Accelerated Learning

The Franklin Special District seeks to create an environment conducive to high-quality educational experiences for all learners. The district maintains a deliberate focus on research-based practices and a strong commitment to differentiated instructional experiences that appropriately challenge each student. Accelerated Learning, a pull-out program for acceleration and enrichment, is an academic intervention that provides intellectual challenge to students who meet the qualifying criteria. Grade-level curriculum will be taught with added depth and rigor by an Accelerated Learning teacher.

Eligibility for Accelerated Learning services occurs annually. To determine eligibility, ELA and math achievement data for all students are compiled and analyzed by the Accelerated Learning teacher, in order to get a full picture of student performance. Depending on grade level, the number of assessment data points will vary. Students' results from the following assessments are examined for accelerated learning eligibility: district benchmarks (i-Ready Reading and Math), criterion-referenced assessments (TCAP ELA and Math), and an assessment of reasoning and problem-solving skills in 2nd grade (CogAT Screener; NGAT beginning in the 2025-26 school year).

Accelerated Learning Program Resources

Elementary Qualification Process

5-8 Qualification Process

The graphic below shows how students qualify each year for accelerated learning enrichment classes at FSD intermediate and middle schools. Because students in grades 5–8 have many advanced and related arts courses to choose from, those who qualify for accelerated learning will need to select the Accelerated Learning elective as one of their course options.

Data Collection: All students’ prior year iReady Reading and Math scores, plus the current year’s fall scores, are added to a data sheet. TCAP scores in ELA and math for the previous two years are also included. The number of data points varies based on enrollment. Data Analysis: Scores at or above the 90 percentile for any student are highlighted on the data sheet in both reading and math. Students are ranked in each subject based on their results, but also must meet the final criteria. Determining Top 10%: For AL services, the top 10% of students in each subject (number may vary based on capacity) are determined from those with qualifying scores. Parents will be notified if their child has qualified in reading or math for the AL elective class.

Accelerated Learning (AL) teachers at the intermediate and middle schools also support both students and teachers in Honors classes. They may occasionally join an Honors class to work with students, and they also provide teachers with resources that promote advanced rigor, critical thinking, and problem-solving.

Please note: Accelerated Learning services may look different at Poplar Grove Middle School. At PGMS, the AL teacher also serves as the primary teacher for Honors math classes. This approach helps keep math class sizes smaller for all students and reduces the need for clustering (combining Honors and standard classes into one class).

Meet the AL Team

Elementary Accelerated Learning (AL) teachers:

Franklin Elementary: Michelle Pieczura (pieczuramic@fssd.org)
Johnson Elementary: Rachel Sands (sandsrac@fssd.org)
Liberty Elementary: Amanda Frederick (frederickama@fssd.org)
Moore Elementary: Shannon Carlisle (carlislesha@fssd.org)
Poplar Grove Elementary: Jennifer Lampley (lampleyjen@fssd.org)

Intermediate/Middle Accelerated Learning (AL) teachers:

Freedom Intermediate: Dr. Christine McNutt (mcnuttchr@fssd.org)
Freedom Middle: Hollie Osteen (osteenhol@fssd.org)
Poplar Grove Middle: Suzanne Crist (cristsuz@fssd.org)

Department Supervisors

head shot of man in suit with tie — Dr. Pax Wiemers

Student Performance

Pax Wiemers, Ed.D., Supervisor (inquiries about the Accelerated Learning program and services)
Faith Maxwell, Administrative Assistant
205 Eddy Lane
Franklin, TN 37064
615-794-6624

Mrs. Stacey Robertson

Special Populations

Stacey Robertson, Supervisor (inquiries concerning gifted IEP eligibility/services)
Christine Saavedra, Administrative Assistant
Crystal Bowman, Administrative Assistant
205 Eddy Lane
Franklin, TN 37064
615-794-6624

Logo Image

Logo Title

In This Section

Accelerated Learning