This is what FCPS is saying about CogAT custom form for grade 2.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow. I really learned a lot from this site!! I also learned there're lots of dark open secrets out there. I work a lot (very heave work load.) I feel bad that I haven't spent enough time with my child to prepare her/coach her. From now on, I'm dertermined to find all kinds of materials or turtoring or whatever to pave the road for my child. But deep in my mind, I'd rather her to have a very happy childhood, to explore this world (we've travelled lots of places in the world so far), to pursue her passion, to expand her interests, to be not afraid of making mistakes (including having bad scores) etc. But sadly, we, as parents seem to be very obsessed with their test scores. Sigh.

Let her figure it all out on her own. She will be a better adult having graduated from the school of hard knocks rather than AAP and TJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow. I really learned a lot from this site!! I also learned there're lots of dark open secrets out there. I work a lot (very heave work load.) I feel bad that I haven't spent enough time with my child to prepare her/coach her. From now on, I'm dertermined to find all kinds of materials or turtoring or whatever to pave the road for my child. But deep in my mind, I'd rather her to have a very happy childhood, to explore this world (we've travelled lots of places in the world so far), to pursue her passion, to expand her interests, to be not afraid of making mistakes (including having bad scores) etc. But sadly, we, as parents seem to be very obsessed with their test scores. Sigh.

Like different kind of ppl, there are different kind of parents. Sometimes the uptight tiger moms can get their kids in ivy league, sometimes drove them to mental hospital. Sometimes the kids turned out wonderful without parents hovering around, sometimes they are not.
Tiger mom(dad) or not, go with your heart, and let the nature (or God, if you believe) sort it out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. I really learned a lot from this site!! I also learned there're lots of dark open secrets out there. I work a lot (very heave work load.) I feel bad that I haven't spent enough time with my child to prepare her/coach her. From now on, I'm dertermined to find all kinds of materials or turtoring or whatever to pave the road for my child. But deep in my mind, I'd rather her to have a very happy childhood, to explore this world (we've travelled lots of places in the world so far), to pursue her passion, to expand her interests, to be not afraid of making mistakes (including having bad scores) etc. But sadly, we, as parents seem to be very obsessed with their test scores. Sigh.

Let her figure it all out on her own. She will be a better adult having graduated from the school of hard knocks rather than AAP and TJ.

Actually it sounds like this poster is giving her/his child the best possible education. You know what's right and you are teaching your child the same. I followed the same path for my child who is now at TJ.
A good education certainly does not need to involve practicing test questions in second grade!

[Anonymous]

So now we have official confirmation that age matters and that the reason why it was not taken into account this year is that there aren't enough data to do so. But, rest assured parents, it will be done in the future, as soon as enough data are collected. Now if this means that some kids this year will be screwed, so be it... Who cares, life is not fair anyway, and besides, there are other things that will be taken into consideration for placement, right?

Yeah, right, I am so relieved now, thank you FCPS! My Sept. kid and I also want to thank all these parents who tried their darnest to cheat the system any way they could, forcing FCPS to resort to such half-baked measures to compensate for their actions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So now we have official confirmation that age matters and that the reason why it was not taken into account this year is that there aren't enough data to do so. But, rest assured parents, it will be done in the future, as soon as enough data are collected. Now if this means that some kids this year will be screwed, so be it... Who cares, life is not fair anyway, and besides, there are other things that will be taken into consideration for placement, right?

Yeah, right, I am so relieved now, thank you FCPS! My Sept. kid and I also want to thank all these parents who tried their darnest to cheat the system any way they could, forcing FCPS to resort to such half-baked measures to compensate for their actions.

Bitter much?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So now we have official confirmation that age matters and that the reason why it was not taken into account this year is that there aren't enough data to do so. But, rest assured parents, it will be done in the future, as soon as enough data are collected. Now if this means that some kids this year will be screwed, so be it... Who cares, life is not fair anyway, and besides, there are other things that will be taken into consideration for placement, right?

Yeah, right, I am so relieved now, thank you FCPS! My Sept. kid and I also want to thank all these parents who tried their darnest to cheat the system any way they could, forcing FCPS to resort to such half-baked measures to compensate for their actions.

Bitter much?

Seriously! This isn't the ivy league. It's third grade and this isn't your child's only chance to get into AAP. Parent refer and note your child's age in your parent referral. If your "young" child doesn't get in, have your child retested and refer again in 4th grade. The age differences disappear by 4th grade anyway (so I've read).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So now we have official confirmation that age matters and that the reason why it was not taken into account this year is that there aren't enough data to do so. But, rest assured parents, it will be done in the future, as soon as enough data are collected. Now if this means that some kids this year will be screwed, so be it... Who cares, life is not fair anyway, and besides, there are other things that will be taken into consideration for placement, right?

Yeah, right, I am so relieved now, thank you FCPS! My Sept. kid and I also want to thank all these parents who tried their darnest to cheat the system any way they could, forcing FCPS to resort to such half-baked measures to compensate for their actions.

Absolutely agree, because all 13,000+ 2nd graders and their parents know it is All About You.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So now we have official confirmation that age matters and that the reason why it was not taken into account this year is that there aren't enough data to do so. But, rest assured parents, it will be done in the future, as soon as enough data are collected. Now if this means that some kids this year will be screwed, so be it... Who cares, life is not fair anyway, and besides, there are other things that will be taken into consideration for placement, right?

Yeah, right, I am so relieved now, thank you FCPS! My Sept. kid and I also want to thank all these parents who tried their darnest to cheat the system any way they could, forcing FCPS to resort to such half-baked measures to compensate for their actions.

This is where the parent questionnaire comes into play. You can point out how well your child did considering his/her September birthday. That way you can be sure that the committee will be aware that the child is young for the grade.

[Anonymous]

And you as a parent can provide a recommendation letter. In it, point out the young age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So now we have official confirmation that age matters and that the reason why it was not taken into account this year is that there aren't enough data to do so. But, rest assured parents, it will be done in the future, as soon as enough data are collected. Now if this means that some kids this year will be screwed, so be it... Who cares, life is not fair anyway, and besides, there are other things that will be taken into consideration for placement, right?

Yeah, right, I am so relieved now, thank you FCPS! My Sept. kid and I also want to thank all these parents who tried their darnest to cheat the system any way they could, forcing FCPS to resort to such half-baked measures to compensate for their actions.

Bitter much?

Not really, we are in the pool with 99% NNAT (145) and a 95% CogAt and as far as I can tell, our chances look pretty good for eligibility at this point.

However, that doesn't detract from the fact that scores should have been age-adjusted, in which case my DC would have gotten a 99% in CogAT as well. The whole issue is not personal, as some of you make it to appear. It's about a fair representation of how much more of a substantial accomplishment a good score is for a kid who took the test at 7y 1m as compared to a kid who took it at 7y 11m. Not to speak of the kids who are at 131 NNAT and 94% CogAT etc. etc.

So, no, it's not about me, and most definitely it's not about you, and if some parents are bitter because their young kids just missed the cut because of their age, they have an excuse. What's yours? Afraid that your redshirted child's scores will drop if age counts?

[Anonymous]

I think since all the scores are from the same test, the committee will be able to see where one score stands in relation to others. And with the parent questionnaire, work samples, and GBRS, they will get a fuller picture of each child, including the child's age in relation to others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So now we have official confirmation that age matters and that the reason why it was not taken into account this year is that there aren't enough data to do so. But, rest assured parents, it will be done in the future, as soon as enough data are collected. Now if this means that some kids this year will be screwed, so be it... Who cares, life is not fair anyway, and besides, there are other things that will be taken into consideration for placement, right?

Yeah, right, I am so relieved now, thank you FCPS! My Sept. kid and I also want to thank all these parents who tried their darnest to cheat the system any way they could, forcing FCPS to resort to such half-baked measures to compensate for their actions.

Bitter much?

Not really, we are in the pool with 99% NNAT (145) and a 95% CogAt and as far as I can tell, our chances look pretty good for eligibility at this point.

However, that doesn't detract from the fact that scores should have been age-adjusted, in which case my DC would have gotten a 99% in CogAT as well. The whole issue is not personal, as some of you make it to appear. It's about a fair representation of how much more of a substantial accomplishment a good score is for a kid who took the test at 7y 1m as compared to a kid who took it at 7y 11m. Not to speak of the kids who are at 131 NNAT and 94% CogAT etc.


So, no, it's not about me, and most definitely it's not about you, and if some parents are bitter because their young kids just missed the cut because of their age, they have an excuse. What's yours? Afraid that your redshirted child's scores will drop if age counts?

+1000. I am sick and tired of others flaming those who are simply pointing out the facts, the test is flawed, FF County admits it as so, and arguably 100+ may be in or out of the pool if it were properly age adjusted. That is the fact, no bit of accusing those who got screwed as whiners is going to change that fact. So what is the actual method FF County is going to use to "adjust" the young kids scores when a parent points it out in the referral letter? Finger in the wind?

Yes, there are other factors in the decision, but many will just miss in spite of having other supporting materials, and for the very young they now have to do better on the other factors (GBRS) to catch up to those in the pool, a difference in the CogATthis could be the difference for many, especially if they cannot affort WISC and an appeal (or do not know the process and rely on the school system). A real half assed effort in fixing a problem that may not have even been that significant. I would like to know how FF County determined the extent of those parents who had access to the test format and who were actually prepping. It is all heresy and rumor as to the real numbers. A few % perhaps. What a joke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I would like to know how FF County determined the extent of those parents who had access to the test format and who were actually prepping.

Maybe they've been reading local parenting websites?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I would like to know how FF County determined the extent of those parents who had access to the test format and who were actually prepping.

Maybe they've been reading local parenting websites?

Yeah, the gold standard of data collection.

[Anonymous]

Age adjusting is an issue, but it is not really the 131/94 kids that I would be worried about -- they are top 6% in the county trying for a spot in a program that serves almost 15% of the grade. I would be more worried for the 85-88% kids. The young ones in that score range are the ones who might get left behind without the age adjusting.