AAP - why not have it for all of FCPS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“Saying everyone is special is another way of saying no one is”

And that is what gets to so many people. They don't love the idea of all kids having the same opportunities, because then their special ones won't be so special anymore. Never mind that huge numbers of AAP kids are those whose parents have gamed the system and aren't really gifted or special. Or kids like mine who were teacher referred to help round out the classes.

This isn't always true. If the elementary schools had a general education pathway that did not only cater to those who are behind or disruptive more parents would be fine leaving the kids there. They wouldn't have to go to AAP to get a decent public education.

And there you have it. AAP is just to get away from the “undesirables”.

Should parents avoid doing what's best for their own children to make you feel better?

I think PPs are just pointing out that AAP is not a program for the gifted and that parents constantly game the system to get in. At least some parents admit it vs. being delusional about their kids being gifted.

Still doesn't explain why some many are obsessed with ending AAP. What is gained by pointing out that its not what you'd consider gifted? Sounds like bitterness tbh

you realize many of the people pointing this out do in fact have kids in AAP?

[Anonymous]

There are a lot of kids in FCPS who can't even demonstrate their mastery of basic skills. Why on earth should we let them drag down the kids ready for a greater challenge? There's too much focus on "equity" at the expense of achievement already.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“Saying everyone is special is another way of saying no one is”

And that is what gets to so many people. They don't love the idea of all kids having the same opportunities, because then their special ones won't be so special anymore. Never mind that huge numbers of AAP kids are those whose parents have gamed the system and aren't really gifted or special. Or kids like mine who were teacher referred to help round out the classes.

This isn't always true. If the elementary schools had a general education pathway that did not only cater to those who are behind or disruptive more parents would be fine leaving the kids there. They wouldn't have to go to AAP to get a decent public education.

And there you have it. AAP is just to get away from the “undesirables”.

Should parents avoid doing what's best for their own children to make you feel better?

I think PPs are just pointing out that AAP is not a program for the gifted and that parents constantly game the system to get in. At least some parents admit it vs. being delusional about their kids being gifted.

Still doesn't explain why some many are obsessed with ending AAP. What is gained by pointing out that its not what you'd consider gifted? Sounds like bitterness tbh

you realize many of the people pointing this out do in fact have kids in AAP?

DP. Yeah - I see on this board generally some people who think their snowflakes are better than the other kids in AAP. I don’t think too highly of those posters. They are either delusional or don’t understand that a free public education is not synonymous with a mandate to provide the world’s greatest education to each individual student.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“Saying everyone is special is another way of saying no one is”

And that is what gets to so many people. They don't love the idea of all kids having the same opportunities, because then their special ones won't be so special anymore. Never mind that huge numbers of AAP kids are those whose parents have gamed the system and aren't really gifted or special. Or kids like mine who were teacher referred to help round out the classes.

This isn't always true. If the elementary schools had a general education pathway that did not only cater to those who are behind or disruptive more parents would be fine leaving the kids there. They wouldn't have to go to AAP to get a decent public education.

And there you have it. AAP is just to get away from the “undesirables”.

Should parents avoid doing what's best for their own children to make you feel better?

I think PPs are just pointing out that AAP is not a program for the gifted and that parents constantly game the system to get in. At least some parents admit it vs. being delusional about their kids being gifted.

Still doesn't explain why some many are obsessed with ending AAP. What is gained by pointing out that its not what you'd consider gifted? Sounds like bitterness tbh

you realize many of the people pointing this out do in fact have kids in AAP?

Thats why I specified those who are obsessed with ending AAP. Doubtful that those who have kids in AAP want to put them back in general ed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are a lot of kids in FCPS who can't even demonstrate their mastery of basic skills. Why on earth should we let them drag down the kids ready for a greater challenge? There's too much focus on "equity" at the expense of achievement already.

Because that is the easiest way for everyone to meet standards. Lower the standards and viola- equity for everyone on paper. Heaven forbid the work is done to get those currently below standards up to standard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are a lot of kids in FCPS who can't even demonstrate their mastery of basic skills. Why on earth should we let them drag down the kids ready for a greater challenge? There's too much focus on "equity" at the expense of achievement already.

we already let them drag down a lot of kids and no one bats an eyelash, this would just add to the number of kids dragged down

[Anonymous]

The issue isn't having AAP; it's how kids get selected to the program. There is no question that parents prep their kids for tests, that highly educated parents/parents who know the system/ how to appeal are at a much greater advantage. It also doesn't seem like a transparent process and if you look at the admission threads, many kids who should have been a shoe in are rejected. I am not sure what the solution should be, but there is no question that the current system is unfair.

[Anonymous]

FCPS could close some of the gap in Elementary School by using a science based reading curriculum instead of the blended literacy crap they currently use. Perhaps if they actually taught the 20% of kids who are dyslexic to read, Gen Ed could move faster.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Still doesn't explain why some many are obsessed with ending AAP. What is gained by pointing out that its not what you'd consider gifted? Sounds like bitterness tbh

It is problematic that there is such a broad overlap between at least half of the kids in AAP and an equal number of gen ed kids who weren't accepted, and there's such a huge gap in the services they receive. Hopefully, rolling LLIV out to more schools will help address that, since the bright gen ed kids can be principal placed and still get appropriate services.

I do think middle school AAP should be eliminated. If the AAP classes are roughly the same as the Honors classes, it seems silly to segregate the two groups.

[Anonymous]

To be honest- if we didn’t have AAP we would move to Loudoun.

But the reason why not everyone qualifies is that everyone has different brains. And for a long time, kids that were really good at math were bullied as nerds.

Recently, I met a sixth grader who was learning pre-algebra and struggling. My fifth grade AAP DC explained it to her.

Three times.

Three different ways.

She still didn’t get it.

Another example- played Monopoly with my five year old DC and a 8 and 6 year old. The 8 and 6 year old could not understand basic addition. We were very patient, but not everyone can do advanced math. They could do it over time. But not as quickly.

I know that a lot of people think otherwise, but for a lot of people, math is hard.

[Anonymous]

We have a kids group for D&D and half of the kids struggle with adding together the numbers on the dice. They are 8 and are doing just fine but you can see the difference in skills when we play. And it is not just math, you can see that some of the kids are more fluent with their reading. One of the kids comes up with 9,000 good questions to ask to get information and the other kids don't. They are no different then adults, they each have their strengths and weaknesses but you can see where some of the kids need to be in different groupings based on their existing skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To be honest- if we didn’t have AAP we would move to Loudoun.

But the reason why not everyone qualifies is that everyone has different brains. And for a long time, kids that were really good at math were bullied as nerds.

Recently, I met a sixth grader who was learning pre-algebra and struggling. My fifth grade AAP DC explained it to her.

Three times.

Three different ways.

She still didn’t get it.

Another example- played Monopoly with my five year old DC and a 8 and 6 year old. The 8 and 6 year old could not understand basic addition. We were very patient, but not everyone can do advanced math. They could do it over time. But not as quickly.

I know that a lot of people think otherwise, but for a lot of people, math is hard.

except that skill isn't part of the AAP assessment, it's mostly based on Cogats which is an IQ test designed to be administer more cheaply than an actual IQ test

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To be honest- if we didn’t have AAP we would move to Loudoun.

But the reason why not everyone qualifies is that everyone has different brains. And for a long time, kids that were really good at math were bullied as nerds.

Recently, I met a sixth grader who was learning pre-algebra and struggling. My fifth grade AAP DC explained it to her.

Three times.

Three different ways.

She still didn’t get it.

Another example- played Monopoly with my five year old DC and a 8 and 6 year old. The 8 and 6 year old could not understand basic addition. We were very patient, but not everyone can do advanced math. They could do it over time. But not as quickly.

I know that a lot of people think otherwise, but for a lot of people, math is hard.

I know you are trying to make your kid sound really smart and they probably are smart but knowing pre algebra in fifth grade does not mean a kid mathematically gifted. At all. You prove the point that AAP is for above average kids. They should just have advanced math, advanced LA and then an actual gifted program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The issue isn't having AAP; it's how kids get selected to the program.

There is no question that parents prep their kids for tests, that highly educated parents/parents who know the system/ how to appeal are at a much greater advantage.

It also doesn't seem like a transparent process and if you look at the admission threads, many kids who should have been a shoe in are rejected. I am not sure what the solution should be, but there is no question that the current system is unfair.

+1 not transparent process
+1 make it more fair

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The issue isn't having AAP; it's how kids get selected to the program. There is no question that parents prep their kids for tests, that highly educated parents/parents who know the system/ how to appeal are at a much greater advantage. It also doesn't seem like a transparent process and if you look at the admission threads, many kids who should have been a shoe in are rejected. I am not sure what the solution should be, but there is no question that the current system is unfair.

This.