FCPS potential changes to AAP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child isn't old enough for AAP yet but I absolutely would rather she be getting 2s and 3s and being challenged and learning then 4s and not learning.

FCPS has to fix its general ed classrooms first.

Don't forget, special Ed is pushed in these days. I've seen kids who truly require a full-time aid that only get 20 mins here and there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a base school just like OPs. Many parents try to get their kids into the center. The demographics of the school change dramatically in the 3rd and 4th grade classes due to defections to the center and private schools. My three children were not high test scorers but I got them all into the center and the education has been worlds above what is going on at our base school in those grades. I would much rather have a child working hard and learning and getting 2s and 3s then sitting around doing nothing and getting 4s.

Until FCPS fixes the problem of catering to the lowest learners at the base schools, people will do anything to get their kids into what is objectively a far superior educational program.

You’re a huge part of the problem. You crammed your kids into AAP who don’t belong there, they’re getting 2’s, And the teacher now has to slow down AAP to help your under qualified kids. You do realize, don’t you, that AAP also caters to the lowest common denominator, which is currently the average kids whose parents games the system and crammed them in? People like you are the reason that the gifted kids are stuck sitting around doing nothing and getting all 4s in AAP

BS. If the teachers class is slower because of this, it’s a problem with the teacher.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]We have a base school just like OPs. Many parents try to get their kids into the center. The demographics of the school change dramatically in the 3rd and 4th grade classes due to defections to the center and private schools. [b]My three children were not high test scorers but I got them all into the center [/b]and the education has been worlds above what is going on at our base school in those grades. [b]I would much rather have a child working hard and learning and getting 2s and 3s [/b]then sitting around doing nothing and getting 4s.

Until FCPS fixes the problem of catering to the lowest learners at the base schools, people will do anything to get their kids into what is objectively a far superior educational program.[/quote]

You’re a huge part of the problem. You crammed your kids into AAP who don’t belong there, they’re getting 2’s, And the teacher now has to slow down AAP to help your under qualified kids. You do realize, don’t you, that AAP also caters to the lowest common denominator, which is currently the average kids whose parents games the system and crammed them in? People like you are the reason that the gifted kids are stuck sitting around doing nothing and getting all 4s in AAP[/quote]
BS. If the teachers class is slower because of this, it’s a problem with the teacher. [/quote]

Correct. Why slow down the class? Just make those parents aware that they do a disservice to their kids by cramming in the fast track program. Does being in AAP make them look good? Is it something to brag about? If they really care about their children’s learning, have them placed in where they belong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:About 2s...hasn't FCPS been insistently explaining to people for years that a 2 isn't bad--it means "on the way to mastering concepts" or some crap like that? If my kid was learning, I would have no problem with some 2s.

AT AAP orientation at our school everyone was told your little one who got all 4s all the time will start to get 2s and 3s in AAP and not to be alarmed as the curriculum is harder. The principal and the core team of teachers have said this repeatedly.

[Anonymous]

By black child who got all 4s in K-2 and was above reading level bombed both the NNAT and CogAT. We paid for a WISC and she scored a 152. She got in on appeal. Many people, especially URMs, don't have the money or wherewithal to appeal. As was discussed in the WaPo article last year.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]We have a base school just like OPs. Many parents try to get their kids into the center. The demographics of the school change dramatically in the 3rd and 4th grade classes due to defections to the center and private schools. [b]My three children were not high test scorers but I got them all into the center [/b]and the education has been worlds above what is going on at our base school in those grades. [b]I would much rather have a child working hard and learning and getting 2s and 3s [/b]then sitting around doing nothing and getting 4s.

Until FCPS fixes the problem of catering to the lowest learners at the base schools, people will do anything to get their kids into what is objectively a far superior educational program.[/quote]

You’re a huge part of the problem. You crammed your kids into AAP who don’t belong there, they’re getting 2’s, And the teacher now has to slow down AAP to help your under qualified kids. You do realize, don’t you, that AAP also caters to the lowest common denominator, which is currently the average kids whose parents games the system and crammed them in? People like you are the reason that the gifted kids are stuck sitting around doing nothing and getting all 4s in AAP[/quote]
BS. If the teachers class is slower because of this, it’s a problem with the teacher. [/quote]

Correct. Why slow down the class? Just make those parents aware that they do a disservice to their kids by cramming in the fast track program. [b]Does being in AAP make them look good? Is it something to brag about? If they really care about their children’s learning, have them placed in where they belong.[/b] [/quote]

So reading comprehension is not your thing? Posters have stated very clearly that the general ed curriculum was too basic and they wanted their kids to be challenged. Does that not fit your narrative of selfish parents wanting to brag about Larlo?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child isn't old enough for AAP yet but I absolutely would rather she be getting 2s and 3s and being challenged and learning then 4s and not learning.

FCPS has to fix its general ed classrooms first.

Don't forget, special Ed is pushed in these days. I've seen kids who truly require a full-time aid that only get 20 mins here and there.

I have a child with an IEP and this is a huge problem. At many FCPS elementaries, the practice is to stick all the kids with IEPs in one general ed classroom, sharing one $10/hour instructional aide (regardless of their particular special needs). It is administratively convenient and cheap but benefits no one.

[Anonymous]

This would be why my child had several children in his class with special needs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child isn't old enough for AAP yet but I absolutely would rather she be getting 2s and 3s and being challenged and learning then 4s and not learning.

FCPS has to fix its general ed classrooms first.

Don't forget, special Ed is pushed in these days. I've seen kids who truly require a full-time aid that only get 20 mins here and there.

I have a child with an IEP and this is a huge problem. At many FCPS elementaries, the practice is to stick all the kids with IEPs in one general ed classroom, sharing one $10/hour instructional aide (regardless of their particular special needs). It is administratively convenient and cheap but benefits no one.

This is definitely true and it is indeed a big problem. Plus, if a regular classroom teacher needs a last minute substitute, that IA will be pulled in a heartbeat because FCPS is not doing anything truly useful to address the sub shortage.

[Anonymous]

When would local level IV for all schools take effect?

With universal local level IV, there will be a huge shakeup in student distribution and therefore teacher distribution. Center populations will drop. I’m in my first year in FCPS as an AAP center teacher and just realized I will be the first to get bumped if our numbers go down.

On the bright side, maybe I could snag a new local level IV spot at my son’s zoned school.

[Anonymous]

AAP is what gen ed used to be. Not too much to be excited about as it stands now. Current AAP circulum should be back in gen ed along with consistent expectations e.g., correct spelling and grammar, basic knowledge of multiplication facts by end of 3rd grade, etc. We fail everyone but we specially low SES by lowering expectations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:By black child who got all 4s in K-2 and was above reading level bombed both the NNAT and CogAT. We paid for a WISC and she scored a 152. She got in on appeal. Many people, especially URMs, don't have the money or wherewithal to appeal. As was discussed in the WaPo article last year.

I think there's also a lack of information in URM communities that kids who receive free or reduced meals can receive either free or discounted (I'm not sure how much) WISCs at GMU. Also many most just don't even know about the WISC in the first place. The other issue is many people in Fairfax County prep their kids with the prep books and while FCPS says you only need a good night's sleep, URMs tend not to know about these books. Asians are good at sharing this information among themselves, maybe other URMs in the know need to do the same.

[Anonymous]

Which schools have such poor gen ed programs? I have experience with 3 different schools in the central FCPS area, and all had wonderful gen ed programs with plenty of differentiation for advanced learners. My DC with a 125 IQ is thriving in Level III with advanced math at the base school. It's hard to imagine that so many above average kids need to claw their way into AAP to get an appropriate education. If anything, I've seen entirely too little difference between AAP and the advanced groupings at the base school.

So, name some schools with dismal gen ed. Or admit that you're just assuming that the gen ed is bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which schools have such poor gen ed programs? I have experience with 3 different schools in the central FCPS area, and all had wonderful gen ed programs with plenty of differentiation for advanced learners. My DC with a 125 IQ is thriving in Level III with advanced math at the base school. It's hard to imagine that so many above average kids need to claw their way into AAP to get an appropriate education. If anything, I've seen entirely too little difference between AAP and the advanced groupings at the base school.

So, name some schools with dismal gen ed. Or admit that you're just assuming that the gen ed is bad.

Which schools were these? Everything in FCPS is principal-dependent. We moved from London Towne after a dismal K and 1st grade experience. Most people only have experience with their zoned school-people don't move around that often. London Towne was less than 50% low-income kids but the entire focus was on bringing up low achievers. There was very little enrichment IMO. I can only imagine how basic the education is at the schools with 60%, 70%, 80% FARMs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which schools have such poor gen ed programs? I have experience with 3 different schools in the central FCPS area, and all had wonderful gen ed programs with plenty of differentiation for advanced learners. My DC with a 125 IQ is thriving in Level III with advanced math at the base school. It's hard to imagine that so many above average kids need to claw their way into AAP to get an appropriate education. If anything, I've seen entirely too little difference between AAP and the advanced groupings at the base school.

So, name some schools with dismal gen ed. Or admit that you're just assuming that the gen ed is bad.

My child moved to the center for 3rd grade, but her friend who stayed behind for level 3 met with the AART once a MONTH with a small group and they didn't start advanced math until 5th grade. Her entire third grade was wasted while they focused on SOL prep with the kids in the class who were behind. Her friend and 5-6 other children transferred to the center for 4th grade after experience third grade gen ed.