Seriously, why does you child need AAP?

[Anonymous]

Sadly, the only one's really being hurt in all of this are the truly gifted kids. They are still not getting the special education that would meet them at their appropriate level nor do they have a classroom environment that is appropriate to meet their needs.

Seriously, what happens to needy gifted kids when AAP ends after middle school? Please don't say AP or IB, because that can't possibly be enough for the students you describe. After all, anyone can enroll in those classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Likewise, exclaiming that your kid's classmates are "garden variety" and should be kicked back to Gen Ed because they are not truly gifted and never would have made the cut 15 years ago is absurd.

How do you spell E-N-T-I-T-L-E-M-E-N-T. It doesn't matter how much damage a bloated tracking system called AAP has done to FCPS local schools and communities as long as certain parents can say their kids aren't in Gen Ed -- I love how the abbreviation even makes it sound like "special ed."

You are truly part of the problem.

NP here - um huh? How is it entitlement when every kid has the same opportunity for placement (with the sole exception of outside testing): CogAT, NNAT, nonverbal sections, GBRS, a committee on the school level determining the GBRS, the files being reviewed at the AAP selection level, etc. How on earth is a parent entitled when a kid legitimately gets in? You cray cray.

It's entitlement that people whose kids whose kids are not gifted feel that they are too good for General Education at one of the best school districts in the country. All the endless testing and jockeying parents do to make their kids look good to a committee is what is cray cray. And by enabling this, FCPS is not upholding the original mandate and intentions of meeting the needs of "gifted students in VA.

[Anonymous]

Secondly, General Education is appropriate for all but a small minority of kids. Where do you get kicked back?

How very perceptive, but why stop there? If AAP of the last decade is indistinguishable from Gen Ed, then we may as well scrap it completely and send ALL the kids back to base. Of course, the sad truly gifted kids will continue to suffer, but no more than now. Plus, we can always differentiate. In this time of budgetary concern, we all have to do our part.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Likewise, exclaiming that your kid's classmates are "garden variety" and should be kicked back to Gen Ed because they are not truly gifted and never would have made the cut 15 years ago is absurd.

How do you spell E-N-T-I-T-L-E-M-E-N-T. It doesn't matter how much damage a bloated tracking system called AAP has done to FCPS local schools and communities as long as certain parents can say their kids aren't in Gen Ed -- I love how the abbreviation even makes it sound like "special ed."

You are truly part of the problem.

NP here - um huh? How is it entitlement when every kid has the same opportunity for placement (with the sole exception of outside testing): CogAT, NNAT, nonverbal sections, GBRS, a committee on the school level determining the GBRS, the files being reviewed at the AAP selection level, etc. How on earth is a parent entitled when a kid legitimately gets in? You cray cray.

It's entitlement that people whose kids whose kids are not gifted feel that they are too good for General Education at one of the best school districts in the country. All the endless testing and jockeying parents do to make their kids look good to a committee is what is cray cray. And by enabling this, FCPS is not upholding the original mandate and intentions of meeting the needs of "gifted students in VA.

All the testing in the world is not going to produce a result that isn't there. FCPS isn't enabling anything. I see plenty of work that comes from other kids in my kid's class and I may be surprised that they are in AAP but then I remember I have no idea what is going on in their head or what disability they may have. YOU have no idea either. YOU are what drive people nuts. And I say this as someone who has a kid who is classified as highly gifted - it just blows me away that people in my situation (having a very bright child) then look down at other kids who are admitted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Likewise, exclaiming that your kid's classmates are "garden variety" and should be kicked back to Gen Ed because they are not truly gifted and never would have made the cut 15 years ago is absurd.

How do you spell E-N-T-I-T-L-E-M-E-N-T. It doesn't matter how much damage a bloated tracking system called AAP has done to FCPS local schools and communities as long as certain parents can say their kids aren't in Gen Ed -- I love how the abbreviation even makes it sound like "special ed."

You are truly part of the problem.

NP here - um huh? How is it entitlement when every kid has the same opportunity for placement (with the sole exception of outside testing): CogAT, NNAT, nonverbal sections, GBRS, a committee on the school level determining the GBRS, the files being reviewed at the AAP selection level, etc. How on earth is a parent entitled when a kid legitimately gets in? You cray cray.

It's entitlement that people whose kids whose kids are not gifted feel that they are too good for General Education at one of the best school districts in the country. All the endless testing and jockeying parents do to make their kids look good to a committee is what is cray cray. And by enabling this, FCPS is not upholding the original mandate and intentions of meeting the needs of "gifted students in VA.

All the testing in the world is not going to produce a result that isn't there. FCPS isn't enabling anything. I see plenty of work that comes from other kids in my kid's class and I may be surprised that they are in AAP but then I remember I have no idea what is going on in their head or what disability they may have. YOU have no idea either. YOU are what drive people nuts. And I say this as someone who has a kid who is classified as highly gifted - it just blows me away that people in my situation (having a very bright child) then look down at other kids who are admitted.

I didn't dream this up. The majority of what I know, I've heard from AAP teachers who tend to deplore the misuse of the program.

Glad you were able to get in a plug for your highly gifted kid though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Likewise, exclaiming that your kid's classmates are "garden variety" and should be kicked back to Gen Ed because they are not truly gifted and never would have made the cut 15 years ago is absurd.

How do you spell E-N-T-I-T-L-E-M-E-N-T. It doesn't matter how much damage a bloated tracking system called AAP has done to FCPS local schools and communities as long as certain parents can say their kids aren't in Gen Ed -- I love how the abbreviation even makes it sound like "special ed."

You are truly part of the problem.

NP here - um huh? How is it entitlement when every kid has the same opportunity for placement (with the sole exception of outside testing): CogAT, NNAT, nonverbal sections, GBRS, a committee on the school level determining the GBRS, the files being reviewed at the AAP selection level, etc. How on earth is a parent entitled when a kid legitimately gets in? You cray cray.

It's entitlement that people whose kids whose kids are not gifted feel that they are too good for General Education at one of the best school districts in the country. All the endless testing and jockeying parents do to make their kids look good to a committee is what is cray cray. And by enabling this, FCPS is not upholding the original mandate and intentions of meeting the needs of "gifted students in VA.

All the testing in the world is not going to produce a result that isn't there. FCPS isn't enabling anything. I see plenty of work that comes from other kids in my kid's class and I may be surprised that they are in AAP but then I remember I have no idea what is going on in their head or what disability they may have. YOU have no idea either. YOU are what drive people nuts. And I say this as someone who has a kid who is classified as highly gifted - it just blows me away that people in my situation (having a very bright child) then look down at other kids who are admitted.

I didn't dream this up. The majority of what I know, I've heard from AAP teachers who tend to deplore the misuse of the program.

Glad you were able to get in a plug for your highly gifted kid though.

Oh dear Lord: please state the names of all of the AAP teachers who have imparted the "majority of what you know." Was it one? Was it two? As for touting the best education in the county, please step back a minute and realize that while that may be true on paper, in truth, haven't your kids had some real clunkers?

[Anonymous]

Glad you were able to get in a plug for your highly gifted kid though.

New PP. Don't you understand why such a point might be added? There seems to be an assumption that anyone who responds to your ilk is doing so out of fear that our kids would not be part of a smaller program. As far as you know, everyone on this board has a kid you would agree is truly gifted. Of course, this excludes the crazies who no longer have 3-8 grade kids and show up here for reasons unexplained.

[Anonymous]

And my DD's third grade teacher talked how she loved teaching AAP: the kids had the complexity of the thoughts of 6th graders without the hormones. The kids are smart and sweet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Likewise, exclaiming that your kid's classmates are "garden variety" and should be kicked back to Gen Ed because they are not truly gifted and never would have made the cut 15 years ago is absurd.

How do you spell E-N-T-I-T-L-E-M-E-N-T. It doesn't matter how much damage a bloated tracking system called AAP has done to FCPS local schools and communities as long as certain parents can say their kids aren't in Gen Ed -- I love how the abbreviation even makes it sound like "special ed."

You are truly part of the problem.

NP here - um huh? How is it entitlement when every kid has the same opportunity for placement (with the sole exception of outside testing): CogAT, NNAT, nonverbal sections, GBRS, a committee on the school level determining the GBRS, the files being reviewed at the AAP selection level, etc. How on earth is a parent entitled when a kid legitimately gets in? You cray cray.

It's entitlement that people whose kids whose kids are not gifted feel that they are too good for General Education at one of the best school districts in the country. All the endless testing and jockeying parents do to make their kids look good to a committee is what is cray cray. And by enabling this, FCPS is not upholding the original mandate and intentions of meeting the needs of "gifted students in VA.

All the testing in the world is not going to produce a result that isn't there. FCPS isn't enabling anything. I see plenty of work that comes from other kids in my kid's class and I may be surprised that they are in AAP but then I remember I have no idea what is going on in their head or what disability they may have. YOU have no idea either. YOU are what drive people nuts. And I say this as someone who has a kid who is classified as highly gifted - it just blows me away that people in my situation (having a very bright child) then look down at other kids who are admitted.

I didn't dream this up. The majority of what I know, I've heard from AAP teachers who tend to deplore the misuse of the program.

Glad you were able to get in a plug for your highly gifted kid though.

Oh dear Lord: please state the names of all of the AAP teachers who have imparted the "majority of what you know." Was it one? Was it two? As for touting the best education in the county, please step back a minute and realize that while that may be true on paper, in truth, haven't your kids had some real clunkers?

Not naming names on a public forum, thank you very much. But suffice it to say, that I talked to nearly 3 dozen at multiple schools. I've heard this at school board meetings, I've heard this from administrators.

If by clunkers you mean bad teachers, sure you're going to find that in any system. You're going to find that at an elite private school. But that's not how you judge a system. Or at least you shouldn't . Life is going to be full of bad teachers, it's what you do with that that matters. What life won't be full of are areas like NOVA where the intellectual level of your classmates will be among the highest on average in the country. This is what people need to get and stop worrying about slicing and dicing AAP non-AAP, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Likewise, exclaiming that your kid's classmates are "garden variety" and should be kicked back to Gen Ed because they are not truly gifted and never would have made the cut 15 years ago is absurd.

How do you spell E-N-T-I-T-L-E-M-E-N-T. It doesn't matter how much damage a bloated tracking system called AAP has done to FCPS local schools and communities as long as certain parents can say their kids aren't in Gen Ed -- I love how the abbreviation even makes it sound like "special ed."

You are truly part of the problem.

NP here - um huh? How is it entitlement when every kid has the same opportunity for placement (with the sole exception of outside testing): CogAT, NNAT, nonverbal sections, GBRS, a committee on the school level determining the GBRS, the files being reviewed at the AAP selection level, etc. How on earth is a parent entitled when a kid legitimately gets in? You cray cray.

It's entitlement that people whose kids whose kids are not gifted feel that they are too good for General Education at one of the best school districts in the country. All the endless testing and jockeying parents do to make their kids look good to a committee is what is cray cray. And by enabling this, FCPS is not upholding the original mandate and intentions of meeting the needs of "gifted students in VA.

All the testing in the world is not going to produce a result that isn't there. FCPS isn't enabling anything. I see plenty of work that comes from other kids in my kid's class and I may be surprised that they are in AAP but then I remember I have no idea what is going on in their head or what disability they may have. YOU have no idea either. YOU are what drive people nuts. And I say this as someone who has a kid who is classified as highly gifted - it just blows me away that people in my situation (having a very bright child) then look down at other kids who are admitted.

I didn't dream this up. The majority of what I know, I've heard from AAP teachers who tend to deplore the misuse of the program.

Glad you were able to get in a plug for your highly gifted kid though.

Oh dear Lord: please state the names of all of the AAP teachers who have imparted the "majority of what you know." Was it one? Was it two? As for touting the best education in the county, please step back a minute and realize that while that may be true on paper, in truth, haven't your kids had some real clunkers?

Not naming names on a public forum, thank you very much. But suffice it to say, that I talked to nearly 3 dozen at multiple schools. I've heard this at school board meetings, I've heard this from administrators.

If by clunkers you mean bad teachers, sure you're going to find that in any system. You're going to find that at an elite private school. But that's not how you judge a system. Or at least you shouldn't . Life is going to be full of bad teachers, it's what you do with that that matters. What life won't be full of are areas like NOVA where the intellectual level of your classmates will be among the highest on average in the country. This is what people need to get and stop worrying about slicing and dicing AAP non-AAP, etc.

Nearly 36 different people in FCPS have told you that AAP is misued and that parents have an entitlement that when their kids are not gifted, they feel that they are too good for General Education at one of the best school districts in the country? Believable, Ms. Cray.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Likewise, exclaiming that your kid's classmates are "garden variety" and should be kicked back to Gen Ed because they are not truly gifted and never would have made the cut 15 years ago is absurd.

How do you spell E-N-T-I-T-L-E-M-E-N-T. It doesn't matter how much damage a bloated tracking system called AAP has done to FCPS local schools and communities as long as certain parents can say their kids aren't in Gen Ed -- I love how the abbreviation even makes it sound like "special ed."

You are truly part of the problem.

NP here - um huh? How is it entitlement when every kid has the same opportunity for placement (with the sole exception of outside testing): CogAT, NNAT, nonverbal sections, GBRS, a committee on the school level determining the GBRS, the files being reviewed at the AAP selection level, etc. How on earth is a parent entitled when a kid legitimately gets in? You cray cray.

It's entitlement that people whose kids whose kids are not gifted feel that they are too good for General Education at one of the best school districts in the country. All the endless testing and jockeying parents do to make their kids look good to a committee is what is cray cray. And by enabling this, FCPS is not upholding the original mandate and intentions of meeting the needs of "gifted students in VA.

All the testing in the world is not going to produce a result that isn't there. FCPS isn't enabling anything. I see plenty of work that comes from other kids in my kid's class and I may be surprised that they are in AAP but then I remember I have no idea what is going on in their head or what disability they may have. YOU have no idea either. YOU are what drive people nuts. And I say this as someone who has a kid who is classified as highly gifted - it just blows me away that people in my situation (having a very bright child) then look down at other kids who are admitted.

I didn't dream this up. The majority of what I know, I've heard from AAP teachers who tend to deplore the misuse of the program.

Glad you were able to get in a plug for your highly gifted kid though.

Oh dear Lord: please state the names of all of the AAP teachers who have imparted the "majority of what you know." Was it one? Was it two? As for touting the best education in the county, please step back a minute and realize that while that may be true on paper, in truth, haven't your kids had some real clunkers?

Not naming names on a public forum, thank you very much. But suffice it to say, that I talked to nearly 3 dozen at multiple schools. I've heard this at school board meetings, I've heard this from administrators.

If by clunkers you mean bad teachers, sure you're going to find that in any system. You're going to find that at an elite private school. But that's not how you judge a system. Or at least you shouldn't . Life is going to be full of bad teachers, it's what you do with that that matters. What life won't be full of are areas like NOVA where the intellectual level of your classmates will be among the highest on average in the country. This is what people need to get and stop worrying about slicing and dicing AAP non-AAP, etc.

Nearly 36 different people in FCPS have told you that AAP is misued and that parents have an entitlement that when their kids are not gifted, they feel that they are too good for General Education at one of the best school districts in the country? Believable, Ms. Cray.

+1. NP, but wtf? Virtually nobody has a legit reason to be talking to that many teachers about their insights into the AAP program. Either you work for FCPS assessing the AAP a program, you are a crazy stalker, going from school to school and you have teachers telling you anything you want to hear to keep you from lying in wait for them, or you are lying. Since I seriously don't #1 is true, and hope like heck #2 isn't, I call bullsh*t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Sadly, the only one's really being hurt in all of this are the truly gifted kids. They are still not getting the special education that would meet them at their appropriate level nor do they have a classroom environment that is appropriate to meet their needs.

Seriously, what happens to needy gifted kids when AAP ends after middle school? Please don't say AP or IB, because that can't possibly be enough for the students you describe. After all, anyone can enroll in those classes.

And what is really interesting is that sometimes the non-AAP kids do better in the AP and IB classes. "Giftedness" isn't necessarily about achieving, so even if there were special "gifted" classes for high schoolers, it wouldn't necessarily be an improvement. Plus, even gifted students have presumably learned how to handle school without special accommodation by 14 and up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Sadly, the only one's really being hurt in all of this are the truly gifted kids. They are still not getting the special education that would meet them at their appropriate level nor do they have a classroom environment that is appropriate to meet their needs.

Seriously, what happens to needy gifted kids when AAP ends after middle school? Please don't say AP or IB, because that can't possibly be enough for the students you describe. After all, anyone can enroll in those classes.

And what is really interesting is that sometimes the non-AAP kids do better in the AP and IB classes. "Giftedness" isn't necessarily about achieving, so even if there were special "gifted" classes for high schoolers, it wouldn't necessarily be an improvement. Plus, even gifted students have presumably learned how to handle school without special accommodation by 14 and up.

Without a doubt!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Sadly, the only one's really being hurt in all of this are the truly gifted kids. They are still not getting the special education that would meet them at their appropriate level nor do they have a classroom environment that is appropriate to meet their needs.

Seriously, what happens to needy gifted kids when AAP ends after middle school? Please don't say AP or IB, because that can't possibly be enough for the students you describe. After all, anyone can enroll in those classes.

And what is really interesting is that sometimes the non-AAP kids do better in the AP and IB classes. "Giftedness" isn't necessarily about achieving, so even if there were special "gifted" classes for high schoolers, it wouldn't necessarily be an improvement. Plus, even gifted students have presumably learned how to handle school without special accommodation by 14 and up.

Without a doubt!

I wouldn't doubt it. I have/have had three kids in the AA program and none of them are super high achievers. They are often scattered, disorganized and reluctant to study for a test. They are naturally bright, but don't necessarily care a whole lot about achievement. They have both AA and non-AA peers who are the stereotypical overachiever types who go above and beyond at every opportunity and beat themselves up for an A-. I think sometimes people think that all AAP kids are like that, when it's often the opposite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Sadly, the only one's really being hurt in all of this are the truly gifted kids. They are still not getting the special education that would meet them at their appropriate level nor do they have a classroom environment that is appropriate to meet their needs.

Seriously, what happens to needy gifted kids when AAP ends after middle school? Please don't say AP or IB, because that can't possibly be enough for the students you describe. After all, anyone can enroll in those classes.

And what is really interesting is that sometimes the non-AAP kids do better in the AP and IB classes. "Giftedness" isn't necessarily about achieving, so even if there were special "gifted" classes for high schoolers, it wouldn't necessarily be an improvement. Plus, even gifted students have presumably learned how to handle school without special accommodation by 14 and up.

Without a doubt!

I wouldn't doubt it. I have/have had three kids in the AA program and none of them are super high achievers. They are often scattered, disorganized and reluctant to study for a test. They are naturally bright, but don't necessarily care a whole lot about achievement. They have both AA and non-AA peers who are the stereotypical overachiever types who go above and beyond at every opportunity and beat themselves up for an A-. I think sometimes people think that all AAP kids are like that, when it's often the opposite.

+1

There are many students like this -- underachievement happens frequently.

http://www.giftedstudy.org/newsletter/pdf/underachievement_handbook.pdf