COSA denial - submitting an appeal but do we mention "gifted" designation?

[Anonymous]

If your babysitter who provides after care is near a school then you can get a COSA.

[Anonymous]

A couple of problems I see with your case:

- you have a child that cant handle change and yet you are moving and are essentially the cause of a problem you want the school to solve. If you are voluntarily moving, it gives one pause as to why the parent would decide to cause the severe anxiety and upset rather than staying put.
- you don’t mention an IEP or 504. You don’t mention any involvement with school counselors. Despite your letters from medical providers, the lack of these things speaks volumes to the severity of the situation.
- your child has not even qualified for CES so there is no way to know if she will get in. And even if she does, you can choose not to send her. Many of us make that choice.

I don’t know what you say in your appeal. But I think CES is a useless argument - she isn’t in and you can decline the program if she gets in. And I think that you have to figure out how to convince the administrators that this is a serious problem despite the fact that you made the decision to move and that she has no IEP. If you are in a situation where moving was not an option and you couldn’t stay within your boundaries, you could highlight that.

I know I sound harsh - don’t mean to be but I wanted to point out your obstacles which are huge. I do wish you good luck and your daughter success wherever she goes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - thanks for the quick responses. DD has severe anxiety when it comes to new situations and people. We submitted a letter from her therapist, pediatrician and we wrote a letter. The application was still denied.

We are going to appeal but we didn't mention the possibility of her moving twice in 2 years. She has scored in the 99th percentile for every MAP-P test she's taken and is reading on an "N" benchmark. I know that the designation of gifted isn't linked to CES acceptance but I thought it may be a factor.

Any insight on how we get them to understand the severity of her issues on appeal? I'm baffled that the letters from legit MD and PhDs didn't sway them.

I mean, she's going to have to deal with change at some point, and you have made the decision to move despite what you describe as "severe" issues. Basically, you are fighting an uphill battle here, and some of it your own doing.

What is your actual concern about the school in your new neighborhood?

This. Even if you had to move from a particular residence, it would serve your argument more if you had selected a home in the same zone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your babysitter who provides after care is near a school then you can get a COSA.

Not a guarantee.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:About half of all 3rd graders are designated gifted. It is NOT in anyway a foregone conclusion that your child will be accepted to CES. The denial is the right decision.

This.
My child scored 99% on InView, 99% on MAPs and 99% on CogAt (nationally, though, that year MoCo chose not to disclose raw data and local percentiles), and still didn't get into a CES (not a local center, though). OP, I won't be so sure your kid will have to change schools in 4th grade.

[Anonymous]

Why move and why not stay put for a few more years? That doesn't make sense to me. Many kids are "gifted." Most are very smart but not truly gifted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:About half of all 3rd graders are designated gifted. It is NOT in anyway a foregone conclusion that your child will be accepted to CES. The denial is the right decision.

This.
My child scored 99% on InView, 99% on MAPs and 99% on CogAt (nationally, though, that year MoCo chose not to disclose raw data and local percentiles), and still didn't get into a CES (not a local center, though). OP, I won't be so sure your kid will have to change schools in 4th grade.

+1, mine scored high too and other kids were chosen over him.

[Anonymous]

You’ve created the problem by moving...you’re not going to get much sympathy.

[Anonymous]

I'd bet money that the reason OP is spinning this hard has to do with the new school being somehow "worse" than the school where they have been renting.

MCPS is not entertained by folks who buy homes in economically diverse neighborhoods and then come up with elaborate reasons why their child cannot go to school with their neighbors' children.

[Anonymous]

In the off chance she gets into CES simply decline and she won’t have to change schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd bet money that the reason OP is spinning this hard has to do with the new school being somehow "worse" than the school where they have been renting.

MCPS is not entertained by folks who buy homes in economically diverse neighborhoods and then come up with elaborate reasons why their child cannot go to school with their neighbors' children.

But they are used to it. I see so many people who buy and count on CES, magnet or immersion and then freak out when their normal kids ends up in normal classes with normal (but poor) kids.

[Anonymous]

I would definitely appeal. People seem to go through this a lot. Denial on the first try but then they eventually get the COSA.

If not, do you have a friend or family member who will allow you to use their address? This is pretty commonly done also. Make sure it is someone who you trust because the kid’s report cards will get sent to that address.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would definitely appeal. People seem to go through this a lot. Denial on the first try but then they eventually get the COSA.

If not, do you have a friend or family member who will allow you to use their address? This is pretty commonly done also. Make sure it is someone who you trust because the kid’s report cards will get sent to that address.

It's also fraudulent, no matter how common it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your babysitter who provides after care is near a school then you can get a COSA.

This is probably a better approach than mentioning anything about being ‘gifted’.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would definitely appeal. People seem to go through this a lot. Denial on the first try but then they eventually get the COSA.

If not, do you have a friend or family member who will allow you to use their address? This is pretty commonly done also. Make sure it is someone who you trust because the kid’s report cards will get sent to that address.

This constitutes fraud. Do not advise someone to commit fraud, PP. It's not ethical.