Fairfax County GT/AAP Appeals.

[Anonymous]

Just at an extremely hard place in life right now. yes, the sky is not falling, but I don't get how the rating or scores will improve without she not being challenged and hence not grow (unless i work with her everyday) without it coming from the school, and we know that isnt coming.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for that honest reply.
I know there is a tendency to think as a mom am biased in thinking my DD is gifted. She isn't as much as my older two were, BUT then I am also harsh and criquing. (blame the asian genes) but others have told me repeatedly that she is doing so much better at school and outside. PLUS, my biggest peeve is that there is no challenge at the current school. Despite us asking for it.
Am not the only one hwo feels that way.

so yeah. I don't want to continue here and know not what to do.

SKR

If your daughter is doing much better at school and outside school, I would hope that placement in 4th grade will be with a strong teacher (and yes, there are strong teachers in FCPS, including in general ed) that will "get" her. In the fall you can ask for a retest (and I would go with the CogAT if you can) if she is eligible, and then do a parent referral next spring. The 4th grade teacher will contribute towards the GBRS with Commentary, she will have new CogAT scores, and you can make a strong case as a parent about her growth and maturity. If she shows such potential in the classroom, she may be found eligible and she could start at the AAP Center for 5th grade.

[Anonymous]

^^Also, you do not have to be "gifted" by the standard of the article to do well in GT. High achiever is enough.

[Anonymous]

She would need new info to appeal. Did you already submit the wisc scores. You could take the Stanford Binet but most people avoid that because scores are usually 5-10 lower

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:SKR, I would appeal. Sometimes the selection committee at the school feels you have "too many brights in the family" and they need to "share the AAP wealth" It seems like she qualifies, so I would appeal, or else move. Everyone in my family has an advanced degree -- we all would have qualified for GT. Thankfully, we (adults) did not go to school in this system. All of my children were in GT --older now. GL.

Thanks and to 13.16 in above as well.

I plan to go speak with the classroom teacher and get her candid opinion once more and see what best to do. Certainly May isn't going that great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She would need new info to appeal. Did you already submit the wisc scores. You could take the Stanford Binet but most people avoid that because scores are usually 5-10 lower

That's another thing.
What kind of new info could I cull together? Apart from worksheets or honest to God letters from folks who know her on a daily basis.

[Anonymous]

SKR: Your DD's WISC full scale and VCI of 130 make her a very good candidate for appeal. Do it right now, to try to get her out of the bad school with the bad administrators. Do not listen to the naysayers, and especially not the naysayers who advise waiting a year and retaking the CogAT. The AAP folks understand that the WISC is the gold standard, and the CogAT scores essentially "drop out" of the admission equation when there is a WISC on file. Appeal today. Good luck. I think your DD will get in with a WISC of 130.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She would need new info to appeal. Did you already submit the wisc scores. You could take the Stanford Binet but most people avoid that because scores are usually 5-10 lower

That's another thing.
What kind of new info could I cull together? Apart from worksheets or honest to God letters from folks who know her on a daily basis.

Have you already completed the optional parent questionnaire? That could serve as "new info" especially if you outline how your daughter has changed since 2nd grade.

[Anonymous]

PS If the WISC was in the parent referral file, consider getting a Stanford Binet for appeal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PS If the WISC was in the parent referral file, consider getting a Stanford Binet for appeal.

Your DD should score high on the Stanford Binet because that test does not depend on working memory or speed (unlike the WISC, and I see that the memory/speed subscores may have depressed the WISC full scale number).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:SKR: Your DD's WISC full scale and VCI of 130 make her a very good candidate for appeal. Do it right now, to try to get her out of the bad school with the bad administrators. Do not listen to the naysayers, and especially not the naysayers who advise waiting a year and retaking the CogAT. The AAP folks understand that the WISC is the gold standard, and the CogAT scores essentially "drop out" of the admission equation when there is a WISC on file. Appeal today. Good luck. I think your DD will get in with a WISC of 130.

Thank you and all who replied below as well supporting this decision.

I'll start to put things together. The most anyone can do is reject right? If I don't, I'll always wonder if I should have.

SKR

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PS If the WISC was in the parent referral file, consider getting a Stanford Binet for appeal.

Your DD should score high on the Stanford Binet because that test does not depend on working memory or speed (unlike the WISC, and I see that the memory/speed subscores may have depressed the WISC full scale number).

Got it! Will give ita shot. Looks like Dahlgreen - http://drdianadahlgren.com/Home.aspx is the one to go to. Or could I just stick to the other psychologist who had tested her for WISC (for the sake of continuity)

SKR

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SKR: Your DD's WISC full scale and VCI of 130 make her a very good candidate for appeal. Do it right now, to try to get her out of the bad school with the bad administrators. Do not listen to the naysayers, and especially not the naysayers who advise waiting a year and retaking the CogAT. The AAP folks understand that the WISC is the gold standard, and the CogAT scores essentially "drop out" of the admission equation when there is a WISC on file. Appeal today. Good luck. I think your DD will get in with a WISC of 130.

Thank you and all who replied below as well supporting this decision.

I'll start to put things together. The most anyone can do is reject right? If I don't, I'll always wonder if I should have.

SKR

SKR, I do not know what school you are coming from (dont need to know!) but the GT teacher was very mean to mine and I won the appeal. With that WISC she should have made the cut.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SKR: Your DD's WISC full scale and VCI of 130 make her a very good candidate for appeal. Do it right now, to try to get her out of the bad school with the bad administrators. Do not listen to the naysayers, and especially not the naysayers who advise waiting a year and retaking the CogAT. The AAP folks understand that the WISC is the gold standard, and the CogAT scores essentially "drop out" of the admission equation when there is a WISC on file. Appeal today. Good luck. I think your DD will get in with a WISC of 130.

Thank you and all who replied below as well supporting this decision.

I'll start to put things together. The most anyone can do is reject right? If I don't, I'll always wonder if I should have.

SKR

SKR, I do not know what school you are coming from (dont need to know!) but the GT teacher was very mean to mine and I won the appeal. With that WISC she should have made the cut.

THANK YOU! That is very reassuring. Ours is the one that's currently at the bottom of the chantilly HS pyramid in the chantilly area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PS If the WISC was in the parent referral file, consider getting a Stanford Binet for appeal.

Your DD should score high on the Stanford Binet because that test does not depend on working memory or speed (unlike the WISC, and I see that the memory/speed subscores may have depressed the WISC full scale number).

Got it! Will give ita shot. Looks like Dahlgreen - http://drdianadahlgren.com/Home.aspx is the one to go to. Or could I just stick to the other psychologist who had tested her for WISC (for the sake of continuity)

SKR

Dr. Dahlgren is one of the better psychologists in the area (she is on the list as a tester for many area private schools) and she also knows the AAP program very well. If she is available, I highly recommend going with her.