On the chopping block: AAP Centers

[Anonymous]

^oops. My post is above the last quote.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which school? At least give us a pyramid.

Louise Archer and/or Colvin Run

[Anonymous]

^^2 out of 28 center schools

[Anonymous]

^ the whole system has the problem

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^ the whole system has the problem

This statement is incorrect.

There have been several posters indicating the problem is not at their school. (I recall seeing posts from at least Canterbury Woods and Mantua.)

[Anonymous]

Wait!! We are at Canterbury Woods and that is NOT true

[Anonymous]

Just because parents choose to be cordial doesn't mean the school situation is healthy

[Anonymous]

You are correct, it's not fair. If some kids are given the option to switch schools, then all kids should be given this same option. Either everyone should benefit, or no one. And that's the reality of a public school system.

Actually, it is fair. Every child is given the same opportunity to qualify for center-based Level IV services based on one of two different test scores. That's a fact. The whole purpose of the process is to identify some range of the top scorers. It's also a fact that that means the majority of children will not meet the threshold for identification and will not be selected for Level IV services. That doesn't make it unfair. It's just the nature of the process, which is to identify the top range of students. The process then goes even further by allowing parents or teachers to refer children who they believe should be considered even though they didn't make the test score cut-offs. Level IV AAP students are not given the option to switch schools just because they don't like the color of the walls or the playground equipment at their base school; they're given the opportunity to go to a center to an AAP center because that is how FCPS meets the rmandates of Virginia law that requires each school system to identify some top range of gifted students and to provide services that help them reach their potential. Given the size and diversity of the school system, I think FCPS does a pretty good job meeting that legal obligation.

[Anonymous]

I'm the PP who moved recently. And I cannot say enough nice things about Oak Hill. DD says the kids (AAP and Gen Ed) are much nicer than her prior LLIV school. And the parents have been great and welcoming-- both GE and AAP-- inviting DD to join Scouts at her new school, and later to join an academic team, largely made up of her Scout troop (BTW, the team is about 1/3 GE, 1/3 AAP, and 1/3 I have no idea which). A center school can have a non- toxic environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just because parents choose to be cordial doesn't mean the school situation is healthy

Well, I'd say that a school where the parents and kids interact without worrying about whether they are talking to the enemy is a lot healthier tah some of the situations Gen Ed parents are describing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just because parents choose to be cordial doesn't mean the school situation is healthy

Exactly. Most of the parents saying their school is just fine, has no problems with AAP/GE, etc. are, in fact, AAP parents. Of course they don't see the problems! And, as PP says, parents are generally going to be cordial and polite in person. You're probably never going to hear anything negative from a parent at your school if they feel what they have to say is going to be received negatively. That's why it was very interesting to read the comments on the FCPS message board, when they opened it up for discussion. Many parents were upset over centers and the way AAP is administered, and spoke freely in those comments - because it was anonymous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just because parents choose to be cordial doesn't mean the school situation is healthy

Exactly. Most of the parents saying their school is just fine, has no problems with AAP/GE, etc. are, in fact, AAP parents. Of course they don't see the problems! And, as PP says, parents are generally going to be cordial and polite in person. You're probably never going to hear anything negative from a parent at your school if they feel what they have to say is going to be received negatively. That's why it was very interesting to read the comments on the FCPS message board, when they opened it up for discussion. Many parents were upset over centers and the way AAP is administered, and spoke freely in those comments - because it was anonymous.

So what's your strategy for your DC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just because parents choose to be cordial doesn't mean the school situation is healthy

Exactly. Most of the parents saying their school is just fine, has no problems with AAP/GE, etc. are, in fact, AAP parents. Of course they don't see the problems! And, as PP says, parents are generally going to be cordial and polite in person. You're probably never going to hear anything negative from a parent at your school if they feel what they have to say is going to be received negatively. That's why it was very interesting to read the comments on the FCPS message board, when they opened it up for discussion. Many parents were upset over centers and the way AAP is administered, and spoke freely in those comments - because it was anonymous.

PP poster again, and I really want to know, what should happen to my ES Center based kids? Are you really saying you want them to have to switch schools twice in 4 years? How would you feel is someone was advocating jerking your kid around like that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just because parents choose to be cordial doesn't mean the school situation is healthy

Exactly. Most of the parents saying their school is just fine, has no problems with AAP/GE, etc. are, in fact, AAP parents. Of course they don't see the problems! And, as PP says, parents are generally going to be cordial and polite in person. You're probably never going to hear anything negative from a parent at your school if they feel what they have to say is going to be received negatively. That's why it was very interesting to read the comments on the FCPS message board, when they opened it up for discussion. Many parents were upset over centers and the way AAP is administered, and spoke freely in those comments - because it was anonymous.

But the GE parents in non-toxic schools who are happy with their center school don't spend their time hanging out in AAP forums.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait!! We are at Canterbury Woods and that is NOT true

We are, too, and there are no problems at our school.