Advanced Learning Plans
The Advanced Learning Plan (ALP) is a legal document [22-20-R-12.00, C.R.S.] governed by Colorado's ECEA law. The ALP outlines programming for gifted students and is used to guide educational decision-making.
All identified Gifted and Talented students in Adams 12 Five Star Schools will have an Advanced Learning Plan (ALP) with goals focusing on the Colorado Essential Skills. Ideally, this is a collaborative process, involving the student, parent, and teachers.
In Adams 12, the ALP is a student centered, authentic process that empowers each gifted learner to explore and realize their potential. The ALP
- Creates a pathway for student strengths and interests
- Drives individualized differentiation and enrichment
- Integrates learning and affective goals and strategies
- Fosters a collective responsibility
- Supports students in their growth
Each gifted learner will demonstrate growth affectively (social-emotionally) and in their identified strength area(s) aligned to data and interests. Multiple forms of differentiated strategies, enrichment, and enhanced learning opportunities will be provided. Gifted learners will demonstrate their learning in a variety of ways.
The 3 primary elements of an ALP:
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Student interest and opportunities for family engagement/communication
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At least one academic learning goal to support your child’s area of strength
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At least one affective goal to develop your child’s social/emotional needs
What are the benefits of having an Advanced Learning Plan (ALP)?
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Academically: Awareness for educators to provide appropriate instruction and foster engagement.
- Affectively: Awareness for educators to support social-emotional needs, which can be unique.
- Environmentally: Opportunities for special events/programming or special provisions. GT students need to interact with like-minded peers in academic and social settings.
- ALP Timeline
- Classroom Advocacy
- Helping Your Gifted Child Succeed! (Spanish)
- Gifted Children's Bill of Rights (Spanish)
K-8 student ALPs will generally be teacher generated and monitored along with student participation and input. The ALP is a direct link between the student profile created during the identification process and the implementation of programming services matched to the child’s strengths and interests. ALPs are a planning guide for making instructional decisions about materials, programming options and assessments for gifted students based upon strengths, interests, and social-emotional needs. ALPs are critical in the transition of gifted students from one level of schooling to the next and from school to school.
Once a student is identified gifted, both the family and the student will influence goal setting as part of the Advanced Learning Plan (ALP).
Advanced Learning Plan (ALP) Fast Facts from the Colorado Department of Education (CDE)
High school student ALPs will be student generated and monitored along with the support and guidance of teachers and parents. Students will choose their own ALP goals and strategies. Student involvement and understanding of the ALP is an essential part of this process, as students can develop a sense of agency in their learning. In order to better facilitate meaningful collaboration among parents teachers and students, and to foster student ownership of the ALP process, the ALP is integrated with the Individual Career and Academic Plan (ICAP) which is required for all high school students, and which is currently housed in SchooLinks. Parents have access to their student's ICAP in SchooLinks.
The intent of the high school ALP process is to:
● Empower students by giving them choice and voice in setting their own learning goals
● Create more Effective collaboration among parents, students, and teachers
● Foster more Efficient use of student’s time by integrating the ALP with the ICAP
Resources for the ALP integrated with the ICAP are available here:
For Parents
- Individual Career and Academic Plan (ICAP) from the Colorado Department of Education (CDE)
- ALP Blended with an ICAP Fast Facts from the Colorado Department of Education (CDE)
- ALP on ICAP Responsibilities Chart (Spanish)
- CDE Postsecondary and Workforce Ready
- Parent FAQs ALP on ICAP (English and Spanish)
For Students