This information was produced by the staff of the Belin-Blank International Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development (B-BC) at the University of Iowa (belinblank.org). The resources and information listed here are for informational purposes; there is no direct or implied endorsement by the B-BC. Services provided by the B-BC include programs for academically talented K-12 and college students, professional development for teachers, the Assessment and Counseling Clinic, the Acceleration Institute (accelerationinstitute.org), and graduate programs and research in gifted education.

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State Policies in New York  

New York does have a state policy on acceleration. Local education agencies (LEAs) determine whether and to what extent acceleration is permitted.

Grade-based Acceleration

Early entrance to kindergartenState policy leaves LEA to determine. New York law states that a child must turn 5 on or before December 1 to enroll in kindergarten, and districts are not required to enroll students who do not meet that age requirement.
Early entrance to 1st gradeNo state policy; up to LEA to determine. Children must be 6 years old on or before December 1 to enroll in first grade, but exceptions may be made at the discretion of local districts.
Whole-grade accelerationIn New York it is stated that "Each child has the right to an education appropriate for his or her individual needs." For gifted children, this appropriate program is defined as one that offers "a trained teacher, classmates with similar characteristics, and a curriculum that is appropriately challenging and adaptable to each pupil's rate and style of learning." It seems that whole-grade acceleration would be deemed an appropriate intervention based on this description.
Early high school graduationState policy allows alternatives for Graduation Requirements including credit by examination. 
Early entrance to collegeThere are several early entrance programs in New York, including Bard High School Early College and CUNY.

Content-based Acceleration

Dual or concurrent enrollment in community college, college, or universityNew York does not have a state policy; leaves LEA to determine. Several dual enrollment programs exist in New York, including CUNY  and Monroe Community College dual enrollment program, which allows students to earn college credit by taking high school and college courses simultaneously.
Middle school students permitted dual or concurrent enrollment in high school

State policy leaves LEA to determine. Eighth grade students may take high school courses for graduation credit. 
Advanced Placement®Advanced Placement classes are offered in New York. There may also be fee waivers for qualifying students.
Talent Search

There is no in-state Talent Search for New York, but gifted students in NY can participate in regional and national talent searches, including those offered by the University of Iowa Belin-Blank Center and the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth.

Credit by examination/proficiency-based promotion

State policy specifically permits. Students may earn up to 6.5 credits toward graduation if they achieve a score of at least 85% on a state-approved examination and meets any other requirements outlined by the school.
Other forms of content-based acceleration

Typically left to LEAs to determine. If you know of state-level code, please e-mail us.

Additional Information


New York Department of Education

The information presented on this page was compiled from a variety of resources, including the State of the States in Gifted Education 2020-2021 (a report by the Council of State Directors of Programs for the Gifted and the National Association for Gifted Children), Websites, professional literature, and personal communication. The Acceleration Institute has not verified the accuracy of this information and does not warrant its accuracy or fitness of use for any purpose. Users should verify information prior to taking any action. Furthermore, the appearance of selected programs and/or resources does not imply an endorsement or affiliation. Programs and resources are highlighted for informational purposes only.