AAP for dummies

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New poster here. I totally missed the train on anything AAP related. I didn't realize this was something parents plan and prep for (I'm not from here). I now have a 1st and 3 grader who are very good students but it's becoming apparent that our school environment is not really helping them. There's a lot of disruption in the classroom and good students just go unnoticed. My 3rd grader did not get a high enough score in 2nd grade for AAP. I am not really surprised since he pretty much didn't learn anything during the pandemic (we didn't have a tutor, he hated on-line school and I was overwhelmed). I feel bad for not even trying. What's the way to go? Prep and ask if he can take a COGAT, like PP mentioned?

I think they can take the CogAT one more time through FCPS, so ask the AART about that. They can also take the CogAT or WISC privately if you pay for it. Just apply again next year (the deadline is in December) with new test scores and make sure to submit all of the parent referral forms and some work samples from your DC.

Yes, parents with deep pockets can manage the appeals process and fund private diagnoses to get their children in the backdoor. It's more common than many would like to admit.

No you absolutely cannot "fund private dx" unless you find an unethical neuropsychologist, and if anyone found out they'd lose their license. Do they exist? Sure bad apples in every bunch. But to suggest it's common to find unethical neuropsyches that "sell" high IQ scores is silly. The biggest way that this type of thing happens (falsely high scores) is when unethical parents go to unethical websites to purchase test prep/cheating manuals for something that is not meant to be prepped for like IQ tests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New poster here. I totally missed the train on anything AAP related. I didn't realize this was something parents plan and prep for (I'm not from here). I now have a 1st and 3 grader who are very good students but it's becoming apparent that our school environment is not really helping them. There's a lot of disruption in the classroom and good students just go unnoticed. My 3rd grader did not get a high enough score in 2nd grade for AAP. I am not really surprised since he pretty much didn't learn anything during the pandemic (we didn't have a tutor, he hated on-line school and I was overwhelmed). I feel bad for not even trying. What's the way to go? Prep and ask if he can take a COGAT, like PP mentioned?

I think they can take the CogAT one more time through FCPS, so ask the AART about that. They can also take the CogAT or WISC privately if you pay for it. Just apply again next year (the deadline is in December) with new test scores and make sure to submit all of the parent referral forms and some work samples from your DC.

Yes, parents with deep pockets can manage the appeals process and fund private diagnoses to get their children in the backdoor. It's more common than many would like to admit.

Good lord you show up on every single thread and I truly don’t understand your motivation in posting this nonsense. I have a kid who got in unprepped, first round, at a high SES school w no diagnosis and I don’t see any peers who got in on appeal as less than. Your comments are offensive to 2E kids. Additional testing/diagnosis is not a backdoor.

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:New poster here. I totally missed the train on anything AAP related. I didn't realize this was something parents plan and prep for (I'm not from here). I now have a 1st and 3 grader who are very good students but it's becoming apparent that our school environment is not really helping them. There's a lot of disruption in the classroom and good students just go unnoticed. My 3rd grader did not get a high enough score in 2nd grade for AAP. I am not really surprised since he pretty much didn't learn anything during the pandemic (we didn't have a tutor, he hated on-line school and I was overwhelmed). I feel bad for not even trying. What's the way to go? Prep and ask if he can take a COGAT, like PP mentioned?

I think they can take the CogAT one more time through FCPS, so ask the AART about that. They can also take the CogAT or WISC privately if you pay for it. Just apply again next year (the deadline is in December) with new test scores and make sure to submit all of the parent referral forms and some work samples from your DC.

Yes, parents with deep pockets can manage the appeals process and fund private diagnoses to get their children in the backdoor. It's more common than many would like to admit.

The backdoor into AAP has been a well-kept secret despite being fairly common.

but if you want your appeal to carry any weight you to submit "new and convincing information" and a private diagnosis does just that

Your unhinged delusional perspective is noted, now will you finally go away?

Just because you don't like to admit the truth doesn't make it any less true. This is a matter of fact. Everyone knows it's going on. It's just that some would prefer to keep it secret. Maybe because they're embarrassed that their kids couldn't get in the front door or maybe because they want to keep this available to anyone with means. I don't know or care really but I feel it's only fair to point this out.

Whether your "super-secret-but-everyone-is-doing-it" backdoor is real or not, you convinced the school administration that it is and they are no longer doing it. You can buy as many WISCs as you want but you still won't get your kid in that way anymore.

It's not a question if it's real or not, half the kids get in this way. Not sure why pretending is helping anyone.

By your logic, half the kids are admitted on appeal. That is unequivocally untrue. Your claims are absurd and your jealously is sad. Please get help.

There's really no shame in this. It's very common.

It obviously didn't work for you.

My older child got in the old fashioned way but younger kid had to use the backdoor. It only took 2 appeals.

Do you feel shame?

Not really since it's so common these days.

Almost every parent I've gotten to know at our AAP center has admitted they're kid got in on appeal so I tend to agree.

An appeal does not equate buying a diagnosis. Everyone whose child wasn't selected should appeal.

but if you want your appeal to carry any weight you to submit "new and convincing information" and a private diagnosis does just that

Not true. People have posted that they did not add anything to the packet and their child was accepted. Sometimes it is just a matter of having a different set of eyes on the packet.

but a gifted diagnosis would be better...

There is no such thing as a "gifted diagnosis." The WISC is largely discounted these days, and there's nothing else that a psychologist could give you that amounts to a "gifted diagnosis." For 2E kids, the process to get a diagnosis is much longer than the appeals window, and it would not be feasible for anyone to get a diagnosis in that timeframe.

Yeah nothing about this reply is true.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:New poster here. I totally missed the train on anything AAP related. I didn't realize this was something parents plan and prep for (I'm not from here). I now have a 1st and 3 grader who are very good students but it's becoming apparent that our school environment is not really helping them. There's a lot of disruption in the classroom and good students just go unnoticed. My 3rd grader did not get a high enough score in 2nd grade for AAP. I am not really surprised since he pretty much didn't learn anything during the pandemic (we didn't have a tutor, he hated on-line school and I was overwhelmed). I feel bad for not even trying. What's the way to go? Prep and ask if he can take a COGAT, like PP mentioned?

I think they can take the CogAT one more time through FCPS, so ask the AART about that. They can also take the CogAT or WISC privately if you pay for it. Just apply again next year (the deadline is in December) with new test scores and make sure to submit all of the parent referral forms and some work samples from your DC.

Yes, parents with deep pockets can manage the appeals process and fund private diagnoses to get their children in the backdoor. It's more common than many would like to admit.

The backdoor into AAP has been a well-kept secret despite being fairly common.

but if you want your appeal to carry any weight you to submit "new and convincing information" and a private diagnosis does just that

Your unhinged delusional perspective is noted, now will you finally go away?

Just because you don't like to admit the truth doesn't make it any less true. This is a matter of fact. Everyone knows it's going on. It's just that some would prefer to keep it secret. Maybe because they're embarrassed that their kids couldn't get in the front door or maybe because they want to keep this available to anyone with means. I don't know or care really but I feel it's only fair to point this out.

Whether your "super-secret-but-everyone-is-doing-it" backdoor is real or not, you convinced the school administration that it is and they are no longer doing it. You can buy as many WISCs as you want but you still won't get your kid in that way anymore.

It's not a question if it's real or not, half the kids get in this way. Not sure why pretending is helping anyone.

By your logic, half the kids are admitted on appeal. That is unequivocally untrue. Your claims are absurd and your jealously is sad. Please get help.

There's really no shame in this. It's very common.

It obviously didn't work for you.

My older child got in the old fashioned way but younger kid had to use the backdoor. It only took 2 appeals.

Do you feel shame?

Not really since it's so common these days.

Almost every parent I've gotten to know at our AAP center has admitted they're kid got in on appeal so I tend to agree.

An appeal does not equate buying a diagnosis. Everyone whose child wasn't selected should appeal.

but if you want your appeal to carry any weight you to submit "new and convincing information" and a private diagnosis does just that

Not true. People have posted that they did not add anything to the packet and their child was accepted. Sometimes it is just a matter of having a different set of eyes on the packet.

but a gifted diagnosis would be better...

Nothing wrong with buying a gifted diagnosis. Seems like half the kids at our center got in that way.

It sounds like you're struggling with not having a clinically gifted child. Poor kid, to have a parent perseverating so much over that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is a gifted ‘diagnosis’? Is it a disease? Or are you talking about an attention deficit diagnosis to be 2E? I can’t get past the high level of snark to even understand what you’re being snarky about…

It's when you pay a psychologist to test your child until you get the desired diagnosis. This allows you to appeal with evidence stating your child is in fact gifted so they will be admitted to AAP even though they weren't able to get in the front door.

Gifted is only 2% of the population. Extremely intelligent/high achieving people can still not be clinically gifted. You really need to get past your obsession about giftedness and your bitterness that your kids aren't gifted, it's unhealthy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is a gifted ‘diagnosis’? Is it a disease? Or are you talking about an attention deficit diagnosis to be 2E? I can’t get past the high level of snark to even understand what you’re being snarky about…

It's when you pay a psychologist to test your child until you get the desired diagnosis. This allows you to appeal with evidence stating your child is in fact gifted so they will be admitted to AAP even though they weren't able to get in the front door.

I find your back door comments insensitive. My child had 160 NNAT and 143 COGAT, in pool for AAP. Currently in 2nd grade. She had a full academic/neuro evaluation in December after being on the waiting list for 1+ year. Yes, she is 2e, she has 136 IQ, ADHD and dyslexia. I didn’t buy this diagnosis, it is very real. I see the struggles every day, but doesn’t mean she is not deserving of an AAP education. I don’t know if she is in, but you bet I will be appealing if she doesn’t. Is that a back door? Her tests scores say otherwise. Who are you to say these kids are not deserving because they got accepted on appeal?

Well-said

[Anonymous]

By the way, the AAP program is not only for the “gifted.” There may be gifted kids in there but mostly are highly intelligent and hard working. My child is very bright and works hard as well. According to his IQ, he is considered top 1% however I still wouldn’t call him gifted. He still needs to put in effort.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Is AAP only in Virginia and not MD?

It is an FCPS program/structure. Virginia has a mandate to offer some sort of services for gifted children, but every district implements it differently. AFAIK, Fairfax is the only one with dedicated full time classrooms for advanced academics. Most counties offer pull out services of some kind.

APS only has push in, pointless

Equity!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is a gifted ‘diagnosis’? Is it a disease? Or are you talking about an attention deficit diagnosis to be 2E? I can’t get past the high level of snark to even understand what you’re being snarky about…

It's when you pay a psychologist to test your child until you get the desired diagnosis. This allows you to appeal with evidence stating your child is in fact gifted so they will be admitted to AAP even though they weren't able to get in the front door.

Gifted is only 2% of the population. Extremely intelligent/high achieving people can still not be clinically gifted. You really need to get past your obsession about giftedness and your bitterness that your kids aren't gifted, it's unhealthy.

But AAP is about 20% of the population and most aren't remotely gifted

[Anonymous]

FWIW last year my second grader was in the pool. Classroom behavior was rough and the teacher was too distracted to really see any individual students. My kid got a terrible GBRS from them and didn’t get in. We paid for WISC at GMU and my kid scored very high. We appealed with that and more good work samples. He still didn’t get in. There’s no “back door” and teacher input is huge in these decisions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FWIW last year my second grader was in the pool. Classroom behavior was rough and the teacher was too distracted to really see any individual students. My kid got a terrible GBRS from them and didn’t get in. We paid for WISC at GMU and my kid scored very high. We appealed with that and more good work samples. He still didn’t get in. There’s no “back door” and teacher input is huge in these decisions.

Sorry to hear that but it's still very common and may depend on your center.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FWIW last year my second grader was in the pool. Classroom behavior was rough and the teacher was too distracted to really see any individual students. My kid got a terrible GBRS from them and didn’t get in. We paid for WISC at GMU and my kid scored very high. We appealed with that and more good work samples. He still didn’t get in. There’s no “back door” and teacher input is huge in these decisions.

I had a very similar experience last year, too. The GBRS is make or break. I’m disappointed because it is by its very definition, subjective.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FWIW last year my second grader was in the pool. Classroom behavior was rough and the teacher was too distracted to really see any individual students. My kid got a terrible GBRS from them and didn’t get in. We paid for WISC at GMU and my kid scored very high. We appealed with that and more good work samples. He still didn’t get in. There’s no “back door” and teacher input is huge in these decisions.

I had a very similar experience last year, too. The GBRS is make or break. I’m disappointed because it is by its very definition, subjective.

My experience several years ago corroborates your observations. My kid was rejected with a very high GBRS, test scores just under the in-pool cutoff, and advanced in all subjects, but with somewhat sloppy work samples. We appealed with a parent letter and work samples, and my kid was admitted on appeals. They don't care that much about test scores. The GBRS is what makes or breaks a kid's chances.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FWIW last year my second grader was in the pool. Classroom behavior was rough and the teacher was too distracted to really see any individual students. My kid got a terrible GBRS from them and didn’t get in. We paid for WISC at GMU and my kid scored very high. We appealed with that and more good work samples. He still didn’t get in. There’s no “back door” and teacher input is huge in these decisions.

I had a very similar experience last year, too. The GBRS is make or break. I’m disappointed because it is by its very definition, subjective.

My experience several years ago corroborates your observations. My kid was rejected with a very high GBRS, test scores just under the in-pool cutoff, and advanced in all subjects, but with somewhat sloppy work samples. We appealed with a parent letter and work samples, and my kid was admitted on appeals. They don't care that much about test scores. The GBRS is what makes or breaks a kid's chances.

Maybe the county finally realized how many were gaming admissions with all the private diagnoses. I'm guessing there's a new backdoor since people always figure out how to gain an unfair advantage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FWIW last year my second grader was in the pool. Classroom behavior was rough and the teacher was too distracted to really see any individual students. My kid got a terrible GBRS from them and didn’t get in. We paid for WISC at GMU and my kid scored very high. We appealed with that and more good work samples. He still didn’t get in. There’s no “back door” and teacher input is huge in these decisions.

I had a very similar experience last year, too. The GBRS is make or break. I’m disappointed because it is by its very definition, subjective.

My experience several years ago corroborates your observations. My kid was rejected with a very high GBRS, test scores just under the in-pool cutoff, and advanced in all subjects, but with somewhat sloppy work samples. We appealed with a parent letter and work samples, and my kid was admitted on appeals. They don't care that much about test scores. The GBRS is what makes or breaks a kid's chances.

Maybe the county finally realized how many were gaming admissions with all the private diagnoses. I'm guessing there's a new backdoor since people always figure out how to gain an unfair advantage.

Move to a Title I district