Fairfax County GT/Advanced Academic Centers transportation

[Anonymous]

Just received this email and thought I would share here.



Parents of students at GT/Advanced Academic Centers --

As you may know, funding for bus transportation to GT/Advanced Academic Centers for students that have Local Level IV services at their base school has been eliminated for next school year (starting in September 2010). The total cost of this transportation in FY2010 amounts to $208,000.

At the April 13 Advanced Academic Programs Advisory Committee (AAPAC) meeting, Dr. Carol Horn, Advanced Academic Programs Coordinator, came up with a very rough estimate of approximately 4,000 students that are affected by this cut in transportation. That’s a lot of students – and many, many parents.

Parents that wish to see this transportation funding restored need to:
1. Email their School Board members *NOW* to ask for restoration of this funding. Remember to email your three At-Large School Board members and your District Board member. (Please do NOT email the entire School Board!)
Contact information for School Board members:
http://www.fcps.edu/schlbd/members.htm
2. Plan to sign up to testify at the FY 2011 Budget Public Hearing on May 11.
SIGN-UP FOR THE SPEAKERS LIST OPENS ON APRIL 30.
http://www.fcps.edu/schlbd/requestspeak.htm

The best emails to School Board members are ones that tell how such a cut will affect you and your child/child’s class at the GT/Advanced Academic Center. In short, tell your story to your School Board members. When you email your District Board Member, be sure to indicate that you are a resident of his/her district in your email message.

If you have any questions, please email me at [e-mail] – and please share this email with other interested parents!

With many thanks,
Karen Metivier-Carreiro
Braddock District Representative, AAPAC

[Anonymous]

Thanks for posting this

[Anonymous]

There are also two signficiacant ripple effects of pushing GT kids back to base school thru cuts to buses. One, what if parents just drive their kids to GT center and cause massive traffic jams. I know ours (Loiuse Archer) doesn't have streets to handle extra traffic. Or, second, if kids go back to base schools, all those kids that were added to the Level IV class, but didn't qualify for level IV will be bumped out--I wonder if their parents realize this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are also two signficiacant ripple effects of pushing GT kids back to base school thru cuts to buses. One, what if parents just drive their kids to GT center and cause massive traffic jams. I know ours (Loiuse Archer) doesn't have streets to handle extra traffic. Or, second, if kids go back to base schools, all those kids that were added to the Level IV class, but didn't qualify for level IV will be bumped out--I wonder if their parents realize this.

Two great points!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are also two signficiacant ripple effects of pushing GT kids back to base school thru cuts to buses. One, what if parents just drive their kids to GT center and cause massive traffic jams. I know ours (Loiuse Archer) doesn't have streets to handle extra traffic. Or, second, if kids go back to base schools, all those kids that were added to the Level IV class, but didn't qualify for level IV will be bumped out--I wonder if their parents realize this.

Yes, excellent points. This is a hijack of this thread, but in your opinion, is Louise Archer worth driving for? We are very close to deciding to move our kids from private school to Louise Archer next year. We have heard good things about Louise Archer, but I'm not sure if base school GT would be as strong.

[Anonymous]

Great points! I wonder if Carol Horn (AAP Director) knows and/or considered this??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Great points! I wonder if Carol Horn (AAP Director) knows and/or considered this??

Carol Horn does sloppy work. There should be a spreadsheet for each center showing base school and base elementary-middle-high school for middle school centers. There are facilities impacts. It used to serve as a flex group to take overflow when they didn't want to do boundary business. The entrance to AAP is now so broad it is absurd. That program started with 140 iq.

[Anonymous]

I thought the impetus for the transportation cuts came from Dean Tisdadt? He's the one that has repeatedly stated that GT Centers and Local Level 4 are the same thing when they are not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought the impetus for the transportation cuts came from Dean Tisdadt? He's the one that has repeatedly stated that GT Centers and Local Level 4 are the same thing when they are not.

Horn started the level 4 and this is a public school division. Who is on the buses? I read that at a recent meeting Horn gave NO solid numbers and it was her usual vague drivel. What does her staff do all day? Scrap half of them and it would be the bus cost.

[Anonymous]

Carol Horn and Peter Noonan have repeatedly stated that GT Centers and Local Level 4 are not the same. They have said the intended curriculum is the same but the peer groups are different. But then FCPS staff such as Dean Tisdadt distort the truth and say that GT Centers and Local Level 4 are the same when they are not. Even Cluster superintendents like Cecilia Krill continue with this distortion.

[Anonymous]

Yes, excellent points. This is a hijack of this thread, but in your opinion, is Louise Archer worth driving for? We are very close to deciding to move our kids from private school to Louise Archer next year. We have heard good things about Louise Archer, but I'm not sure if base school GT would be as strong.

NP jumping in here, but yes, IMO, Louise Archer is worth the drive. My oldest child is in 4th grade the Center (and I have a younger child in the school too) and I have been VERY impressed with the Center. The school overall is fantastic, and the Center is really outstanding. I don't know what private school you're in now and what the curriculum is like or what issues are driving you to consider switching, but I have no reservations about recommending LA. The Center is absolutely top-notch. They push the kids, but my child finds it really cooperative and non-competitive, as do I. They do a lot in groups and with partners - things like discussing a book in "literature circles" with each kid being responsible for leading part of the discussion, based on assigned questions. They explore topics in much greater depth than they do in the base school, and they do a lot of longer-term projects. It is a lot of work, but there's no busy work. My child does not bring home a ton of worksheets on a weekly basis but rather a few worksheets, tests and quizzes, and then something like a book about a historical figure that each kid spent a month researching and writing. It is very writing-intensive. They give the kids lots of autonomy and expect them to be responsible - which has been wonderful for my child and great preparation for future school years. My child had all A's and a B this past marking period, and I have no idea what the homework is most nights or when there's a test coming up! My kid does everything independently, knows when to study for tests, and is totally organized with bringing things home from school, handing things in on time, remembering when things are due, etc. They are giving the kids the tools to do all that, and it is expected of them. Also, the kids rotate classes for the 3 main subjects, so each of the 3 GT teachers gets to specialize in her subject - one teaches math, one social studies, and the third language arts. It gives the teachers an opportunity to really focus and get creative with their subject area and make it fun and interesting. I'm sure the GT class in the base school is accelerated in terms of curriculum and does some creative things to engage the kids at a higher level, but I'm not sure it can match what is offered in the Center at LA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Yes, excellent points. This is a hijack of this thread, but in your opinion, is Louise Archer worth driving for? We are very close to deciding to move our kids from private school to Louise Archer next year. We have heard good things about Louise Archer, but I'm not sure if base school GT would be as strong.

. . . They explore topics in much greater depth than they do in the base school, and they do a lot of longer-term projects. It is a lot of work, but there's no busy work. My child does not bring home a ton of worksheets on a weekly basis but rather a few worksheets, tests and quizzes, and then something like a book about a historical figure that each kid spent a month researching and writing. It is very writing-intensive. They give the kids lots of autonomy and expect them to be responsible - which has been wonderful for my child and great preparation for future school years. My child had all A's and a B this past marking period, and I have no idea what the homework is most nights or when there's a test coming up! My kid does everything independently, knows when to study for tests, and is totally organized with bringing things home from school, handing things in on time, remembering when things are due, etc. They are giving the kids the tools to do all that, and it is expected of them. Also, the kids rotate classes for the 3 main subjects, so each of the 3 GT teachers gets to specialize in her subject - one teaches math, one social studies, and the third language arts. It gives the teachers an opportunity to really focus and get creative with their subject area and make it fun and interesting. I'm sure the GT class in the base school is accelerated in terms of curriculum and does some creative things to engage the kids at a higher level, but I'm not sure it can match what is offered in the Center at LA.

I really appreciate you taking the time and effort to write such a thorough response. You have provided some details that I have not heard before and helped me feel much more comfortable and enthusiastic about a decision to move to Louise Archer. (Seems that in addition to the stimulating curriculum, LA has kind and giving parents also!) Thanks again!

[Anonymous]

You're welcome!

I'm sure you and your kids will be very happy at LA - it's a wonderful school!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yes, excellent points. This is a hijack of this thread, but in your opinion, is Louise Archer worth driving for? We are very close to deciding to move our kids from private school to Louise Archer next year. We have heard good things about Louise Archer, but I'm not sure if base school GT would be as strong.

. . . They explore topics in much greater depth than they do in the base school, and they do a lot of longer-term projects. It is a lot of work, but there's no busy work. My child does not bring home a ton of worksheets on a weekly basis but rather a few worksheets, tests and quizzes, and then something like a book about a historical figure that each kid spent a month researching and writing. It is very writing-intensive. They give the kids lots of autonomy and expect them to be responsible - which has been wonderful for my child and great preparation for future school years. My child had all A's and a B this past marking period, and I have no idea what the homework is most nights or when there's a test coming up! My kid does everything independently, knows when to study for tests, and is totally organized with bringing things home from school, handing things in on time, remembering when things are due, etc. They are giving the kids the tools to do all that, and it is expected of them. Also, the kids rotate classes for the 3 main subjects, so each of the 3 GT teachers gets to specialize in her subject - one teaches math, one social studies, and the third language arts. It gives the teachers an opportunity to really focus and get creative with their subject area and make it fun and interesting. I'm sure the GT class in the base school is accelerated in terms of curriculum and does some creative things to engage the kids at a higher level, but I'm not sure it can match what is offered in the Center at LA.

I really appreciate you taking the time and effort to write such a thorough response. You have provided some details that I have not heard before and helped me feel much more comfortable and enthusiastic about a decision to move to Louise Archer. (Seems that in addition to the stimulating curriculum, LA has kind and giving parents also!) Thanks again!

Is Louise Archer the last remaining GT Center with 3 classes per grade?

[Anonymous]

No, Haycock also has 3 GT center classes in 3rd-5th and they actually have 5 6th grade GT center classes this year.