AAP Eligible letter received

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it possible that your child's teacher knows their academic capbilty better than you do super parent?

God, I hope so. My kid's teacher thinks he's smarter than I do. And he got the golden ticket to AAP. Now if he'd only get one for a tour of the chocolate factory....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:...Letters should be from people who know your child in other settings and can speak to specific behaviors indicative of AAP - examples would help, not just "he's very bright."

how could a, say, soccer or any other sports coach speak of academically gifted behavior of a player?

Persistence? Willingness to accept new challenges? Works well under pressure? Ability to work cooperatively in a team environment? Leadership skills? AAP isn't just about being smart. That's why they stopped calling it "gifted and talented". None of these things are on the GBRS, but they all show how a bright child has the behavior traits to handle a more challenging curriculum.

Actually, I take it back. Some of these things ARE on the GBRS. I'd hand a copy of it to anyone who was writing a letter for my child, ask them to pick 3 or 4 of the sub-items and give specific examples.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:...Letters should be from people who know your child in other settings and can speak to specific behaviors indicative of AAP - examples would help, not just "he's very bright."

how could a, say, soccer or any other sports coach speak of academically gifted behavior of a player?

Persistence? Willingness to accept new challenges? Works well under pressure? Ability to work cooperatively in a team environment? Leadership skills? AAP isn't just about being smart. That's why they stopped calling it "gifted and talented". None of these things are on the GBRS, but they all show how a bright child has the behavior traits to handle a more challenging curriculum.

Actually, I take it back. Some of these things ARE on the GBRS. I'd hand a copy of it to anyone who was writing a letter for my child, ask them to pick 3 or 4 of the sub-items and give specific examples.

Where is a blank copy?

[Anonymous]

There's a link to it on the AAP web site at http://www.fcps.edu/is/aap/forms.shtml

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it possible that your child's teacher knows their academic capbilty better than you do super parent? Maybe your child was denied the golden ticket to AAP because they just weren't up to snuff. But of course I forget that every child will THRIVE if only they get into the AAP program. How do those whose children are denied entrance face themselves in the mirror. What losers those parents must be.

That's the thing...teacher is surprised that DC didn't get in. At this point, I am all about submitting a FOIA to find out more about this process of deciding. Remember, FCPS isn't the Catholic Church holding a conclave to decide who gets in. No, thee are state employees and their decisions are open to the public or at least the parent under FOIA, as I think. I could be mistaken, maybe I will find out, though. DC had all the numbers on paper and grades to back it up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it possible that your child's teacher knows their academic capbilty better than you do super parent? Maybe your child was denied the golden ticket to AAP because they just weren't up to snuff. But of course I forget that every child will THRIVE if only they get into the AAP program. How do those whose children are denied entrance face themselves in the mirror. What losers those parents must be.

That's the thing...teacher is surprised that DC didn't get in. At this point, I am all about submitting a FOIA to find out more about this process of deciding. Remember, FCPS isn't the Catholic Church holding a conclave to decide who gets in. No, thee are state employees and their decisions are open to the public or at least the parent under FOIA, as I think. I could be mistaken, maybe I will find out, though. DC had all the numbers on paper and grades to back it up.

I think that is exactly analgous to what it is. They go behind closed doors and deliberate. The exact standards for admission is not published anywhere. People are guessing what the outcome should be based on previous years' results (which have been criticized for various raesons). And then you get the your letter (the black or white smoke). But - admission to the program is discretionary, not an entiltement.

[Anonymous]

I don't think FOIA will get you anything except the score sheet, thusly prepared: Six members sit at each table during the initial round decision session, with a box of application packets. Each packet gets passed around the table with a scoring paper. Each of the six members checks either the "eligible" or "ineligible" box on the scoring paper after looking over the file, and passes the package and form to the next of the six members (in a fashion that is "blind" so that none of the six knows how the other five have voted). Four or more eligible votes, your kid is in. In event of a three-three tie, the package goes to a second table of six. Four of more ineligible votes, and the file gets passed to a "quality assurance" panel that gives it one more look to make sure the ineligibility decision should go out. So, as far as "FOIA-able paper," you will probably get nothing more than the scoring sheet showing that at least 4 of the 6 members of your panel voted "not eligible."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:? - My Dcs file has a lot of incorrect information in the file - very obviously incorrect. Can I appeal on this - I don't believe that it was prepared by the folks listed, as the info in the file is really wrong, and I am an active parent. Suggestion? Ever heard of this before?

Curious.
What information in the file was incorrect?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think FOIA will get you anything except the score sheet, thusly prepared: Six members sit at each table during the initial round decision session, with a box of application packets. Each packet gets passed around the table with a scoring paper. Each of the six members checks either the "eligible" or "ineligible" box on the scoring paper after looking over the file, and passes the package and form to the next of the six members (in a fashion that is "blind" so that none of the six knows how the other five have voted). Four or more eligible votes, your kid is in. In event of a three-three tie, the package goes to a second table of six. Four of more ineligible votes, and the file gets passed to a "quality assurance" panel that gives it one more look to make sure the ineligibility decision should go out. So, as far as "FOIA-able paper," you will probably get nothing more than the scoring sheet showing that at least 4 of the 6 members of your panel voted "not eligible."

Very detailed, how do you know the process?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think FOIA will get you anything except the score sheet, thusly prepared: Six members sit at each table during the initial round decision session, with a box of application packets. Each packet gets passed around the table with a scoring paper. Each of the six members checks either the "eligible" or "ineligible" box on the scoring paper after looking over the file, and passes the package and form to the next of the six members (in a fashion that is "blind" so that none of the six knows how the other five have voted). Four or more eligible votes, your kid is in. In event of a three-three tie, the package goes to a second table of six. Four of more ineligible votes, and the file gets passed to a "quality assurance" panel that gives it one more look to make sure the ineligibility decision should go out. So, as far as "FOIA-able paper," you will probably get nothing more than the scoring sheet showing that at least 4 of the 6 members of your panel voted "not eligible."

Very detailed, how do you know the process?

New poster - that's how the AART described the review process at my school's AAP information night.

[Anonymous]

Maybe one could do a FOIA requesting the number of students with a certain score on NNAT, CogAT, GBRS, and number of 3s and 4s accepted into the program and compare their own DC record to make the case for appeal. For example, request to know the number of students with a 98% on the NNAT. Sep. request asking for the number of students with a 98% ranking on the NNAT. Another request for number of children with GBRS of 13 or less (assuming DC had 14) accepted into the program, etc. You get the idea. A very specific request for actual numbers that could, potentially, support an appeal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:? - My Dcs file has a lot of incorrect information in the file - very obviously incorrect. Can I appeal on this - I don't believe that it was prepared by the folks listed, as the info in the file is really wrong, and I am an active parent. Suggestion? Ever heard of this before?

Curious.
What information in the file was incorrect?

Hey, I am hesitant to post the details, but will say it was really important stuff. For instance, it would have said that he is white, when actually black, and then commenting on the race in the commentary. However, this wasn't the error, but something along these lines. Obvious stuff that the school knows to be untrue, should know to be untrue (if you know my child, as is assumed that is why you are filling in the GBRS) or, on the other hand, maybe the GBRS was not filled out by the folks listed on the packet. All in all, it made me question the accuracy of the process and of who is supposed to know DC better than I. I don't harp on this too much in my letter of appeal, I do mention it though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:? - My Dcs file has a lot of incorrect information in the file - very obviously incorrect. Can I appeal on this - I don't believe that it was prepared by the folks listed, as the info in the file is really wrong, and I am an active parent. Suggestion? Ever heard of this before?

Curious.
What information in the file was incorrect?

Hey, I am hesitant to post the details, but will say it was really important stuff. For instance, it would have said that he is white, when actually black, and then commenting on the race in the commentary. However, this wasn't the error, but something along these lines. Obvious stuff that the school knows to be untrue, should know to be untrue (if you know my child, as is assumed that is why you are filling in the GBRS) or, on the other hand, maybe the GBRS was not filled out by the folks listed on the packet. All in all, it made me question the accuracy of the process and of who is supposed to know DC better than I. I don't harp on this too much in my letter of appeal, I do mention it though.

You're right. That IS important.
It also contradicts an assertion made here previously that the committee is unaware of the applicant's race. Apparently is is right there in the file.

[Anonymous]

No, you misread. Race is not in the file, but other details are, and the record misrepresents DC, as it is full of obvious errors. What it tells me is that the file preparers really don't a. know the child b. put much effort into the file.

[Anonymous]

Has anyone else had errors in child's screening file?