Elementary GT/LD program?

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have experience with MCPS’s GT/LD program? What kind of students get placed in it? Is it extremely difficult to get a spot? I think this may be in our future…
Are there a lot of ASD kids in it? How are the teachers?

[Anonymous]

Look in the special needs forum. It's pretty good now that the former principal is gone

[Anonymous]

(I can only speak to one of the current teachers because they went through a bunch of turnover three to four or so years ago. She is great, though, DS loved her)

[Anonymous]

My child was in the program a few years ago and we were very happy with the former principal. That principal navigated the GTLD program through a consolidation when Wyngate lost their program. They did go through some changes of staff and some hires were not very good. Also, some of the classmates of my child should never been placed in the program as they seemed to be more suited for SESES program. That was no fault of the former principal but due to decisions at other schools. I would recommend visiting the program, I know we did that before making the change of school and the former principal allowed my child to spend a day to experience the program. This was very helpful in reducing anxiety. Overall we were very happy being in the program.

[Anonymous]

Hi. Seconding the suggestion to post on and/or search the special needs forum. There has been a lot posted on the GTLD program there.

My kid went through that program a couple years ago. It was a mixed bag in our case, mostly due to inexperienced teachers, and approach that focused on disabilities more than the giftedness, too much isolation and not enough mixing with other kids, and as a PP said, a few kids that really struggled with behavior.

Having said that, for the first time my kid met others like them, who were both smart but also struggled in some areas, which really improved their self esteem. They are still really close to a few of the kids, even though they are all at different middle schools now.

Finally, I would say both a new principal, different teachers, and frankly, COVID closures mean that no one can really tell you how the program is now unless they were there last year.

Your best bet is to visit the school, see the classroom if at all possible, and to talk with the principal.

[Anonymous]

Why do we keep referring to the former principal? Let us laud the current principal, instead!

[Anonymous]

In my experience, the new principal seems much better suited to managing the program and at least one of the best and most experienced teachers returned to the program.

[Anonymous]

With all of these programs, the class composition is really important. MCPS has a tendency to just stick kids into whichever program has space rather than the most appropriate. For example, for my own child, we were given the opportunity to choose between 3 separate programs. My child should not fit the criteria for all of them, but we were actually told that the class profiles change annually.

If your child requires a self-contained class, you will be given choices. I would wait to your until you know if the IEP team is moving in that direction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With all of these programs, the class composition is really important. MCPS has a tendency to just stick kids into whichever program has space rather than the most appropriate. For example, for my own child, we were given the opportunity to choose between 3 separate programs. My child should not fit the criteria for all of them, but we were actually told that the class profiles change annually.

If your child requires a self-contained class, you will be given choices. I would wait to your until you know if the IEP team is moving in that direction.

There are few perfect fits. Go with the best you can figure out. Visit the programs, you know your kid.

[Anonymous]

We talked to current families and decided not to go that route. The 3rd grade only has six students. Six students and two teachers should be great, but there are a few kids with significant behavioral issues that bring the class to a halt. Our kid gets along with ASD kids, but also needs some neurotically peers.

So instead we are shoveling out the big bucks for a private with a specialized reading program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We talked to current families and decided not to go that route. The 3rd grade only has six students. Six students and two teachers should be great, but there are a few kids with significant behavioral issues that bring the class to a halt. Our kid gets along with ASD kids, but also needs some neurotically peers.

So instead we are shoveling out the big bucks for a private with a specialized reading program.

My child was there a few years ago and this describes our experience. On paper, it was perfect with fantastic ratios. In reality, there were a couple/few kids who had extreme behaviors that took up all of the teacher’s time. It also meant that the teacher did not have time to actually teach. The teacher was frustrated but that’s just the nature of the program. In hindsight, I should have left my child in her home school and upped the tutoring.

Be careful before you accept any placement. Try to observe the actual class your child will be placed in

[Anonymous]

We also decided against the Elementary GT/LD program and stayed with the home school IEP and some outside tutoring. Pre-pandemic, DH and I were able to visit a couple of classes and that was the best evidence that it was not going to be good for DC -- definite behavior issues in several of the boys. . For middle school we took a chance that DC would benefit academically and socially from the intensive English/Writing and direct Social Skills instruction in the Aspergers program, and we were right. But, once again, there are kids with behavior issues and DC is frustrated.

[Anonymous]

I hear of this program, and I don't think if it will be a good fit for my child. My child has some behavior problem, and he is unfortunately a copycat/follower of any silly/bad behavior on top of it. I already receive complaints for his behavior from general classroom with IEP, like whiny/ emotional regulation/not cooperative, nothing serious but annoying & making teacher frustrated.

It sucks that I know his biggest strength is I don't have to worry about his academic, and current general classroom is way too easy for him. I think he can handle at least 2 grades above in academic, but at the same time, he is quite immature, probably 1-2 grades below his age. I would love to tour the GT/LD class one day if possible. We have thought about tutoring for enrichment, and I know that he would love it. But I don't know if tutoting is a good idea or not to enrich him to be more further when he is already ahead of many peers .

Where do you go to tutoring if not considering GT/LD class?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We also decided against the Elementary GT/LD program and stayed with the home school IEP and some outside tutoring. Pre-pandemic, DH and I were able to visit a couple of classes and that was the best evidence that it was not going to be good for DC -- definite behavior issues in several of the boys. . For middle school we took a chance that DC would benefit academically and socially from the intensive English/Writing and direct Social Skills instruction in the Aspergers program, and we were right. But, once again, there are kids with behavior issues and DC is frustrated.

What kinds of behaviors are being seen in the middle school Asperger's program? Curious as DD may wind up there