Timeline and process re: AAP eligibility determination (FCPS)

[Anonymous]

I am a parent of a first grader and trying to get the timeline and procedures straight for determining AAP (LIV) eligibility in FCPS. I put question marks where I was uncertain about accuracy and could use some confirmation/clarification:

Mar 1-8, 2024 (1st grade): NNAT
Oct of 2nd grade: CogAT
Fall of 2nd grade (until Dec 15): parent/guardian can submit referral for spring screening for LIV (due Dec 15)
Dec of 2nd grade: Test scores released (where?)
Early Dec: Universal screener ("in pool") referrals announced (where?)
Dec of 2nd grade: Central Selection Committee meets and eligibility decisions sent (by mail? ParentVUE?)
Jan 10: Appeals deadline for current cycle
Jan 22: Final decision made for current cycle
March: Central Selection Committee meets to decide eligibility (related to parent referrals only)?
April 4-5: Eligibility decisions sent
May 10: Appeals due

(Some of these specific dates may change for those who are in 2nd grade in 2025, like my DC)

Additional unknowns that I'd like to fill in:
-When/where are parents/guardians notified about HOPE ratings (which might affect decision to parent refer vs wait for in-pool results)?
-Universal screener is based solely on test scores and not HOPE, correct?
-Do parents/guardians usually wait to refer after they know whether their child is in pool? What if in-pool notification is late?
-Which decisions are made by the school (child's current teacher, AART) and which decisions are made by the central committee?

[Anonymous]

So, this year the CoGat scores were a mix of backpack letters, mail, and ParentVue. The earliest came home mid-week of the last week before winter break - some people just got the full score report in the mail yesterday. Method and timing varies by school.

In-pool notifications went out Dec 14th via email.

HOPE ratings - and the rest of the packet - aren't available until *after* decisions are made by the committee, and then only by request.

Decisions from the committee about eligibility (in or out) will be in April for *all* students. In pool just determines whether your child is considered even if you didn't apply for them.

This timeline is why many AARTs suggest you Parent Refer no matter what. It's helpful info to have in the packet and you won't know if it's necessary or not (in pool or not) until it's too late to make the choice

[Anonymous]

I have the feeling you're mixing deadlines for the standard 2nd grade review and for transfer or homeschool/private school kids. These groups have different timelines.

[Anonymous]

Mar 1-8, 2024 (1st grade): NNAT
Oct of 2nd grade: CogAT
Fall of 2nd grade (until Dec 15): parent/guardian can submit referral for spring screening for LIV (due Dec 15)
Dec of 2nd grade: Test scores released (where?) <==== in parentvue and mail
Early Dec: Universal screener ("in pool") referrals announced (where?) <=== email

<=== not sure where you got these deadline ===>
Dec of 2nd grade: Central Selection Committee meets and eligibility decisions sent (by mail? ParentVUE?)
Jan 10: Appeals deadline for current cycle
Jan 22: Final decision made for current cycle
<=== not sure where you got these deadline ===>

March: Central Selection Committee meets to decide eligibility (related to parent referrals only)? <== no, for all applicants.
April 4-5: Eligibility decisions sent
May 10: Appeals due

[Anonymous]

This year there weren't set dates for the release of scores or the universal screener/ in pool notification. We were told that due to the delays we had in testing they didn't know when we would get them. When we did receive the universal screener notification it was via email and the detailed scores were sent home in our weekly folder and the raw score was posted in ParentVUE.

Additional unknowns that I'd like to fill in:
-When/where are parents/guardians notified about HOPE ratings (which might affect decision to parent refer vs wait for in-pool results)?Parents/guardians aren't automatically notified. However, you may request the information from your AART.
-Universal screener is based solely on test scores and not HOPE, correct?Yes
-Do parents/guardians usually wait to refer after they know whether their child is in pool? What if in-pool notification is late?The AART suggests preparing a packet and not relying on receiving the in pool-notification. This year we received our scores the day before the application was due. Even if your child is in the pool it is beneficial to fill out the parent referral form and provide the extra information.
-Which decisions are made by the school (child's current teacher, AART) and which decisions are made by the central committee? The school fills out the packet for each referred child and the committee makes the ultimate decisions

Our AART had two meetings where they discussed the process and went over the dates and process for this year, I would assume they will do the same thing next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mar 1-8, 2024 (1st grade): NNAT
Oct of 2nd grade: CogAT
Fall of 2nd grade (until Dec 15): parent/guardian can submit referral for spring screening for LIV (due Dec 15)
Dec of 2nd grade: Test scores released (where?) <==== in parentvue and mail
Early Dec: Universal screener ("in pool") referrals announced (where?) <=== email

<=== not sure where you got these deadline ===>
Dec of 2nd grade: Central Selection Committee meets and eligibility decisions sent (by mail? ParentVUE?)
Jan 10: Appeals deadline for current cycle
Jan 22: Final decision made for current cycle
<=== not sure where you got these deadline ===>

March: Central Selection Committee meets to decide eligibility (related to parent referrals only)? <== no, for all applicants.
April 4-5: Eligibility decisions sent
May 10: Appeals due

Thank you! I think you are right I mixed some things up. The dates are on the website: https://www.fcps.edu/registration/advanced-academics-identification-and-placement/current-fcps-students/testing-and

Some of those dates were under "For FCPS students newly enrolled in FCPS and attending after January 2023." (I belatedly noticed).

[Anonymous]

OP here. Let me update the timeline in case it's helpful for others. Thanks to those who responded with helpful clarifications.

Mar 1-8, 2024 (1st grade) NNAT
Oct of 2nd grade: CogAT
Fall of 2nd grade (until Dec 15): Parent/guardian can submit referral for spring screening for LIV (recommended by AART regardless of test scores)
Dec of 2nd grade: Test scores released (ParentVUE and mail)
Early Dec: Universal screener ("in pool") referrals announced by email
March: Central Selection Committee meets to decide eligibility (for all students, referred and in pool)
April 4-5: Eligibility decisions sent (all students whether in pool or not); can contact to request HOPE ratings at this time
May 10: Appeals due

So does anyone know when the HOPE ratings are completed and is it not possible to ask for them from the AART as soon as they are on file? Why would you have to wait until after decisions are made. Personally, I would just want to know, regardless of whether I'm parent referring or not.

Additionally, are the child's IReady scores part of the package? Regardless, how does one access those and when exactly are they administered?

Are report cards included? When do report cards get sent out?

(Sorry for all the qs--I am a new FCPS parent and right now DC's record on ParentVUE is blank.)

It's good to know that parent referral is recommended either way given the timeline. I will plan to do that. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Also, do you usually have to reach out to the AART at some point to get the ball rolling or do they reach out to parents of kids on their radar? I have not talked with my AART yet. Is there a point where it's natural to reach out? Suggestions on when and what to say? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, do you usually have to reach out to the AART at some point to get the ball rolling or do they reach out to parents of kids on their radar? I have not talked with my AART yet. Is there a point where it's natural to reach out? Suggestions on when and what to say? Thanks!

The AART probably won't reach out to you. Touch base by email in the fall of 2nd grade if you have any questions about parent referral. Just parent refer. Don't expect any of the other stuff to fall into place.

[Anonymous]

iReady scores are now included. Depending on the school/student they may be taking some this month, and all students (1st and 2nd) will take in the Spring. You usually see results 8ish weeks later.

Report cards through the 1st Quarter of 2nd will be included. Report cards hit about a week after the end of quarter.

[Anonymous]

The AART will likely not reach out. You could contact them in the Fall, or just wait for the meeting. You can also apply for Level II now, or in the Spring for next year. It's just in-class differentiation, though, and seems to just be what teachers do anyway. Some schools use the identifier more than others, it seems.

[Anonymous]

I don't know, but I bet the HOPE scores aren't available earlier because some AAP focused parents are *bananas* (see some of the threads here) and would probably harass the teachers and AARTs to no end if the results were available before the committee had made its conclusions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Let me update the timeline in case it's helpful for others. Thanks to those who responded with helpful clarifications.

Mar 1-8, 2024 (1st grade) NNAT
Oct of 2nd grade: CogAT
Fall of 2nd grade (until Dec 15): Parent/guardian can submit referral for spring screening for LIV (recommended by AART regardless of test scores)
Dec of 2nd grade: Test scores released (ParentVUE and mail)
Early Dec: Universal screener ("in pool") referrals announced by email
March: Central Selection Committee meets to decide eligibility (for all students, referred and in pool)
April 4-5: Eligibility decisions sent (all students whether in pool or not); can contact to request HOPE ratings at this time
May 10: Appeals due

So does anyone know when the HOPE ratings are completed and is it not possible to ask for them from the AART as soon as they are on file? Why would you have to wait until after decisions are made. Personally, I would just want to know, regardless of whether I'm parent referring or not.

Additionally, are the child's IReady scores part of the package? Regardless, how does one access those and when exactly are they administered?

Are report cards included? When do report cards get sent out?

(Sorry for all the qs--I am a new FCPS parent and right now DC's record on ParentVUE is blank.)

It's good to know that parent referral is recommended either way given the timeline. I will plan to do that. Thanks!

Thanks for putting this together.

The missing piece is when do the teachers submit students' work samples to the committee.

I heard from a parent this year and someone would need to vet this -- the only way a student can get referred for Level IV AAP starting from 2023-2024 academic year is if the student is "in-pool" or if the parent refers. If the student is not in pool and if the parent doesn't refer, they will not open a file for the student to be considered for AAP. Teacher's referrals are only add-ons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The AART will likely not reach out. You could contact them in the Fall, or just wait for the meeting. You can also apply for Level II now, or in the Spring for next year. It's just in-class differentiation, though, and seems to just be what teachers do anyway. Some schools use the identifier more than others, it seems.

This is probably a typical question of this forum, but wouldn't applying for level II be a good thing to do so that if the child has gone under the radar but is eligible, then it is on their record that they are receiving LII services?

If a child is receiving LII already, how would parents know? From report card or is it anywhere else?

Do I ask my child's teacher if there is LII services that might child might be eligible for and whether it's necessary (or useful at all) to formally refer? Or do all these questions go directly to the AART?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know, but I bet the HOPE scores aren't available earlier because some AAP focused parents are *bananas* (see some of the threads here) and would probably harass the teachers and AARTs to no end if the results were available before the committee had made its conclusions.

Good point, I could see that. Not me of course...