Why won't FCPS kick kids out of AAP or re-evaluate them annually?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hilarious to acknowledge and recognize that a significant number of the AAP ES end up at JMU with my kid.

Why is that hilarious? Are you ashamed of where your child goes to school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Keep trying meaning can you take exam again? Or apply every year with the same test score?

Yes, you can re-take the CogAT test one more time. And yes, you can apply every year with the same score.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm under no delusions my child is "gifted". We worked hard on a parent packet to get him into AAP partially because AAP classrooms have less distractions, move faster, and cover a larger depth of materials. More importantly, as poor and elitist as it sounds, the peer groups tend to be better.

He's not falling behind, but he's not the smartest kid at his table either. I'm fully aware there are just as qualified kids as him in General Ed that could be swapped out with no difference.

All that to say, OP, stay away from your silly ideas that I'd have to re-qualify every year! It was stressful enough the first time, and kid (and parents) don't need the added hardship year to year! Also imagine the social implications of being relegated... Ouch!

This is such a terrible argument! If you admit that any other kid could swap in with yours, and that the environment is better, why would you think you can lay claim to a spot?

I didn't say it was fair. I asked that you stay away from all these "silly" ideas! I selfishly don't want to have to go through that process again and get lucky each and every year. If my child was kicked out, I'd be raising up a storm of litigation.

To be fair, if FCPS were to kick kids out of AAP or re-evaluate, they wouldn't force parents to go through another entire application process. That would be too large of a time sink for too little gain. It's more likely that kids scoring below a specific SOL threshold (maybe 480) would be booted or at least re-assessed.

There is

I think the fair thing would be SOLs both above 500 puts a kid in and below a certain threshold pushes them out. The kids in advanced math already have the pressure to score high to stay in, so FCPS doesn't really mind doing that to kids

Teacher here. I disagree with this. If a kid has an off day they shouldn’t be kicked out. Also SOLs are very teacher dependent. My adv math class last year there were only 4 pass advance. After having me my pass adv rate was 80 percent.

I think sticking a label on a kid in 2nd grade and locking out kids that maybe had a bad day in 2nd grade and giving social promotion to kids that got parent referred in seems a bit unfair.

Right? What is that teacher talking about? AAP is largely decided by a test taken on a single day by a 7 or 8 year old kid. I guess being kicked out is just infinitely worse than being told from the jump you’re not worthy in some people’s eyes.

You are several years out of date. The test scores are no longer highly weighted in the process of evaluating children. The HOPE scores are much more important and they do not depend upon one good or bad day.

This wasn't true in our experience last year. My child rushed through his best subject on the cogat and got a crappy score. Had great HOPE scores. Rejected. I knew the cogat was a bad result so I had a WISC done and it was 30 pts higher in that one section, resulting in a composite score 19 pts higher (the other two subsections were similar fwiw so it was literally one day of bad testing throwing off everything). Admitted on appeal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hilarious to acknowledge and recognize that a significant number of the AAP ES end up at JMU with my kid.

I've got nothing against JMU. I think it's a fine school and would send my AAP kid there without embarrassment.

[Anonymous]

This board is obviously skewed by anonymous posters and people who will purposefully antagonize, but the vast majority of AAP parents I talk to are NOT elitist or under the impression their child is so much smarter than others. Most are just glad to be part of the program with all on-grade-level students and good social peers. While there are certainly exceptions I'm sure someone will point out, it weeds out the trouble-makers and allows the class to focus on school-work. I would be equally happy if they created a program for the 20% under-performers instead of the higher performers and dedicated resources to them and my child was part of the 80%. Thats what they did in the 80's in our school District (another state), but it's not socially acceptable anymore.

I appreciate AAP because it means my child is working at school and I don't need to supplement at home as much to ensure they can read.
I appreciate AAP because 90% of the drama that was 2nd grade disappeared when DC went into 3rd.
I appreciate AAP because my child now gets equal teacher attention and won't be ignored in favor of trying to get others to pass their SOL.
I don't see AAP as a "gifted" program, even though FFX county is using it as its state-mandated program.

Overall, it just makes home-life so much easier, and I feel bad for the equally competent students and their parents who don't get the same benefit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hilarious to acknowledge and recognize that a significant number of the AAP ES end up at JMU with my kid.

Why is that hilarious? Are you ashamed of where your child goes to school?

Proud parent but seems a race to nowhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This board is obviously skewed by anonymous posters and people who will purposefully antagonize, but the vast majority of AAP parents I talk to are NOT elitist or under the impression their child is so much smarter than others. Most are just glad to be part of the program with all on-grade-level students and good social peers. While there are certainly exceptions I'm sure someone will point out, it weeds out the trouble-makers and allows the class to focus on school-work. I would be equally happy if they created a program for the 20% under-performers instead of the higher performers and dedicated resources to them and my child was part of the 80%. Thats what they did in the 80's in our school District (another state), but it's not socially acceptable anymore.

I appreciate AAP because it means my child is working at school and I don't need to supplement at home as much to ensure they can read.
I appreciate AAP because 90% of the drama that was 2nd grade disappeared when DC went into 3rd.
I appreciate AAP because my child now gets equal teacher attention and won't be ignored in favor of trying to get others to pass their SOL.
I don't see AAP as a "gifted" program, even though FFX county is using it as its state-mandated program.

Overall, it just makes home-life so much easier, and I feel bad for the equally competent students and their parents who don't get the same benefit.

I'm sorry that real life experiences shared online are pushing your buttons and you find them antagonizing.
Please be careful about how you talk about the AAP program with your kids. They absolutely repeat to the other kids what they hear....and my kid is tired of it...and in real life it is antagonizing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The “truly advanced” kids will be okay.

Let's remove AAP then, since they'll be okay anyways

I have long advocated this. Do away with program. Would solve a LOT of problems. And money.

What money would it save? Students will still need teachers, transportation, materials, etc. The cost of a handful of AAP Center buses is negligible.

The only problems it would solve would be freeing up the parents who continually slam a program their kids didn't get in.

Find another hobby.

When the AAP 4 kids and parents get off their high horse about how much better they are I will have a better opinion of the program.
When my kid has to listen to other kids at THE POOL OVER THE SUMMER talk about how much better their class is it's too much. It's constant!
Seems like the AAP families who are constantly harping about it need a better hobby...

This is your chance to teach your child that not all kids will have the same school experience. Some need help with reading, some are terrible at PE, some are in an advanced program. Life isn’t the same for every person, what a boring world that would be.

Assure them the teachers will make sure they have an amazing year.

If your kid is razzled by kids at the pool, help them process it. This stuff is parenting 101.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This board is obviously skewed by anonymous posters and people who will purposefully antagonize, but the vast majority of AAP parents I talk to are NOT elitist or under the impression their child is so much smarter than others. Most are just glad to be part of the program with all on-grade-level students and good social peers. While there are certainly exceptions I'm sure someone will point out, it weeds out the trouble-makers and allows the class to focus on school-work. I would be equally happy if they created a program for the 20% under-performers instead of the higher performers and dedicated resources to them and my child was part of the 80%. Thats what they did in the 80's in our school District (another state), but it's not socially acceptable anymore.

I appreciate AAP because it means my child is working at school and I don't need to supplement at home as much to ensure they can read.
I appreciate AAP because 90% of the drama that was 2nd grade disappeared when DC went into 3rd.
I appreciate AAP because my child now gets equal teacher attention and won't be ignored in favor of trying to get others to pass their SOL.
I don't see AAP as a "gifted" program, even though FFX county is using it as its state-mandated program.

Overall, it just makes home-life so much easier, and I feel bad for the equally competent students and their parents who don't get the same benefit.

YES x1000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The “truly advanced” kids will be okay.

Let's remove AAP then, since they'll be okay anyways

I have long advocated this. Do away with program. Would solve a LOT of problems. And money.

What money would it save? Students will still need teachers, transportation, materials, etc. The cost of a handful of AAP Center buses is negligible.

The only problems it would solve would be freeing up the parents who continually slam a program their kids didn't get in.

Find another hobby.

When the AAP 4 kids and parents get off their high horse about how much better they are I will have a better opinion of the program.
When my kid has to listen to other kids at THE POOL OVER THE SUMMER talk about how much better their class is it's too much. It's constant!
Seems like the AAP families who are constantly harping about it need a better hobby...

This is your chance to teach your child that not all kids will have the same school experience. Some need help with reading, some are terrible at PE, some are in an advanced program. Life isn’t the same for every person, what a boring world that would be.

Assure them the teachers will make sure they have an amazing year.

If your kid is razzled by kids at the pool, help them process it. This stuff is parenting 101.

Strange that you assume someone isn't parenting because they are annoyed that a certain circumstance keeps occuring.
Can parent the heck out of the situation and still feel a certain way about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The “truly advanced” kids will be okay.

Let's remove AAP then, since they'll be okay anyways

I have long advocated this. Do away with program. Would solve a LOT of problems. And money.

What money would it save? Students will still need teachers, transportation, materials, etc. The cost of a handful of AAP Center buses is negligible.

The only problems it would solve would be freeing up the parents who continually slam a program their kids didn't get in.

Find another hobby.

When the AAP 4 kids and parents get off their high horse about how much better they are I will have a better opinion of the program.
When my kid has to listen to other kids at THE POOL OVER THE SUMMER talk about how much better their class is it's too much. It's constant!
Seems like the AAP families who are constantly harping about it need a better hobby...

This is your chance to teach your child that not all kids will have the same school experience. Some need help with reading, some are terrible at PE, some are in an advanced program. Life isn’t the same for every person, what a boring world that would be.

Assure them the teachers will make sure they have an amazing year.

If your kid is razzled by kids at the pool, help them process it. This stuff is parenting 101.

Strange that you assume someone isn't parenting because they are annoyed that a certain circumstance keeps occuring.
Can parent the heck out of the situation and still feel a certain way about it.

It’s also a good parenting opportunity to teach your kid not to be a cocky a**hole about getting into AAP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The “truly advanced” kids will be okay.

Let's remove AAP then, since they'll be okay anyways

I have long advocated this. Do away with program. Would solve a LOT of problems. And money.

What money would it save? Students will still need teachers, transportation, materials, etc. The cost of a handful of AAP Center buses is negligible.

The only problems it would solve would be freeing up the parents who continually slam a program their kids didn't get in.

Find another hobby.

When the AAP 4 kids and parents get off their high horse about how much better they are I will have a better opinion of the program.
When my kid has to listen to other kids at THE POOL OVER THE SUMMER talk about how much better their class is it's too much. It's constant!
Seems like the AAP families who are constantly harping about it need a better hobby...

This is your chance to teach your child that not all kids will have the same school experience. Some need help with reading, some are terrible at PE, some are in an advanced program. Life isn’t the same for every person, what a boring world that would be.

Assure them the teachers will make sure they have an amazing year.

If your kid is razzled by kids at the pool, help them process it. This stuff is parenting 101.

Strange that you assume someone isn't parenting because they are annoyed that a certain circumstance keeps occuring.
Can parent the heck out of the situation and still feel a certain way about it.

It’s also a good parenting opportunity to teach your kid not to be a cocky a**hole about getting into AAP.

You won't have much success that the world be kinder to your child, you have to make your kid more resilient.
There will always be cocky a$$holes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The “truly advanced” kids will be okay.

Let's remove AAP then, since they'll be okay anyways

I have long advocated this. Do away with program. Would solve a LOT of problems. And money.

What money would it save? Students will still need teachers, transportation, materials, etc. The cost of a handful of AAP Center buses is negligible.

The only problems it would solve would be freeing up the parents who continually slam a program their kids didn't get in.

Find another hobby.

When the AAP 4 kids and parents get off their high horse about how much better they are I will have a better opinion of the program.
When my kid has to listen to other kids at THE POOL OVER THE SUMMER talk about how much better their class is it's too much. It's constant!
Seems like the AAP families who are constantly harping about it need a better hobby...

This is your chance to teach your child that not all kids will have the same school experience. Some need help with reading, some are terrible at PE, some are in an advanced program. Life isn’t the same for every person, what a boring world that would be.

Assure them the teachers will make sure they have an amazing year.

If your kid is razzled by kids at the pool, help them process it. This stuff is parenting 101.

Strange that you assume someone isn't parenting because they are annoyed that a certain circumstance keeps occuring.
Can parent the heck out of the situation and still feel a certain way about it.

It’s also a good parenting opportunity to teach your kid not to be a cocky a**hole about getting into AAP.

Don’t disagree. But that’s kid behavior versus parenting behavior. The parent should help their kid work through it instead of blaming it on the kids at the pool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wouldn't this weed out the kids who were prepped in? My kid is definitely in classes with kids who don't belong in AAP but because they don't get counseled out or reevaluated annually, they're just stuck there and it's (a) hard for those kids and (b) annoying for the truly advanced kids who they are holding behind.

Why is it so important to you to gatekeep the program? Is it a weird form of rent-seeking for private goods?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hilarious to acknowledge and recognize that a significant number of the AAP ES end up at JMU with my kid.

Why is that hilarious? Are you ashamed of where your child goes to school?

Hilarious that many kids excel and are able to go to JMU?