Possible AAP changes at ES

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:How is the cluster model going after a quarter into the year?

It's going great! Our school is teaching the AAP curriculum to all children and then sending them to different classrooms if they are advanced math.

I think our school does this? My kid's teacher said that in 3rd they only do pull-outs for advanced math. She thinks he should do advanced math next year, so I'm thinking we just pursue the Level III approach and not bother with a Level IV application. I think advanced Language Arts might be a bit of a stretch for him. Level III is decided within the school, right? This is so confusing and the AAP meeting at the school wasn't super helpful.

Kids who are not committee placed into LIV can be added to LIII if their base school decides they need that service, same for Advanced Math. Each school will have it's own criteria for placing a child in LIII and Advanced Math.

Level III and Advanced Math is guaranteed to any child who is determined eligible for LIV by the committee who defers Center placement. we deferred for DS because he is in a LI program and we value that program. He has received LIII pull outs and Advanced Math since third grade started. His school creates an Advanced Math class in 5th grade because the kids are skipping a full year of math. That class seems to have become the defacto LLIV class because many of the kids in the Advanced Math class are also in LIII. Our school started LLIV when DS was in in 4th grade so it was not an option for him. The school is using the cluster model any way so it is not a huge deal.

We have friends whose kids were found eligible for LIV by the committee where the parents choose the LIII pull out and passed on the Advanced Math because their child was not not comfortable with accelerated math. DS has friends who were in LIII pullouts that are no longer in LIII pullouts. The parents told us that they did not like their child missing an hour of class and having to make up that work. The kid was not able to make it up at school and needed to bring work home.

I might be confused here, but why would a child doing advanced math need to make up work for math that school and teacher both know is below their ability? That sounds punitive.

LIII is a pullout. Kids who miss class for the LIII program have to complete the work that they missed. Some kids needed to take that home to complete it.

Why is this? They obviously know the material already, so why force them to increase their workload with busywork? It's not like we expect regular 3rd graders to "make up" 2nd grade worksheets at home.

They don't "know" the material because they've never been taught it. Kids in advanced math frequently skip past many fundamentals, which comes back to haunt them as the math gets harder.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:AAP is definitely going to change. The wheels are already in motion at many elementary schools to provide LLIV.

Agree or disagree with limiting center enrollment, it is going to happen.

The emphasis on equity will be felt everywhere.

Yep. Step removing those smart kids from our schools so that my kid can be around peers that challenge him. It will be great for a lot of the kids to be around really smart kids.

Personally I think treating some kids as enrichment for others is wrong (borderline dehumanizing).

All kids deserve to have peers, be challenged, and the opportunity to fail.

But segregating kids from others is borderline dehumanizing. Those non AAP kids could be just as smart if given the right opportunity but systemic racism has led them to be in a position they can’t help. That’s why the move to clustering will be beneficial for all.

Do you really think that? Or just want it to be true?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I heard that MANY families from my cluster model school are considering going to the Center school.
The principal has said, anyone that wants to leave should leave.

The principal will be signing a different tune when test scores go down.

There are principals who are hostile to AAP, Level IV, and Local Level IV. As well as people at Gatehouse.

Why wouldn't they go up?

When center eligible kids leave a base school, test scores for that school go down.

Ding ding ding! If you look at the goals for all schools and the use of funds, it is to increase test scores. This will happen by providing LLIV services at all schools and eliminating centers. I'm thinking we are 2 years out from no more centers.

I would guess that Centers will be eliminated once all schools have a LLIV program. They might have a grandfather period where kids who are at a Center are allowed to stay unitl they move to MS but not open any more LIV classes with kids from feeder schools.

I do think this is likely the case, though that does not mean I am a fan or support the plan.

My biggest issue is that while some may say this is being done in the name of equity, the reality is that this removes opportunities for those students who need them most. Those in a “good” school are relatively unaffected. The really bright kid with little or no academic peers, which let’s admit is in all probability at a not so good school, loses the chance to go to a center where they can find peers in cumulative mass. I don’t think it feels very equitable from that perspective.

And if this clustering is the real goal…that is not even tracking locally which at least would allow teachers to differentiate more effectively. No centers and clustering at those not so good schools will really hurt some kids IMO..

Exactly. This actually hurts bright or gifted URMs.

[Anonymous]

If teachers were asked, the majority would be against the cluster model. It’s an incredibly challenging way to instruct a range of learners. There may be teachers in favor of it, but I have yet to come across one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If teachers were asked, the majority would be against the cluster model. It’s an incredibly challenging way to instruct a range of learners. There may be teachers in favor of it, but I have yet to come across one.

If a teacher wants to use Ceaser's english or any other part of the LIV curriculum, they will be in favor of it because those LIV kids get the whole classroom access to the LIV curriculum.

- parent of a non-LIV kid who has been in LLIV classes and benefited. The principal and teachers are open if you ask them about the different curriculums.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AAP is definitely going to change. The wheels are already in motion at many elementary schools to provide LLIV.

Agree or disagree with limiting center enrollment, it is going to happen.

The emphasis on equity will be felt everywhere.

Yep. Step removing those smart kids from our schools so that my kid can be around peers that challenge him. It will be great for a lot of the kids to be around really smart kids.

Personally I think treating some kids as enrichment for others is wrong (borderline dehumanizing).

All kids deserve to have peers, be challenged, and the opportunity to fail.

But segregating kids from others is borderline dehumanizing. Those non AAP kids could be just as smart if given the right opportunity but systemic racism has led them to be in a position they can’t help. That’s why the move to clustering will be beneficial for all.

Do you really think that? Or just want it to be true?

My TV told me this is why we need equity in schools.

[Anonymous]

The cluster model is great when done right. But the truth is there are SO MANY differing levels in each grade level it is hard to do it "right." My advice would be to go to the open house at the center school and see if it feels right for you. You know what it best for your kid. If your kids is happy at their base school, I would stay. If your child hasn't found a group of friends yet I would go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AAP is definitely going to change. The wheels are already in motion at many elementary schools to provide LLIV.

Agree or disagree with limiting center enrollment, it is going to happen.

The emphasis on equity will be felt everywhere.

Yep. Step removing those smart kids from our schools so that my kid can be around peers that challenge him. It will be great for a lot of the kids to be around really smart kids.

Personally I think treating some kids as enrichment for others is wrong (borderline dehumanizing).

All kids deserve to have peers, be challenged, and the opportunity to fail.

Oh your poor, poor little baby.

[Anonymous]

Those of you who have children at sangster or Canterbury woods level 4, what do you think of the school and the program? What is the atmosphere like?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Those of you who have children at sangster or Canterbury woods level 4, what do you think of the school and the program? What is the atmosphere like?

I recommend posting this as a new topic in the main AAP page to get more responses.

[Anonymous]

Any parents from the original schools mentioned in this thread want to come back with feedback?

[Anonymous]

I am from one of the original schools mentioned. I support he cluster model and think it is the way of the future. But, Shrevewood did not roll it out correctly. Maybe they should have started the change with one grade per year. The teachers have put in amazing work, the admin doesn't seem to understand what they are asking of the teachers. And they don't seem to care that they will be losing students AND teachers next year.
Long story short... my kid is headed to the center next year. I will miss the school, the teachers, and the community. But the move to the center school is right for my child now. Hopefully, in 10 years there is a clear "right way" to roll out the program and it will be the norm. I never thought I would send my kid to the center... but here I am.

[Anonymous]

You should look at what Montgomery County has done

Rightly or wrongly that's where everything is headed

If you don't like it you need to have people other than democrats in power

https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/enriched/about/faq

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am from one of the original schools mentioned. I support he cluster model and think it is the way of the future. But, Shrevewood did not roll it out correctly. Maybe they should have started the change with one grade per year. The teachers have put in amazing work, the admin doesn't seem to understand what they are asking of the teachers. And they don't seem to care that they will be losing students AND teachers next year.
Long story short... my kid is headed to the center next year. I will miss the school, the teachers, and the community. But the move to the center school is right for my child now. Hopefully, in 10 years there is a clear "right way" to roll out the program and it will be the norm. I never thought I would send my kid to the center... but here I am.

Interesting - we're actually really happy with how Shrevewood rolled out the cluster system. Maybe it's a grade by grade thing, but my child is doing great and all the parents I've talked to in the grade are happy with how kids were divided up this year. I am aware that a third grade teacher left in the middle of the year - is that your child's grade? I can see how someone would be very disappointed by that. Best of luck to you at the new school (tbh kids leaving for the center means smaller class sizes, so I can't complain, LOL).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am from one of the original schools mentioned. I support he cluster model and think it is the way of the future. But, Shrevewood did not roll it out correctly. Maybe they should have started the change with one grade per year. The teachers have put in amazing work, the admin doesn't seem to understand what they are asking of the teachers. And they don't seem to care that they will be losing students AND teachers next year.
Long story short... my kid is headed to the center next year. I will miss the school, the teachers, and the community. But the move to the center school is right for my child now. Hopefully, in 10 years there is a clear "right way" to roll out the program and it will be the norm. I never thought I would send my kid to the center... but here I am.

Interesting - we're actually really happy with how Shrevewood rolled out the cluster system. Maybe it's a grade by grade thing, but my child is doing great and all the parents I've talked to in the grade are happy with how kids were divided up this year. I am aware that a third grade teacher left in the middle of the year - is that your child's grade? I can see how someone would be very disappointed by that. Best of luck to you at the new school (tbh kids leaving for the center means smaller class sizes, so I can't complain, LOL).

Unlikely, unless it’s just a couple. Staffing ratios are ratios—1 teacher per xx gen Ed students, 1 per xx sped students, 1 per xx esol students. If 15 students leave, that’s just .5 less teachers for next year.