A-B C-D
E-G H-J
K-L M-N
O-Q R
S T-Y
Academic Assistance
Boulder Valley Schools program in which staff coordinator recruits
community volunteers for academic tutoring of students
ACE - Alternative Cooperative Education
Program which combines academic and vocational education with work
experience to earn a high school diploma, for students who are not
succeeding in the traditional setting
ACT - American College Testing
Tests of academic subjects given to high school students and used for
college entrance
ADD - Attention Deficit Disorder
Condition producing the effects of a learning disability
ADHD - Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
More severe form of ADD, see above
AF - Adaptive Functional
Non-categorical, self-contained special education program
Affective Education
Program which addresses social skills, self-esteem, and violence
prevention; similar to Second Step
AGATE - Aurora Gifted and Talented Experience
Gifted and talented elementary school program for grades 3-5 in
Aurora Public Schools
All-Stars
Student organization to fight drug abuse
ALPAS - Academic Learning Progress Assessment System
Competency tests used in Denver Public Schools
ALPS
Program for students with special talents: they share their expertise
with other students
AmeriCorp
National volunteer organization that allows young adults to serve
needs in the United States
AmeriTowne
Students learn about city government through study and then
“hands-on” experience
AP - Advanced Placement
High school classes which prepare students to take tests that earn
college credit
Aprenda
Standardized test for Spanish speakers
Art Start
Art enrichment program taught by parents
ArtReach
After-school workshops, on-site performances, museum tours and
tickets to performances for young people
Assessments
Mechanisms to evaluate student learning and proficiency such as
informal questioning in classroom, student-parent-teacher conferences,
teacher-generated quizzes and tests, standardized testing, and
portfolios.
AVID – Advancement Via Individual Determination
National curriculum for motivated high school students with average
to above-average grades who might be the first in their family to attend
college. Students take rigorous course work (honors and AP classes),
then engage in a regimented support system to ensure success.
Back to Basics
Commonly used term for a traditional educational program featuring “3
R’s”, basal readers, phonics, whole-group instruction, Core Knowledge
curriculum, rote learning methods, strict discipline policies, etc.
Balanced Literacy
Method of teaching reading along with writing, listening, and
speaking skills
Balarat
700-Acre outdoor education lab located in the mountains for Denver
Public Schools students
Basal Reader
Reading textbook that gradually introduces new words
BD - Behavior Development
Assistance to meet needs of students with behavioral and emotional
problems
BEAR - Basic Early Assessment of Reading
Uses as a summative assessment for reading in grades K - 2
Bilingual Education
Instruction given to English-speaking and non-English-speaking
student in two languages with the goal of students becoming fluent in
both languages; not synonymous with ESL
Block Scheduling
Instruction focuses on a single subject or concept for an extended
period of time
BMC - Building Management Council
Team of parents and teachers sharing decision making about school
policies, budgets, and other issues
BOCES - Board of Cooperative Educational Services
A group of school districts sharing educational resources—usually
smaller districts
Book It
Reading incentive program sponsored by Pizza Hut
BPAC - Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee
BRI - Basic Reading Inventory
Assessment tool
British Primary (program, school, or philosophy)
Child-centered teaching philosophy; curriculum is developmentally
based rather than content based; extensive use of manipulatives to teach
and reinforce concepts
Building Resource Teacher
Elementary level teacher who provides staff development and mentoring
of new teachers in a school
BVSD - Boulder Valley School District |
