Is the Parent Referral worthwhile? If yes, suggestions on the types of submissions

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, I've never understood questioning what types of work samples did someone else provide. First, if I say I produced x for my kid, are you going to copy that? Second, are you going to have your kid actually produce work solely for the submission? Finally, if you haven't seen your kid produce work that really stands out to you when you saw it, there's nothing really for you to do for the work submissions. I'm not commenting on whether your kid belongs in aap. I'm only commenting that you probably shouldn't include work samples.

I have seen questions like OP's a few times and responses like this every time. The thing is, if it is your oldest kid, none of their work is really going to stand out as exceptional because you are talking about 2nd graders. For example, if my 2nd grader is doing stuff that would be more typical of a 5th grader, I really have no way of knowing that because I am not really familiar with anyone's school work except for my own 2nd grader (and my own Kindergartener). According to my 2nd grader's teacher, he is a great writer, but I have never been impressed with any of his writing until very recently when I saw some writing samples from classmates of his. Anyway, OP, talk to your kid's teacher. Maybe he or she can help you identify some good samples.

Totally, totally disagree. If you have a kid who comes home with stand out work, you'd know it instantly. FYI: One thing I submitted was actually marked wrong by the teacher but it was so out of the box thinking, it was actually correct but even the teacher didn't see it that way. The minute I saw the work, I saw what my kid was thinking, that it was way higher level, out of the box thinking. Again, you know it when you see it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, I've never understood questioning what types of work samples did someone else provide. First, if I say I produced x for my kid, are you going to copy that? Second, are you going to have your kid actually produce work solely for the submission? Finally, if you haven't seen your kid produce work that really stands out to you when you saw it, there's nothing really for you to do for the work submissions. I'm not commenting on whether your kid belongs in aap. I'm only commenting that you probably shouldn't include work samples.

I have seen questions like OP's a few times and responses like this every time. The thing is, if it is your oldest kid, none of their work is really going to stand out as exceptional because you are talking about 2nd graders. For example, if my 2nd grader is doing stuff that would be more typical of a 5th grader, I really have no way of knowing that because I am not really familiar with anyone's school work except for my own 2nd grader (and my own Kindergartener). According to my 2nd grader's teacher, he is a great writer, but I have never been impressed with any of his writing until very recently when I saw some writing samples from classmates of his. Anyway, OP, talk to your kid's teacher. Maybe he or she can help you identify some good samples.

Totally, totally disagree. If you have a kid who comes home with stand out work, you'd know it instantly. FYI: One thing I submitted was actually marked wrong by the teacher but it was so out of the box thinking, it was actually correct but even the teacher didn't see it that way. The minute I saw the work, I saw what my kid was thinking, that it was way higher level, out of the box thinking. Again, you know it when you see it.

+1

[Anonymous]

Can you submit test scores with parent referral or is that only done with an appeal?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you submit test scores with parent referral or is that only done with an appeal?

The advice I was given is that for an appeal, you need new information and the test scores would be the new information.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you submit test scores with parent referral or is that only done with an appeal?

You can submit test scores with the parent referral. It is true that test scores are generally needed for an appeal, so you might want to save them for an appeal. But on the other hand, if you submit a high test score, you're much less likely to need to bother with appeals. I'm planning on submitting my child's WISC with the initial referral packet, since I don't want to deal with the stress of appeals, and I want to be able to attend the orientation.

[Anonymous]

I have never met a child who didn’t get in if a prentdid a very thorough referral. But then again I live in an are where 1/3 of the grade gets in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have never met a child who didn’t get in if a prentdid a very thorough referral. But then again I live in an are where 1/3 of the grade gets in.

Wow...you reviewed all kids' files who were admitted and who weren't for thoroughness to make this statement. Impressive.

[Anonymous]

No anactodally every parent I know that submitted a referral, and filled it out completely, had their child get in. I’m not talking about just doing the 1 page referral- I’m talking about aubmitting all optional material only.

So yes though just anecdotal but this has been my experience. And I bet OP would be kicking him or herself if their child didn’t get in and they didn’t fill out the forms. So my recommendation is fill them out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No anactodally every parent I know that submitted a referral, and filled it out completely, had their child get in. I’m not talking about just doing the 1 page referral- I’m talking about aubmitting all optional material only.

So yes though just anecdotal but this has been my experience. And I bet OP would be kicking him or herself if their child didn’t get in and they didn’t fill out the forms. So my recommendation is fill them out.

Just to add, if your child is in the pool and you still submit referral forms, the referral forms are automatically ignored and not considered by the central committee.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No anactodally every parent I know that submitted a referral, and filled it out completely, had their child get in. I’m not talking about just doing the 1 page referral- I’m talking about aubmitting all optional material only.

So yes though just anecdotal but this has been my experience. And I bet OP would be kicking him or herself if their child didn’t get in and they didn’t fill out the forms. So my recommendation is fill them out.

Just to add, if your child is in the pool and you still submit referral forms, the referral forms are automatically ignored and not considered by the central committee.

That's what I heard too. Optional questionnaire forms will be considered, but not the referral forms if my child is in the pool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No anactodally every parent I know that submitted a referral, and filled it out completely, had their child get in. I’m not talking about just doing the 1 page referral- I’m talking about aubmitting all optional material only.

So yes though just anecdotal but this has been my experience. And I bet OP would be kicking him or herself if their child didn’t get in and they didn’t fill out the forms. So my recommendation is fill them out.

Just to add, if your child is in the pool and you still submit referral forms, the referral forms are automatically ignored and not considered by the central committee.

That's what I heard too. Optional questionnaire forms will be considered, but not the referral forms if my child is in the pool.

Completely contrary to what my AART told us at our informational meeting. Who told you this (person and school name)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No anactodally every parent I know that submitted a referral, and filled it out completely, had their child get in. I’m not talking about just doing the 1 page referral- I’m talking about aubmitting all optional material only.

So yes though just anecdotal but this has been my experience. And I bet OP would be kicking him or herself if their child didn’t get in and they didn’t fill out the forms. So my recommendation is fill them out.

Just to add, if your child is in the pool and you still submit referral forms, the referral forms are automatically ignored and not considered by the central committee.

That's what I heard too. Optional questionnaire forms will be considered, but not the referral forms if my child is in the pool.

Completely contrary to what my AART told us at our informational meeting. Who told you this (person and school name)?

If school is submitting the referral they already have needed six samples unless parent referral samples are better (very unlikely).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No anactodally every parent I know that submitted a referral, and filled it out completely, had their child get in. I’m not talking about just doing the 1 page referral- I’m talking about aubmitting all optional material only.

So yes though just anecdotal but this has been my experience. And I bet OP would be kicking him or herself if their child didn’t get in and they didn’t fill out the forms. So my recommendation is fill them out.

Just to add, if your child is in the pool and you still submit referral forms, the referral forms are automatically ignored and not considered by the central committee.

That's what I heard too. Optional questionnaire forms will be considered, but not the referral forms if my child is in the pool.

Completely contrary to what my AART told us at our informational meeting. Who told you this (person and school name)?

If school is submitting the referral they already have needed six samples unless parent referral samples are better (very unlikely).

But they won't have the test scores I'm submitting and my understanding is for 2E learners it is up to the parent to decide whether to share that information (and it asks on the form if there is any additional information, etc)

[Anonymous]

The samples I submitted were far better than what the school submitted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No anactodally every parent I know that submitted a referral, and filled it out completely, had their child get in. I’m not talking about just doing the 1 page referral- I’m talking about aubmitting all optional material only.

So yes though just anecdotal but this has been my experience. And I bet OP would be kicking him or herself if their child didn’t get in and they didn’t fill out the forms. So my recommendation is fill them out.

Just to add, if your child is in the pool and you still submit referral forms, the referral forms are automatically ignored and not considered by the central committee.

That's what I heard too. Optional questionnaire forms will be considered, but not the referral forms if my child is in the pool.

Completely contrary to what my AART told us at our informational meeting. Who told you this (person and school name)?

This is directly from our AART and also confirmed by AAP Central Committee. File can be reviewed in two ways (1) pool or (2) referral and can't be both. When you are in pool and still submit referral forms, then they have to review it as (1) automatically so the referral form itself can't be reviewed, but optional parent questionnaire, awards, work samples and recommendations etc. can still be reviewed because these are are optional.