How are GT decisions made at APS elementary schools?

[Anonymous]

Thankfully, "gifted" is really low key in Arlington. You have to remember that APS is FILLED with high-achieving kids who test well. You can have a child in the 98th, 99th percentile in testing and they won't be offered services. They're looking for something different -- more classic "gifted" behavior. Often it goes hand in glove with other characteristics about the child, typically something not neurotypical.

It's a much better way of managing the program than the nuttery that is AAP in Fairfax.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Child scored really well on tests, but teacher seems lukewarm on recommending him.

Also, I think some teachers are generally reluctant to make referrals in any case. I'm pretty sure they're browbeaten by school administrators not to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can fill out a parent referral form and your child will be evaluated. If they are identified, the school has to offer from GT service in that area. Are you asking for ES? Unless it varies by school, you missed the cutoff of April 1.

I got the form in. Thanks. I'm wondering how the decision process works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thankfully, "gifted" is really low key in Arlington. You have to remember that APS is FILLED with high-achieving kids who test well. You can have a child in the 98th, 99th percentile in testing and they won't be offered services. They're looking for something different -- more classic "gifted" behavior. Often it goes hand in glove with other characteristics about the child, typically something not neurotypical.

It's a much better way of managing the program than the nuttery that is AAP in Fairfax.

Except that of course APS is not "filled with" kids who score in the 99th percentile on IQ tests. The testing was supposed to minimize the subjectivity to the process. It hasn't done that, it's only made the favoritism clearer. Remarkably, the characteristics of the PTA officers' kids fit the pattern of what they're looking for, even if those kids perform poorly on the IQ-like tests. Or that's the way it is at my child's school.

[Anonymous]

Thankfully, "gifted" is really low key in Arlington. You have to remember that APS is FILLED with high-achieving kids who test well. You can have a child in the 98th, 99th percentile in testing and they won't be offered services. They're looking for something different -- more classic "gifted" behavior. Often it goes hand in glove with other characteristics about the child, typically something not neurotypical.

It's a much better way of managing the program than the nuttery that is AAP in Fairfax.


Except that of course APS is not "filled with" kids who score in the 99th percentile on IQ tests. The testing was supposed to minimize the subjectivity to the process. It hasn't done that, it's only made the favoritism clearer. Remarkably, the characteristics of the PTA officers' kids fit the pattern of what they're looking for, even if those kids perform poorly on the IQ-like tests. Or that's the way it is at my child's school.

I've never pushed for gifted services in my APS school and my DC was identified by various teachers throughout elementary school and middle (we're at Williamsburg now.) Also, we are totally unconnected to the PTA--in fact, we're not into networking/socializing with other parents for the most part. So, it can be done independently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Thankfully, "gifted" is really low key in Arlington. You have to remember that APS is FILLED with high-achieving kids who test well. You can have a child in the 98th, 99th percentile in testing and they won't be offered services. They're looking for something different -- more classic "gifted" behavior. Often it goes hand in glove with other characteristics about the child, typically something not neurotypical.

It's a much better way of managing the program than the nuttery that is AAP in Fairfax.


Except that of course APS is not "filled with" kids who score in the 99th percentile on IQ tests. The testing was supposed to minimize the subjectivity to the process. It hasn't done that, it's only made the favoritism clearer. Remarkably, the characteristics of the PTA officers' kids fit the pattern of what they're looking for, even if those kids perform poorly on the IQ-like tests. Or that's the way it is at my child's school.

I've never pushed for gifted services in my APS school and my DC was identified by various teachers throughout elementary school and middle (we're at Williamsburg now.) Also, we are totally unconnected to the PTA--in fact, we're not into networking/socializing with other parents for the most part. So, it can be done independently.

Nice it worked out for your child. My child tested in the 99th percentile on 2 IQ tests. Teacher said he he didn't seem gifted because he "doesnt seem interested in school." She's right, he's not into it! This woman wouldn't know gifted if it looked her in the eyes. It kills me that people with no training or even just general sense have this much impact on gifted services.

[Anonymous]

Almost 1/3 of the kids in my child's grade were pulled out for math. There is a huge population of kids that need more than the basic curriculum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Thankfully, "gifted" is really low key in Arlington. You have to remember that APS is FILLED with high-achieving kids who test well. You can have a child in the 98th, 99th percentile in testing and they won't be offered services. They're looking for something different -- more classic "gifted" behavior. Often it goes hand in glove with other characteristics about the child, typically something not neurotypical.

It's a much better way of managing the program than the nuttery that is AAP in Fairfax.


Except that of course APS is not "filled with" kids who score in the 99th percentile on IQ tests. The testing was supposed to minimize the subjectivity to the process. It hasn't done that, it's only made the favoritism clearer. Remarkably, the characteristics of the PTA officers' kids fit the pattern of what they're looking for, even if those kids perform poorly on the IQ-like tests. Or that's the way it is at my child's school.

I've never pushed for gifted services in my APS school and my DC was identified by various teachers throughout elementary school and middle (we're at Williamsburg now.) Also, we are totally unconnected to the PTA--in fact, we're not into networking/socializing with other parents for the most part. So, it can be done independently.

Same here. I've always been happy with how they've differentiated teaching in the classroom and provided appropriate pull-outs with the gifted teacher without My requesting anything. We got the referral letter for both kids. We are at Long Branch and Jefferson.

[Anonymous]

I was happy with differentiated teaching until my son was placed in a class that didn't have the GT teacher push-in b/c there were other pressing needs in the classroom. Then, I asked for the identification and that didn't happen again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you have a loud mouth? That's how it works at our school. Pretty amusing to watch and definitely not the brightest bunch in the grade. Just the most annoying and obnoxious parents.

Many with the highest scores are not in it. They filled it in K/1st with the loud mouth's kids that were doing Kumon since 1. Now they don't have space for any new kids even if they are brighter.

Which school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you have a loud mouth? That's how it works at our school. Pretty amusing to watch and definitely not the brightest bunch in the grade. Just the most annoying and obnoxious parents.

Many with the highest scores are not in it. They filled it in K/1st with the loud mouth's kids that were doing Kumon since 1. Now they don't have space for any new kids even if they are brighter.

+1. Even if you win a spot, don't expect actual services to track your kid's abilities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you have a loud mouth? That's how it works at our school. Pretty amusing to watch and definitely not the brightest bunch in the grade. Just the most annoying and obnoxious parents.

Many with the highest scores are not in it. They filled it in K/1st with the loud mouth's kids that were doing Kumon since 1. Now they don't have space for any new kids even if they are brighter.

+1. Even if you win a spot, don't expect actual services to track your kid's abilities.

This really depends on the school. At my kids' school, they don't even start referring most kids until 3rd or 4th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you have a loud mouth? That's how it works at our school. Pretty amusing to watch and definitely not the brightest bunch in the grade. Just the most annoying and obnoxious parents.

Many with the highest scores are not in it. They filled it in K/1st with the loud mouth's kids that were doing Kumon since 1. Now they don't have space for any new kids even if they are brighter.

+1. Even if you win a spot, don't expect actual services to track your kid's abilities.

This really depends on the school. At my kids' school, they don't even start referring most kids until 3rd or 4th grade.

If people don't name the schools and just bitch anonymously on DCUM, there will never been any pressure for the Superintendent or Board to take action. People need to name the schools where these things are happening. It is not APS policy or even the practice in all schools.

[Anonymous]

If people don't name the schools and just bitch anonymously on DCUM, there will never been any pressure for the Superintendent or Board to take action. People need to name the schools where these things are happening. It is not APS policy or even the practice in all schools.

I remember a thread a while back about ASF and fears of reprisals if the principal found out parents had been complaining. The complaints about GT were the same as in this thread so maybe that's one of the schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thankfully, "gifted" is really low key in Arlington. You have to remember that APS is FILLED with high-achieving kids who test well. You can have a child in the 98th, 99th percentile in testing and they won't be offered services. They're looking for something different -- more classic "gifted" behavior. Often it goes hand in glove with other characteristics about the child, typically something not neurotypical.

It's a much better way of managing the program than the nuttery that is AAP in Fairfax.

Not my ape experience. They are looking for bright kids who like school and like pleasing teachers.