Do elementary schools in FCPS track kids before AAP time without telling us?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:IME, the fact that your child's teacher or teachers do not think of him/her as "AAP material" will not directly affect his/her chance at getting into AAP. The child HAS to have the test scores to make it into AAP and some work samples that show some level of originality -- but age appropriate originality. IME, your child does not need to show extraordinary ability... just be an analytical thinker.

My AAP child's 1st and 2nd grade teachers didn't think DC was AAP material. DC got in. One told me she was quite surprised by DC's NNAT score. The other discouraged AAP and described it as being for kids who were X,Y, and Z (which were qualities DC didn't show according to her).

Now that DC is in AAP, DC's AAP teacher is shocked that the 1st and 2nd grade teachers told me those things about DC b/c DC is doing very well in AAP. It's ironic that DC's grades in AAP (including the behavior ratings) are a little higher than DC got in 2nd grade. DC recently scored the highest in the class on a national verbal-analysis competition. Yet, DC's 1st and 2nd grade teachers discouraged the idea of AAP.

The screening tests really made the difference. We know of another child who was also discouraged b/c of his impulsive behavior -- his AAP teacher thinks he is exactly right for the program.

I somewhat agree with what you're saying but not totally.
The child's teacher is in the local screening committee that produces the GBRS so it does affect the child's chances of getting into AAP.
The child does NOT have to have the test scores to get into AAP.

In-pool test scores + high GBRS= more than likely will be found eligible.
Below cut off test scores +average GBRS= will require a lot of other data such as further testing to be found eligible

Our DC was below cut off and had a GBRS of 10. Not much support from his teacher or from the AART. We did outside testing to include above grade level tests, provided work samples that showed analytical thinking, and included a letter. DC is now in AAP and is doing so well. Not struggling at all- just getting the right amount of everything and is making better grades than he did in gen ed.

[Anonymous]

At our school, they are spread out. The aart pulls out a similar # of kids from each class is 1st.

[Anonymous]

I have wondered in the past if some schools do this. We moved here after GT screening for one of my kids. He was assigned to the pullout program a few weeks after we arrived. His school had six grade level classes which were set up in three groups of two for team teaching. This might have been by chance, but for fourth, fifth, and sixth grades, well over half of the kids in the GT pullout were placed in one of the teams. In addition, pretty much the same kids were kept together for all those years.
I realize you're asking about the earlier grades, but other parents told me that many of these kids started being put together in second grade, so it appeared that they were trying to focus on kids' needs early. This school didn't have GT and people in the neighborhood said they liked to keep the kids at the school, so maybe placing the kids together was an effort to make it worthwhile to the parents to keep them there. We were new, so I didn't know much about the background or the GT program at that time (they changed the name to AAP shortly after this).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I am seeing some signs of this.

Absolutely. AAP Level II starts in Kindergarten.

See grade level information on the AAP website:

http://www.fcps.edu/is/aap/gradelevel.shtml

[Anonymous]

Interesting discussion. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I am seeing some signs of this.

Absolutely. AAP Level II starts in Kindergarten.

See grade level information on the AAP website:

http://www.fcps.edu/is/aap/gradelevel.shtml

But it's not tracking. Tracking is where all students of one ability are lumped together as an entire class. That results in an ENTIRE classroom of "high" kids, an entire class of "on grade level" kids and an entire class of "low" kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I am seeing some signs of this.

Absolutely. AAP Level II starts in Kindergarten.

See grade level information on the AAP website:

http://www.fcps.edu/is/aap/gradelevel.shtml

But it's not tracking. Tracking is where all students of one ability are lumped together as an entire class. That results in an ENTIRE classroom of "high" kids, an entire class of "on grade level" kids and an entire class of "low" kids.

You are correct. I misinterpreted the OP's question. I thought the question was if AAP starts before 3rd grade, which it does.

Thanks for the follow-up correction.