AAP appeal declined

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one called today either

Planning to email the coordinator whose name was on the decision email
Even if their decision is going to be unchanged I want to know the reason as he cannot take a better score next year.

What do you mean that he cannot take a better score next year?

OP probably means the scores are already high, and it's unlikely he'll get higher scores to submit next year if he retakes any of the tests. She's probably correct. The only thing I would do in her shoes is wait the requisite time, redo the WISC at GMU and (even with the exact WISC scores) resubmit the new scores with the scores from this year. Before doing that, however, I'd still try to get someone at the office to speak to me. Even if it means making an in person trip to the office.

[Anonymous]

Yes that’s what I meant
He cannot take more than what he had this year . If the reason is something else, they can reject again
If nothing works out this year we will do as the PP suggested get tests done by gmu

[Anonymous]

It's true they disfavor private school referrals but this seems odd. Those are not borderline scores.

I'd visit your base school in person and kindly request an appointment with the AAP POC. If they blow you off, then escalate to Gatehouse, if they blow you off too, contact your school board rep, if they blow you off, contact your Fairfax county representative, etc.

The bureaucrats made an error and they will try to time you out. You need to advocate for your kid, no one else will.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes that’s what I meant
He cannot take more than what he had this year . If the reason is something else, they can reject again
If nothing works out this year we will do as the PP suggested get tests done by gmu

I don't know how spending another $400 or so on another test is going to change what seems to be very high - not borderline- scores. You have already submitted scores on both school-based tests and the gold standard, a WISC. I agree with the last PP that you need to advocate and get answers. It could be a mistake- this just doesn't add up..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's true they disfavor private school referrals but this seems odd. Those are not borderline scores.

I'd visit your base school in person and kindly request an appointment with the AAP POC. If they blow you off, then escalate to Gatehouse, if they blow you off too, contact your school board rep, if they blow you off, contact your Fairfax county representative, etc.

The bureaucrats made an error and they will try to time you out. You need to advocate for your kid, no one else will.

OP already spoke to the AART, who is the AAP point of contact at the school, and got no more helpful information. She needs to talk to the people in the central AAP office.

[Anonymous]

Op here

Emailing Ms. Kirsten Maloney tomorrow with all the details and requesting an appointment

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here

Emailing Ms. Kirsten Maloney tomorrow with all the details and requesting an appointment

Good for you, OP. You should definitely advocate for your child, especially with across the board high scores.

[Anonymous]

Any updates?

[Anonymous]

This is what I had sent, no reply yet


“From what we can understand about the process, an overall performance is very much needed for the selection.We sincerely believe ——- has shown that consistently. His WISC evaluation has been done by an one-on-one interaction with a Psychologist for few hours and from her observation he has got advanced skills and his scores are extremely high.

———- is in the 99 percentile in all 3 scores(attached) which marks the main deciding factor in the selection process. We would like to know the reason which overruled these high scores and made him ineligible.

It would very much help us if we can meet for few minutes to understand the reason. “

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is what I had sent, no reply yet


“From what we can understand about the process, an overall performance is very much needed for the selection.We sincerely believe ——- has shown that consistently. His WISC evaluation has been done by an one-on-one interaction with a Psychologist for few hours and from her observation he has got advanced skills and his scores are extremely high.

———- is in the 99 percentile in all 3 scores(attached) which marks the main deciding factor in the selection process. We would like to know the reason which overruled these high scores and made him ineligible.

It would very much help us if we can meet for few minutes to understand the reason. “

Make some notes for yourself on the reasons your child is currently having trouble learning in the regular classroom and take them with you to the meeting. Since AAP is for children whose needs are not being met in the regular classroom, it would help to give concrete examples of why that is the case for your child.

I've known a number of kids with high scores who were in the pool who were ineligible. Their parents were told it was because the children were doing fine in the regular classroom.

[Anonymous]

Op, we went through a very similar situation with our child who was in a private school and only took the WISC - he crushed it, had a very strong case (we thought and our information told us, 15/16 on the GBRS, etc), yet he was initially rejected which was shocking to us. We appealed and he was accepted. He never took the NNAT or CoGat. What we found out, and what I think is very true, is that our child scored in the 99th in all parts of the WISC except the processing. During our talk with the person who administered the WISC (at GMU), they explained (and wrote up as well) that many private school kids score poorly in this area because they don't have the experience or volume of timed exams and don't feel the need to rush and go fast. It's a "weakness" in the private school environment. We asked that she send us a note saying exactly that and we elaborated on this point in the appeal. I also think that the committee does not give much credit to private school information which is their prerogative. It's a shame they have not answered.

As for throwing your hands up, please do not. It matters. People will say it doesn't, but it does. Our kid is now one year into the AAP program. Before he was even in, he was constantly confronted with teammates or friends who were in FCPS talking about AAP. From what we know and what we've seen, AAP does mean better teachers, more ambitious material, and the absolute KEY, more involved parents. I use this term carefully. To us it basically means the kids know what the deal is and if they behave better and try harder. It's a subtle difference but means the world when you're trying to deal with 25/30 kids. 2 kids can crush a class. AAP has less of those kids just because they either know better or their parents make them know better (which is pretty much the same thing). It's the environment more than the intelligence. It's not a perfect system at all, but it is what's on offer. Those test scores should be slam dunk. Good luck

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is what I had sent, no reply yet


“From what we can understand about the process, an overall performance is very much needed for the selection.We sincerely believe ——- has shown that consistently. His WISC evaluation has been done by an one-on-one interaction with a Psychologist for few hours and from her observation he has got advanced skills and his scores are extremely high.

———- is in the 99 percentile in all 3 scores(attached) which marks the main deciding factor in the selection process. We would like to know the reason which overruled these high scores and made him ineligible.

It would very much help us if we can meet for few minutes to understand the reason. “

Make some notes for yourself on the reasons your child is currently having trouble learning in the regular classroom and take them with you to the meeting. Since AAP is for children whose needs are not being met in the regular classroom, it would help to give concrete examples of why that is the case for your child.

I've known a number of kids with high scores who were in the pool who were ineligible. Their parents were told it was because the children were doing fine in the regular classroom.

.....No, not really. It's the Advanced Academic Program for, wait for it, "Advanced Academics".

FCPS says the purpose is:

"Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Advanced Academic Programs provide challenging learning experiences that are designed to meet the unique learning profile of a broad range of advanced learners. Through a continuum of opportunities, students engage in complex subject matter, preparing them for more challenging and rigorous classes as they advance in grade level. Children identified for FCPS advanced academic services exhibit exceptional performance capability in academic, intellectual, and creative endeavors. In order to meet their needs and develop to their potential, these learners require a differentiated curriculum."

If your kid can further develop their potential through a differentiated curriculum, they should be in AAP. Just "doing fine" is a pretty low bar, some parents want their kids to "develop their potential".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is what I had sent, no reply yet


“From what we can understand about the process, an overall performance is very much needed for the selection.We sincerely believe ——- has shown that consistently. His WISC evaluation has been done by an one-on-one interaction with a Psychologist for few hours and from her observation he has got advanced skills and his scores are extremely high.

———- is in the 99 percentile in all 3 scores(attached) which marks the main deciding factor in the selection process. We would like to know the reason which overruled these high scores and made him ineligible.

It would very much help us if we can meet for few minutes to understand the reason. “

Make some notes for yourself on the reasons your child is currently having trouble learning in the regular classroom and take them with you to the meeting. Since AAP is for children whose needs are not being met in the regular classroom, it would help to give concrete examples of why that is the case for your child.

I've known a number of kids with high scores who were in the pool who were ineligible. Their parents were told it was because the children were doing fine in the regular classroom.

.....No, not really. It's the Advanced Academic Program for, wait for it, "Advanced Academics".

FCPS says the purpose is:

"Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Advanced Academic Programs provide challenging learning experiences that are designed to meet the unique learning profile of a broad range of advanced learners. Through a continuum of opportunities, students engage in complex subject matter, preparing them for more challenging and rigorous classes as they advance in grade level. Children identified for FCPS advanced academic services exhibit exceptional performance capability in academic, intellectual, and creative endeavors. In order to meet their needs and develop to their potential, these learners require a differentiated curriculum."

If your kid can further develop their potential through a differentiated curriculum, they should be in AAP. Just "doing fine" is a pretty low bar, some parents want their kids to "develop their potential".

Well, the ineligibility letter says the the program is for students whose needs are not being met in the regular classroom. So if you're going to appeal, you need to make sure your appeal responds to this point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Well, the ineligibility letter says the the program is for students whose needs are not being met in the regular classroom. So if you're going to appeal, you need to make sure your appeal responds to this point.

Isn't one of the main points of gifted programming that a child with an IQ in the 99th percentile can't have his needs met in a regular classroom, especially after the majority of kids in the 90th+ percentile have been siphoned off to AAP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op, we went through a very similar situation with our child who was in a private school and only took the WISC - he crushed it, had a very strong case (we thought and our information told us, 15/16 on the GBRS, etc), yet he was initially rejected which was shocking to us. We appealed and he was accepted. He never took the NNAT or CoGat. What we found out, and what I think is very true, is that our child scored in the 99th in all parts of the WISC except the processing. During our talk with the person who administered the WISC (at GMU), they explained (and wrote up as well) that many private school kids score poorly in this area because they don't have the experience or volume of timed exams and don't feel the need to rush and go fast. It's a "weakness" in the private school environment. We asked that she send us a note saying exactly that and we elaborated on this point in the appeal. I also think that the committee does not give much credit to private school information which is their prerogative. It's a shame they have not answered.

As for throwing your hands up, please do not. It matters. People will say it doesn't, but it does. Our kid is now one year into the AAP program. Before he was even in, he was constantly confronted with teammates or friends who were in FCPS talking about AAP. From what we know and what we've seen, AAP does mean better teachers, more ambitious material, and the absolute KEY, more involved parents. I use this term carefully. To us it basically means the kids know what the deal is and if they behave better and try harder. It's a subtle difference but means the world when you're trying to deal with 25/30 kids. 2 kids can crush a class. AAP has less of those kids just because they either know better or their parents make them know better (which is pretty much the same thing). It's the environment more than the intelligence. It's not a perfect system at all, but it is what's on offer. Those test scores should be slam dunk. Good luck

Then AAP has changed drastically from when my now 10th grader was in elementary.

AAP was full of 2E mids, ADHD kids, kids working far ahead who daydreamed a lot, kids who were very vocal opinionated and active, and kids that wouldn't shut up.

The well behaved good students were mostly in general ed.