FCPS potential changes to AAP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Maybe instead of just deeming 25% of each racial group AAP-qualified in 3rd grade, the powers that be should be working to improve those early inputs so that kids are actually capable of passing the screening tests by 2nd grade and doing the AAP level work by 3rd grade.

Yep. I don't at all agree with expanding AAP in the proposed fashion, but I think that expanding Young Scholars for K-2 would be great. If a disadvantaged kid can attend Young Scholars, get some enrichment equivalent to what higher SES peers are receiving at home, get some prep for passing the tests (since so many other kids are getting prepped by parents), and then legitimately qualify for AAP, that would be great. But, they still should have to legitimately qualify.

[Anonymous]

Do they say how they will classify biracial kids? Is it whatever they decide?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do they say how they will classify biracial kids? Is it whatever they decide?

I wouldn't be surprised if they classify biracial as whatever race helps them reach quotas and look more diverse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Maybe instead of just deeming 25% of each racial group AAP-qualified in 3rd grade, the powers that be should be working to improve those early inputs so that kids are actually capable of passing the screening tests by 2nd grade and doing the AAP level work by 3rd grade.

Yep. I don't at all agree with expanding AAP in the proposed fashion, but I think that expanding Young Scholars for K-2 would be great. If a disadvantaged kid can attend Young Scholars, get some enrichment equivalent to what higher SES peers are receiving at home, get some prep for passing the tests (since so many other kids are getting prepped by parents), and then legitimately qualify for AAP, that would be great. But, they still should have to legitimately qualify.

Good suggestion. However, the problem remains that everything ends up falling on the backs of the teachers and the schools. Our majority URM schools are feeding children around the clock. Our base school eliminated programs and homework, since many were not doing it and it was deemed unfair. Nothing, I mean nothing, can be expected to be done at home. On the contrary, our AAP center expected our children to learn their multiplication tables and word lists. They were given books that they were expected to read at home and write responses. They were required to learn formulas. Given our experience in our base, how is AAP going to look under the new plan?

[Anonymous]

We have a base school just like OPs. Many parents try to get their kids into the center. The demographics of the school change dramatically in the 3rd and 4th grade classes due to defections to the center and private schools. My three children were not high test scorers but I got them all into the center and the education has been worlds above what is going on at our base school in those grades. I would much rather have a child working hard and learning and getting 2s and 3s then sitting around doing nothing and getting 4s.

Until FCPS fixes the problem of catering to the lowest learners at the base schools, people will do anything to get their kids into what is objectively a far superior educational program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have a base school just like OPs. Many parents try to get their kids into the center. The demographics of the school change dramatically in the 3rd and 4th grade classes due to defections to the center and private schools. My three children were not high test scorers but I got them all into the center and the education has been worlds above what is going on at our base school in those grades. I would much rather have a child working hard and learning and getting 2s and 3s then sitting around doing nothing and getting 4s.

Until FCPS fixes the problem of catering to the lowest learners at the base schools, people will do anything to get their kids into what is objectively a far superior educational program.

Yup what should actually happen. Abolish AAP and the hoops people go through to qualify. Institute tracking so kids are taught at the level most appropriate done and done

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have a base school just like OPs. Many parents try to get their kids into the center. The demographics of the school change dramatically in the 3rd and 4th grade classes due to defections to the center and private schools. My three children were not high test scorers but I got them all into the center and the education has been worlds above what is going on at our base school in those grades. I would much rather have a child working hard and learning and getting 2s and 3s then sitting around doing nothing and getting 4s.

Until FCPS fixes the problem of catering to the lowest learners at the base schools, people will do anything to get their kids into what is objectively a far superior educational program.

It's too soon to know for our youngest kids, but our base school is also like the OP and PP described. Our oldest child is in AAP at a center school and doing great. This is just my impression as a parent of Latino kids, but I bet there are plenty of URM students who would probably qualify if their parents appealed. I think WaPo did an article about this last year which bore this out. In talking to other parents, quite a few have kids who scored in the high 120s in previous years. In my opinion and observation, if you aren't prepping your kid and don't speak much English at home, and your kid is that close to the mark, he/she will do great in AAP. There's also an issue of moving kids away from their base school that doesn't sit well with a lot of parents, especially if it means different bus schedules from younger siblings. I can tell you it's a pain in the ass for our family, and DH and I have reasonably accommodating work schedules. I can get behind bringing Level IV back to all the base schools without watering it down and suspect a bigger push/more assistance with appealing in URM groups would make this possible. Families who qualify for FRM do get a lower rate on WISC tests through GMU. I bet GMU would be all over it to administer WISC tests to any kid with borderline scores in a school setting if FCPS agreed to accommodate it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have a base school just like OPs. Many parents try to get their kids into the center. The demographics of the school change dramatically in the 3rd and 4th grade classes due to defections to the center and private schools. My three children were not high test scorers but I got them all into the center and the education has been worlds above what is going on at our base school in those grades. I would much rather have a child working hard and learning and getting 2s and 3s then sitting around doing nothing and getting 4s.

Until FCPS fixes the problem of catering to the lowest learners at the base schools, people will do anything to get their kids into what is objectively a far superior educational program.

Yes, the middle class parents are unimpressed by their child not learning much in K-2 at our school (40% ELL/FARM) and finagle their kids into the center. Easily 20% of the 2nd grade kids go to the center from our school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do they say how they will classify biracial kids? Is it whatever they decide?

Race is self identified when you register your student. Biracial students can be however the parents register.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have a base school just like OPs. Many parents try to get their kids into the center. The demographics of the school change dramatically in the 3rd and 4th grade classes due to defections to the center and private schools. My three children were not high test scorers but I got them all into the center and the education has been worlds above what is going on at our base school in those grades. I would much rather have a child working hard and learning and getting 2s and 3s then sitting around doing nothing and getting 4s.

Until FCPS fixes the problem of catering to the lowest learners at the base schools, people will do anything to get their kids into what is objectively a far superior educational program.

If they change AAP, I think there will be more people moving out of failing pyramids because there will be no escape route. Someone mentioned boundary changes, and I wholeheartedly agree that it needs to happen, but I'll believe it when I see it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have a base school just like OPs. Many parents try to get their kids into the center. The demographics of the school change dramatically in the 3rd and 4th grade classes due to defections to the center and private schools. My three children were not high test scorers but I got them all into the center and the education has been worlds above what is going on at our base school in those grades. I would much rather have a child working hard and learning and getting 2s and 3s then sitting around doing nothing and getting 4s.

Until FCPS fixes the problem of catering to the lowest learners at the base schools, people will do anything to get their kids into what is objectively a far superior educational program.

You’re a huge part of the problem. You crammed your kids into AAP who don’t belong there, they’re getting 2’s, And the teacher now has to slow down AAP to help your under qualified kids. You do realize, don’t you, that AAP also caters to the lowest common denominator, which is currently the average kids whose parents games the system and crammed them in? People like you are the reason that the gifted kids are stuck sitting around doing nothing and getting all 4s in AAP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a base school just like OPs. Many parents try to get their kids into the center. The demographics of the school change dramatically in the 3rd and 4th grade classes due to defections to the center and private schools. My three children were not high test scorers but I got them all into the center and the education has been worlds above what is going on at our base school in those grades. I would much rather have a child working hard and learning and getting 2s and 3s then sitting around doing nothing and getting 4s.

Until FCPS fixes the problem of catering to the lowest learners at the base schools, people will do anything to get their kids into what is objectively a far superior educational program.

You’re a huge part of the problem. You crammed your kids into AAP who don’t belong there, they’re getting 2’s, And the teacher now has to slow down AAP to help your under qualified kids. You do realize, don’t you, that AAP also caters to the lowest common denominator, which is currently the average kids whose parents games the system and crammed them in? People like you are the reason that the gifted kids are stuck sitting around doing nothing and getting all 4s in AAP

Then bring up the standards of the base schools and people won't do this!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a base school just like OPs. Many parents try to get their kids into the center. The demographics of the school change dramatically in the 3rd and 4th grade classes due to defections to the center and private schools. My three children were not high test scorers but I got them all into the center and the education has been worlds above what is going on at our base school in those grades. I would much rather have a child working hard and learning and getting 2s and 3s then sitting around doing nothing and getting 4s.

Until FCPS fixes the problem of catering to the lowest learners at the base schools, people will do anything to get their kids into what is objectively a far superior educational program.

You’re a huge part of the problem. You crammed your kids into AAP who don’t belong there, they’re getting 2’s, And the teacher now has to slow down AAP to help your under qualified kids. You do realize, don’t you, that AAP also caters to the lowest common denominator, which is currently the average kids whose parents games the system and crammed them in? People like you are the reason that the gifted kids are stuck sitting around doing nothing and getting all 4s in AAP

I agree. My 3rd grader doesn’t have high scores, but on the WISC every index is above 130. He’s doing fine. But it’s shocking to know how low some AAP kids’ scores are. There are kids who do well on the cogat and get in, but on the WISC they only have one are two indices over 130. It’s the lopsided scores that bring down instruction. Especially when a kid has high math scores but verbal in the low 120s. That kid should be in gen ed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a base school just like OPs. Many parents try to get their kids into the center. The demographics of the school change dramatically in the 3rd and 4th grade classes due to defections to the center and private schools. My three children were not high test scorers but I got them all into the center and the education has been worlds above what is going on at our base school in those grades. I would much rather have a child working hard and learning and getting 2s and 3s then sitting around doing nothing and getting 4s.

Until FCPS fixes the problem of catering to the lowest learners at the base schools, people will do anything to get their kids into what is objectively a far superior educational program.

You’re a huge part of the problem. You crammed your kids into AAP who don’t belong there, they’re getting 2’s, And the teacher now has to slow down AAP to help your under qualified kids. You do realize, don’t you, that AAP also caters to the lowest common denominator, which is currently the average kids whose parents games the system and crammed them in? People like you are the reason that the gifted kids are stuck sitting around doing nothing and getting all 4s in AAP

People aren’t going to sacrifice their kids education to benefit other kids. You aren’t going to fix the problem in AAP/gen ed by expecting families to be altruistic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a base school just like OPs. Many parents try to get their kids into the center. The demographics of the school change dramatically in the 3rd and 4th grade classes due to defections to the center and private schools. My three children were not high test scorers but I got them all into the center and the education has been worlds above what is going on at our base school in those grades. I would much rather have a child working hard and learning and getting 2s and 3s then sitting around doing nothing and getting 4s.

Until FCPS fixes the problem of catering to the lowest learners at the base schools, people will do anything to get their kids into what is objectively a far superior educational program.

You’re a huge part of the problem. You crammed your kids into AAP who don’t belong there, they’re getting 2’s, And the teacher now has to slow down AAP to help your under qualified kids. You do realize, don’t you, that AAP also caters to the lowest common denominator, which is currently the average kids whose parents games the system and crammed them in? People like you are the reason that the gifted kids are stuck sitting around doing nothing and getting all 4s in AAP

People aren’t going to sacrifice their kids education to benefit other kids. You aren’t going to fix the problem in AAP/gen ed by expecting families to be altruistic.

This right here is the whole issue with the whole education system in the whole country and why people send their kids to private, move to places with “good” public schools, etc. I have no easy answer to this.