Glossary of Terms

• Cluster Grouping
  Students are grouped within a regular classroom setting and receive differentiated instruction and curriculum from the regular classroom teacher.
  
  
• Curriculum Compacting
  An instructional strategy that allows students who demonstrate mastery of a skill, to omit portions of assigned curriculum, and substitute it with enrichment activities that match their interests, abilities, and needs.
  
  
• Differentiation
  Adapting the curriculum to meet the unique needs of learners by making modifications in complexity, depth and pacing.
  
  
• Flexible Grouping
  A method of grouping students for instruction using interest, ability level or other student needs to determine groups.
  
  
• Multiple Criteria
  Student information and data that are reviewed to help determine eligibility.
  
  
• Part-time Grouping
  Classes are organized to provide advanced or enriched subject matter for part of the school day. These classes are composed of identified GATE students, and other advanced learners.
  
  
• Tiered Instruction/ Tiered Assignment
  An instructional strategy that ensures all students work with the same essential ideas and skills, but at different levels of complexity, abstractness and difficulty. A tiered assignment is one in which each student has the opportunity to develop skills and understandings at his or her appropriate level of challenge.