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 West Virginia  

West Virginia state policy specifically permits acceleration.

Grade-based Acceleration

Early entrance to kindergarten

State policy leaves local education agencies (LEA) to determine whether early entrance to kindergarten is permitted.

According to ยง18-5-18, kindergartens in West Virginia are intended for "children who have attained the age of five prior to the first day of September of the school year in which the pupil enters the kindergarten program," but the state department of education's Gifted FAQ states that "the option of early school entrance is available for students who demonstrate academic readiness. Contact the county school district's administrative office for information on early school entrance."

Early entrance to 1st gradeIf you know where to find this information, please e-mail us.
Whole-grade acceleration

West Virginia Gifted Guidelines (Instruction) state that "Acceleration is available to all students in West Virginia who demonstrate the academic readiness. Some options include, but are not limited to, early entrance, single-subject acceleration, whole-grade acceleration and testing out (at the high school level). The requirements are decided at the local level."

Early high school graduationIndividualized educational plans (IEPs) are used to provide services on a case by case basis for students in grades 9-12 who qualify for services as an Exceptional Gifted student (gifted and having a disability). For gifted students in grades 9-12 who do not meet criteria as Exceptional Gifted, a Gifted Four Year and Transition Plan is developed prior to the end of the eighth-grade year to ensure access to appropriately challenging coursework.

More information is available regarding Graduation Requirements on the WV Dept. of Ed. website. 

Early entrance to collegeIf you know where to find this information, please e-mail us.

Content-based Acceleration

Dual or concurrent enrollment in community college, college, or universityState policy specifically permits for students in grades eleven and twelve. State policy also permits students to receive high school credit for college courses, and the tuition for dual enrollment is paid by the state education agency (SEA) and the LEA.
Middle school students permitted dual or concurrent enrollment in high school

State policy leaves LEA to determine whether and to what extent dual enrollment in middle and high school is allowed, but state policy specifically permits the award of high school credit for courses taken during middle school.
Advanced Placement®State policy permits. See WV Code 18-2E-3a .  For more information on Advanced Placement, click here.
Talent Search

There is no in-state Talent Search for West Virginia, but gifted students in WV 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. Each LEA determines methods of demonstrating proficiency, and the state-specified advancement options after proficiency include individualized instruction, grade/course advancement, individualized education programs, and distance learning. State policy specifically permits the award of graduation credit for proficiency.
Other forms of content-based acceleration

The WV Dept. of Ed. Gifted Education Guidelines include several forms of content-based acceleration as options for students identified as gifted. The forms include single-subject acceleration, cooperative learning, curriculum compacting, and grade telescoping. See Gifted Guidelines - Instruction for more information.


Additional Information

West Virginia Department of Education Gifted Website
West Virginia 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 2018-2019 (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.