Single Subject Acceleration

  • Single Subject Acceleration (SSA) is the practice of assigning a student to a higher-grade level than is typical, given the student's age, for the purpose of providing access to appropriately challenging learning opportunities in either math or english/language arts. ​SSA is an accelerative practice that allows students to show mastery of content of​ select elementary or middle school courses​ without having taken the course.
     
    ​During specified nomination windows parents or teachers can nominate students to skip a grade level of content in either English Language Arts ​OR​ Mathematics. ​Students may only be nominated and assessed for SSA in ONE subject area.
     
    ​Mark your calendars, as nominations will only be received by your child's school during the open Nomination Window for your child's calendar.
     
    Nomination Windows officially close at the end of the school day on March 22nd 2021.
     
    Is your child a good candidate for SSA?

    • Consider your child's social and emotional maturity. Your child will be taking classes with peers who may be older or they will be working on their own.

    • Consider your child's organizational skills and ability to focus.

    • Your child will be skipping an entire year's worth of content and background knowledge. The AIG teacher and homeroom teachers are not responsible for covering any content your child skipped as a result of receiving SSA services.

    • If your child qualifies for SSA in math or ELA in elementary or middle school, some courses take place online. During the school day, students participate in these courses. Though they are not self-paced, students work independently during their online lessons.

    • In order to ensure your child receives the classes in the area where SSA is taking place, it may result in schedule adjustments where recess, lunch and/or specials may be with different grade levels or classes than what is assigned.

    • If you have any school related questions or concerns, please communicate with the SSA Contact at your child's school to discuss this request.

    Single Subject Acceleration Website

    Contact Ms. Booker at mdbooker@wcpss.net  or 919-662-2359

  • Single Subject Acceleration (SSA) is an acceleration opportunity provided for enrolled and attending Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) students.  As outlined in Board Policy 3422,  K-8th grade students who meet specific criteria in Mathematics or English Language Arts (ELA) have the opportunity to accelerate in one subject area.  Only students who are currently enrolled and attending a WCPSS school during the open nomination and testing window are eligible to be considered for SSA.

    SSA Testing Information

    Testing for Single Subject Acceleration is available for enrolled and attending WCPSS students.  Students in the designated grades are able to accelerate in either ELA or Math.  Testing is done at the student's assigned school.  Please contact your student's school for more information about SSA testing.

    Testing Windows

    • Track 1, 2, and 3: April 4 - April 17
    • Track 4: April 28 - May 9
    • Modified and Leadership Academies: March 24 - April 4
    • Traditional: April 11- April 25

    Test Request Deadlines

    All test request windows will open at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the first day of the test request window and close at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the last day of the request window.  

    • Track 1, Modified and Leadership Academy: February 17–March 7, 2025
    • Track 2, 3, 4, and Traditional: March 10–March 28, 2025 

    Testing Request Process


    Parents should:

    • Contact your child’s school to find out when the SSA informational meeting will be held.
    • Attend your school’s SSA informational meeting.
    • Determine which one subject your child will be assessed in (Mathematics or English Language Arts).
    • Complete the Central Services SSA Test Request Form* that aligns with your student’s school calendar.  


    *All requests submitted outside of the student’s testing request windows will not be processed. Once the Google Form is completed, you will receive a confirmation message. If you do not receive a confirmation email please email the Advanced Learning Services team at ssa@wcpss.net.