Local Level IV vs Center

[Anonymous]

Sorry if this has been discussed a million times, but can anyone explain the differences and pros/cons of Local Level IV services vs an AAP center?

We're at a school that offers local Level IV. There's an AAP center nearby. I'm trying to understand the advantages of each option. Do centers and local level IV use the same curriculum? The schools feed into different pyramids - if a student is enrolled at the center, will he then go on to the middle/high school for the center's pyramid, or will he come back to our neighborhood for middle/high school? At a school with local level IV services, how integrated are the AAP classes with the rest of the school, and is that different at the centers? Is there generally a difference in what types of clubs, activities and extracurriculars are offered?

I'm not looking for input on specific schools, I'm very happy with our local school but also know that the center school is well regarded. Mainly trying to understand the structure of the programs in general. Obviously we won't even know if he qualifies for AAP for another few months (he's in second grade now), but his teachers, administrators and AART have all been talking to us about AAP so I'm trying to understand the different paths.

Thanks in advance!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry if this has been discussed a million times, but can anyone explain the differences and pros/cons of Local Level IV services vs an AAP center?

Here you go:

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/406225.page

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/362053.page

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/354612.page

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/305309.page

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/294799.page

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/290935.page

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/217587.page

[Anonymous]

Which school is you local level IV and which center? Also- has your child made friends/integrated within the local school? Is there a difference on how the local level IV school handles AAP versus the center and if so which one do you think would work best with your child?

[Anonymous]

OP here - thanks for all of the links! Those discussions were very helpful, particularly the one with the dashboard link - really interesting to see the qty of AAP students that stay at the base schools in LLIV.

Center would be Mantua. DC has made friends, but I wouldn't say he's totally immersed to the degree that we couldn't move him. I have no idea how each school handles AAP (aside from the published materials, such are basically the same for both), that's part of what I need to figure out. I've met our AART a few times, I guess the next step is to schedule a meeting.

[Anonymous]

We went through this decision recently- I had asked about the center and local level IV (you answered a bit- I am not familiar with your schools though others may chime in if you had disclosed more- anyway- how lvel IV and centers treat AAP can be different and it's up to you to know what works best for your child). Also- many people chime in on how going to center takes the child away from the neighborhood. We have not found this- kids in our neighborhood are friends from private, parochial, or public- too early to tell. Also- our center does feed into the same middle and high school as our base- so, it actually works better in a way since DC would meet a lot more future HS friends (our ES is split into different HS). In our case, our local level IV kept changing how they treated AAP so we opted for the center. So far, it's been great- I really don't regret this decision based on our situation and our child and how he learns.