Appeal Questions

[Anonymous]

My DC got in on apoeal last year with a GMU WISC that was hugher than CoGAT - I think by ~10 points or so. I have no idea how common or uncommon that is but I don’t have difficulty believing DC performed better on the WISC because it is one-on-one, less distracting environment, and because as a PP stated there is opportunity to explain.

I do not think DRA or iready are likely to be persuasive.

I think parent work samples don’t hinder and can help if they are really good, or tie in to a letter or parent questionaire/GBRS points really nicely. I would doubt that parent work samples are a primary reason to admit someone. This is all just my opinion.

First grade teacher had no input on our GBRS. Form has changed so I can’t speak much to content.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As I am trying to type up an appeal letter, I have several questions.

What is a high DRA for Fairfax County for a 2nd grader? I googled it and my child’s score was above the next higher grade level, but is that good for Fairfax County?

Has anyone appealed with iready scores? If so, what is considered good for Fairfax County?

For those who have done both cogat and wisc, did your child have about the same scores?

It sounds like parent submitted work samples were important this year. I feel like in the past that wasn’t the case. Any thoughts?

When I was looking over the GBRS, the comments were amazing, but the actual ratings were 3Fs and 1C. It didn’t really seem to fit together. Any thoughts?

Who was on the GBRS form for your kid? Is the 1st grade teacher typically one of the contributors?

Sorry for all the specific questions- I will contact the AART and his teacher to ask, but just wanted to see if anyone had any thoughts on these. Thanks!

The highest DRA score for a FCPS second grader should be a 38. That's because the FCPS training requires testers to stop after capping out at the end of the next year. The number stands for 3 (third grade) and 8 (8th month). So when you ask what is a good DRA score for a second grader, if your child is above a 30 that's okay, but not amazing because plenty of other kids have a 38 (which is likely higher but the tester is required to stop at 38.)

Thanks! This helps a lot. Yes his score was a 38 and when I looked up what books were recommended to children at that DRA level, it seemed way below his reading level and confused me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would think if you are submitting a WISC for an appeal, you would want it to be at or above the Cogat

Would you submit it for appeal if it is above CogAT but still not over 130 FSIQ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would think if you are submitting a WISC for an appeal, you would want it to be at or above the Cogat

Would you submit it for appeal if it is above CogAT but still not over 130 FSIQ?

In this case, what do you have to lose by submitting it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would think if you are submitting a WISC for an appeal, you would want it to be at or above the Cogat

Would you submit it for appeal if it is above CogAT but still not over 130 FSIQ?

In this case, what do you have to lose by submitting it?

Let's say a kid has 125 CogAT. Would a FSIQ of 125 (still 90%+ I believe) solidify that the kid will be fine in GenEd? Or would it show that a kid can succeed in AAP? It's hard to know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would think if you are submitting a WISC for an appeal, you would want it to be at or above the Cogat

Would you submit it for appeal if it is above CogAT but still not over 130 FSIQ?

In this case, what do you have to lose by submitting it?

Let's say a kid has 125 CogAT. Would a FSIQ of 125 (still 90%+ I believe) solidify that the kid will be fine in GenEd? Or would it show that a kid can succeed in AAP? It's hard to know.

I think it shows both, the question is more about what are they looking for. IDK that they are looking for kids who can succeed in AAP as it eeems that woukd be more than what gets admitted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Let's say a kid has 125 CogAT. Would a FSIQ of 125 (still 90%+ I believe) solidify that the kid will be fine in GenEd? Or would it show that a kid can succeed in AAP? It's hard to know.

I think it shows both, the question is more about what are they looking for. IDK that they are looking for kids who can succeed in AAP as it eeems that woukd be more than what gets admitted.

Lots of kids get in with lower CogATs and WISCs. If the GBRS is good, it doesn't hurt anything to include the WISC. If the GBRS is poor, it's not likely that a 125 WISC will be enough. What were the sub scores? If any of the indices on the WISC were over 130, or if any of the sub scores were 18 or 19, that might be of interest to the committee. I've also heard that they care more about the VCI and FRI than the other 3 sections, so a higher score in any of these with a FSIQ of 125 might be compelling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Let's say a kid has 125 CogAT. Would a FSIQ of 125 (still 90%+ I believe) solidify that the kid will be fine in GenEd? Or would it show that a kid can succeed in AAP? It's hard to know.

I think it shows both, the question is more about what are they looking for. IDK that they are looking for kids who can succeed in AAP as it eeems that woukd be more than what gets admitted.

Lots of kids get in with lower CogATs and WISCs. If the GBRS is good, it doesn't hurt anything to include the WISC. If the GBRS is poor, it's not likely that a 125 WISC will be enough. What were the sub scores? If any of the indices on the WISC were over 130, or if any of the sub scores were 18 or 19, that might be of interest to the committee. I've also heard that they care more about the VCI and FRI than the other 3 sections, so a higher score in any of these with a FSIQ of 125 might be compelling.

How do you know what good GBRS are? I got the packet and the comments make him sound awesome and there are lots of them. But there are 1C and 3Fs - like it doesn’t seem to match up. How do you know if the comments are good or bad compared to others?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Let's say a kid has 125 CogAT. Would a FSIQ of 125 (still 90%+ I believe) solidify that the kid will be fine in GenEd? Or would it show that a kid can succeed in AAP? It's hard to know.

I think it shows both, the question is more about what are they looking for. IDK that they are looking for kids who can succeed in AAP as it eeems that woukd be more than what gets admitted.

Lots of kids get in with lower CogATs and WISCs. If the GBRS is good, it doesn't hurt anything to include the WISC. If the GBRS is poor, it's not likely that a 125 WISC will be enough. What were the sub scores? If any of the indices on the WISC were over 130, or if any of the sub scores were 18 or 19, that might be of interest to the committee. I've also heard that they care more about the VCI and FRI than the other 3 sections, so a higher score in any of these with a FSIQ of 125 might be compelling.

How do you know what good GBRS are? I got the packet and the comments make him sound awesome and there are lots of them. But there are 1C and 3Fs - like it doesn’t seem to match up. How do you know if the comments are good or bad compared to others?

From the results thread, it seemed like 2C 2F is considered "good" for GBRS. 1C 3F seems good enough accompanied by in pool scores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here. My child's Cogat composite was 136. (He was not accepted). We have a WISC from previously, with GAI 125, and subscores are both high and low because of ADHD. Not worth it to submit that WISC, right? Should I try another IQ test, or just appeal based on the Cogat score?

What was his NNAT? If it was high like CogAT I think new work samples and a letter should suffice. If not, try DAS-II or SB test.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would think if you are submitting a WISC for an appeal, you would want it to be at or above the Cogat

Would you submit it for appeal if it is above CogAT but still not over 130 FSIQ?

I don't know. Last year we submitted a WISC of 130 for my middle child and were denied.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would think if you are submitting a WISC for an appeal, you would want it to be at or above the Cogat

Would you submit it for appeal if it is above CogAT but still not over 130 FSIQ?

In this case, what do you have to lose by submitting it?

Let's say a kid has 125 CogAT. Would a FSIQ of 125 (still 90%+ I believe) solidify that the kid will be fine in GenEd? Or would it show that a kid can succeed in AAP? It's hard to know.

Gen Ed. Look at thread from 2017-2018 and see how many kids with WISCs in 130s were rejected.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would think if you are submitting a WISC for an appeal, you would want it to be at or above the Cogat

Would you submit it for appeal if it is above CogAT but still not over 130 FSIQ?

In this case, what do you have to lose by submitting it?

Let's say a kid has 125 CogAT. Would a FSIQ of 125 (still 90%+ I believe) solidify that the kid will be fine in GenEd? Or would it show that a kid can succeed in AAP? It's hard to know.

Gen Ed. Look at thread from 2017-2018 and see how many kids with WISCs in 130s were rejected.

Scores alone don't seem to solidify anything for anyone. The GBRS, teacher comments, and school work samples seem especially important this year, since so many kids with high scores are being rejected and low scores are being accepted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They do not care about your kid's DRA or iReady scores. Get a WISC, and submit it if it's 128 or higher.

Agree. I see so many parents pointing out DRA and other reading scores. There is no correlation between reading level and giftedness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would think if you are submitting a WISC for an appeal, you would want it to be at or above the Cogat

Would you submit it for appeal if it is above CogAT but still not over 130 FSIQ?

In this case, what do you have to lose by submitting it?

Let's say a kid has 125 CogAT. Would a FSIQ of 125 (still 90%+ I believe) solidify that the kid will be fine in GenEd? Or would it show that a kid can succeed in AAP? It's hard to know.

Gen Ed. Look at thread from 2017-2018 and see how many kids with WISCs in 130s were rejected.

Mine was one - a 136 WISC. Took a second (different) IQ test at GMU and got in on appeal. Ridiculous I had to pay for 2 tests.