), classroom grades, level of instruction received, and an assessment of social and emotional
compatibility.
Q. How will I know if APAAS is the right placement for my child?
A. Students who are successful in the APAAS program are individuals who have a high level of
curiosity, need to work at a more accelerated pace in all subjects, and manage their time well to
complete assignments. APAAS students benefit from working with others who are like-minded, prefer
handling more difficult assignments, and are comfortable with expressing their ideas in writing.
Q. Will my child be studying different curriculum in an APAAS class than students in regular
classes?
A. The state of California has set curriculum content and performance standards for all grades K-12.
APAAS teachers follow the same guidelines as regular classes. However, since APAAS students need
a more rigorous curriculum to meet their academic needs, teachers are able to study topics in greater
depth; address more complex questions; and do less review and remediation than in a regular class.
Q. Will my child’s class be smaller than a regular class?
A. APAAS classes generally have 32-35 students.
How well do students adjust to moving to a new school in order to attend an APAAS program?
A. This depends on many factors including the age and maturity of the child; his / her temperament;
whether the child has friends in the program already; and the child’s desire to be in an accelerated
class. Most students make the adjustment over a period of a few months.
B. Students offered placement in an APAAS class will be invited to a “Meet & Greet” session.
Q. How much homework will my child encounter in this program?
A. The district guideline for homework is approximately 45 minutes to one hour per night. However,
APAAS students, like students in regular classes, will sometimes have more homework than this.
Several factors affect the amount of time an individual will spend on homework including whether a
student is involved in a long range project, in addition to daily assigned homework; the accelerated
pace of the program; and how well the student uses class time to complete work assigned during the
day. In any given APAAS classroom, some students will finish homework in a relatively short time,
while others will take much longer. In general, students with good time management skills find the
homework load in APAAS to be fair.
Q. My child is involved in several extracurricular activities. Will the added rigor of this program
be too much for him /her?
A. Many successful APAAS students participate in extracurricular sports, music, and other programs.
However, most students find they need some unscheduled time during the day and/or week in order to
maintain a healthy attitude and perform at their best.
2

Q. Are children ever counseled out of the APAAS program?
A. Occasionally teachers and parents working together determine that APAAS is not a good match for
a particular child. Some students realize that they prefer being at the top of a regular class, other
students want to go back to friends or don’t have the work ethic necessary to keep up with the
demands of the program. While few students are counseled out of the program, the possibility
underscores the importance of assessing the student’s desire to be in the program when first applying.
Q. Will my student get into the APAAS school closest to our home?
A. Usually, but not necessarily. Due to availability, the number of students applying, and the individual
student’s qualifications, logistical placement is not always possible.
Q. Is transportation provided?
A. No, parents are responsible for student transportation to and from all GATE & APAAS locations.
Q. How do I obtain an APAAS interest/application form?
A. Forms are updated each year in February. To obtain an APAAS interest/application form visit our
website at www.iusd.org/parent_resources/gate/gate.htm. Forms are also available at this orientation
meeting. Completed forms may be dropped off in the provided box.
Q. How and when does the process begin?
A. Screening process is initiated when parents complete and submit an APAAS interest/application
form to the GATE/APAAS Department, 5050 Barranca Parkway, Irvine, CA 92604.
Q. When is the deadline for submitting an interest/application form?
A. Applications must be post marked on or before March 10, 2006. Late applications will not be
accepted.
Q. Who makes up the review committee?
A. Beth Andrews, APAAS Coordinator, each APAAS school’s principal, APAAS teachers, and Mark
Sontag, Education Services Coordinator.
Q. Once selected for APAAS, must I reapply each year?
A. Existing APAAS students fill out an APAAS Continuation Form through their APAAS teacher.
Q. When and how will I be notified if my student has been selected for APAAS?
A. Students and parents are notified by mail of acceptance or rejection within the first three weeks of
May. To confirm acceptance of placement, a signed tear-off must be returned.
Q. What if my student is not selected to participate in APAAS?
GATE identified students will participate in the school’s GATE cluster classroom. An APAAS wait-list is
created for each site and grade level, and students are informed if openings occur during the beginning
of the school year.
3

Q. What if I am an Irvine resident but my child attends private school?
A. You may submit an interest/application form giving your private school information. Before
beginning in an APAAS class, you must show proof of residency. If achievement test scores or private
IQ test results are available, please attach to your interest/application form. We will send an APAAS
questionnaire to your student’s current teacher. Parents are responsible for making sure private school
teacher adheres to stated deadlines.
4