Conventional educational programs take the student through a spiral of material while introducing him to new skills in sequence. Since students are grouped chronologically, they are lock stepped and receive the same material at the same time. However, students do not necessarily all have the same level of maturity as others of their chronological age, and their natural learning rates are not lock stepped with other students. The above average student may master the skill the first time he is exposed to it, the average student may pick up part of it, and the below-average students will often grasp only a minimum amount or fail to understand it entirely. As the spiral continues, some students stay out in front while others are left behind for a season (or for good.) 

The A.C.E program is designed around a new format: that of building skill upon skill. The scope and sequence ignores the concept of grade levels and moves with continuous progress, beginning with the first skill to be mastered. Depending on their ability and motivation levels, students may move ahead rapidly, or take as long as necessary, but each student masters the material. 

As the student moves upward, level after level, and moves into new concepts, he or she is far better prepared to learn because of the mastery of the skill on the previous level. They do not advance until they have mastered each concept. The student is not lock stepped with their classmates, but is learning individually and completely before advancing. A.C.E implements a unique and effective system.