Advanced Academic Programs and Services (AAPS)
Dear Families,
Welcome back to a new school year at Heroes Elementary! I’m Mindy Thompson, and I’m excited to continue serving as your Advanced Academic Programs and Services (AAPS) Resource Teacher. As we begin the 2025–2026 school year, I look forward to building on our shared commitment to academic excellence and student growth.
DoDEA’s advanced academic programming is designed to support students with advanced learning needs through a collaborative, inclusive approach. I will continue to work closely with classroom teachers to ensure that students receive instruction that is both rigorous and responsive to their individual strengths.
Levels I and II services are provided to all students and do not require a formal referral for gifted education services. These services include:
- Consultation between the AAPS RT and classroom teachers to support differentiated instruction and increase rigor
- After-school clubs, activities, and competitions offered by the local school
- Flexible grouping within classrooms or grade levels
- Critical and creative thinking lessons
- Enrichment opportunities organized by classroom teachers, such as field trips, guest speakers, and community partnerships
Levels III and IV services provide more targeted support for students with advanced learning needs. These services include:
- Collaboration between the AAPS RT and classroom teachers in cluster-grouped core content classes to co-plan and co-teach lessons that increase rigor and complexity
- Differentiated core instruction tailored to individual student strengths
- Extension of DoDEA College and Career Ready Standards to deepen learning
- Embedded instruction in essential skills such as resilience, time management, and collaboration
To ensure a strong start to the school year and allow time for classroom observations and planning, new referrals for AAPS Levels III and IV will not be accepted until Week 5. Referrals will open on September 22.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss how we can best support your child’s learning, please feel free to reach out. Thank you for your continued partnership and support!
Sincerely,
AAPS Resource Teacher
