20 Learning-related AcronymsLearning is about more than your ABCs. In fact, we’re spelling out an entire list of acronyms (a word formed from the first letter of other words) related to education and learning. ACT: American College Testing What it is: A national college admissions exam ADD/ADHD: Attention Deficit/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder What it is: A learning struggle associated with weak attention skills – and sometimes accompanied by hyperactivity AP: Advanced Placement What it is: College-level curriculum offered in high school ASD: Autism Spectrum Disorders What it is: Complex disorders of the brain that create difficulties in social interaction and verbal and nonverbal communication, sometimes accompanied by repetitive behaviors AYP: Adequate Yearly Progress What it is: Whether a school (or student) has met the standard requirements CAPD: Central Auditory Processing Disorder What it is: A disorder characterized by an inability to process the information being heard DD: Developmental Delay What it is: A lag in hitting typical physical, cognitive, behavioral, emotional or social milestones ECSE: Early Childhood Special Education What it is: Individualized instruction and services for those (usually) 3 to 5 years old ESL: English as a Second Language What it is: A program that teaches English to non-native speakers GPA: Grade Point Average What it is: An average of a student’s letter grades (e.g. A=4.0, B=3.0) GT: Gifted and Talented What it is: A term for students with an exception level of aptitude IEP: Individualized Education Program What it is: A customized set of steps and goals to help a struggling student excel LD: Learning Disability What it is: A difficulty learning in the “typical” manner OCD: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder What it is: An anxiety disorder characterized by repetitive behaviors aimed at reducing fear or worry ODD: Oppositional Defiant Disorder What it is: An ongoing pattern of hostile behavior and disobedience beyond the norms of typical childhood tantrums PP: Paraprofessional What it is: Often, a teacher’s assistant who has been trained to help students with learning struggles PSAT: Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test What it is: A practice test for future college admissions exams like the SAT and ACT SAT: Scholastic Aptitude Test What it is: The most widely used college admissions exam SLI: Speech/Language Impairment What it is: An ongoing primary spoken communication disorder STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics What it is: An interdisciplinary approach to teach science and mathematics by integrating technology and engineering into curriculum that is driven by exploratory learning and problem-solving