Support Fairfax Talent petition

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I absolutely won't be signing that petition. It's clear the authors care only about one group of kids - AAP - and will do and say anything to continue the favoritism shown to them. So many families, including my own, have had it with the constant inequity between what is offered to AAP students and what is "offered" Gen Ed students (hint: not nearly enough). General Education students aren't given the option of either staying at their base school or transferring to another school. In fact, they're given no options whatsoever.

Enough with AAP parents complaining that their kids have to "share" a classroom with Gen Ed students, and that the AAP kids "need" a special learning environment. I'm waiting for someone to look around at the non-AAP kids and realize that they, too, might just need a better curriculum and some attention directed their way, and that these students are, for all intensive purposes, no different than the vast majority of "AAP kids". Stop treating General Education students like second-class citizens and start realizing that AAP kids aren't somehow more worthy of extra funds and smaller classes.

As a taxpayer, I would be very happy to see AAP services cut. Enough is enough.

There are plenty of options. Have you considered applying for a magnet school or language immersion school?

[Anonymous]

I love the closing "with a grateful heart"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I absolutely won't be signing that petition. It's clear the authors care only about one group of kids - AAP - and will do and say anything to continue the favoritism shown to them. So many families, including my own, have had it with the constant inequity between what is offered to AAP students and what is "offered" Gen Ed students (hint: not nearly enough). General Education students aren't given the option of either staying at their base school or transferring to another school. In fact, they're given no options whatsoever.

Enough with AAP parents complaining that their kids have to "share" a classroom with Gen Ed students, and that the AAP kids "need" a special learning environment. I'm waiting for someone to look around at the non-AAP kids and realize that they, too, might just need a better curriculum and some attention directed their way, and that these students are, for all intensive purposes, no different than the vast majority of "AAP kids". Stop treating General Education students like second-class citizens and start realizing that AAP kids aren't somehow more worthy of extra funds and smaller classes.

As a taxpayer, I would be very happy to see AAP services cut. Enough is enough.

There are plenty of options. Have you considered applying for a magnet school or language immersion school?

Not the PP, but why should we have to apply for a magnet or language immersion school, neither of which would even be located in our area? All that most of us want is for our kids to attend a normal, community school without the over-emphasis on AAP. We're entitled to that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love the closing "with a grateful heart"

Seriously. I was dying when I read that. I'd be mighty embarrassed if I had that group speaking for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I absolutely won't be signing that petition. It's clear the authors care only about one group of kids - AAP - and will do and say anything to continue the favoritism shown to them. So many families, including my own, have had it with the constant inequity between what is offered to AAP students and what is "offered" Gen Ed students (hint: not nearly enough). General Education students aren't given the option of either staying at their base school or transferring to another school. In fact, they're given no options whatsoever.

Enough with AAP parents complaining that their kids have to "share" a classroom with Gen Ed students, and that the AAP kids "need" a special learning environment. I'm waiting for someone to look around at the non-AAP kids and realize that they, too, might just need a better curriculum and some attention directed their way, and that these students are, for all intensive purposes, no different than the vast majority of "AAP kids". Stop treating General Education students like second-class citizens and start realizing that AAP kids aren't somehow more worthy of extra funds and smaller classes.

As a taxpayer, I would be very happy to see AAP services cut. Enough is enough.

There are plenty of options. Have you considered applying for a magnet school or language immersion school?

Not the PP, but why should we have to apply for a magnet or language immersion school, neither of which would even be located in our area? All that most of us want is for our kids to attend a normal, community school without the over-emphasis on AAP. We're entitled to that.

You don't "have to" but if you're so unhappy with your school, there are options. I would have loved to have stayed at our base school, but it did not offer Level 4. So we had a choice of staying & not having access to a level 4 curriculum or transferring over to an overcrowded center. Not my ideal situation, but unlike you, I do not feel "entitled "to my ideal situation.

[Anonymous]

Hey here's an idea. If you want specialized classes and a curriculum that is specific to your NON special needs, try private school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I absolutely won't be signing that petition. It's clear the authors care only about one group of kids - AAP - and will do and say anything to continue the favoritism shown to them. So many families, including my own, have had it with the constant inequity between what is offered to AAP students and what is "offered" Gen Ed students (hint: not nearly enough). General Education students aren't given the option of either staying at their base school or transferring to another school. In fact, they're given no options whatsoever.

Enough with AAP parents complaining that their kids have to "share" a classroom with Gen Ed students, and that the AAP kids "need" a special learning environment. I'm waiting for someone to look around at the non-AAP kids and realize that they, too, might just need a better curriculum and some attention directed their way, and that these students are, for all intensive purposes, no different than the vast majority of "AAP kids". Stop treating General Education students like second-class citizens and start realizing that AAP kids aren't somehow more worthy of extra funds and smaller classes.

As a taxpayer, I would be very happy to see AAP services cut. Enough is enough.

There are plenty of options. Have you considered applying for a magnet school or language immersion school?

Not the PP, but why should we have to apply for a magnet or language immersion school, neither of which would even be located in our area? All that most of us want is for our kids to attend a normal, community school without the over-emphasis on AAP. We're entitled to that.

No, you're not. There are lots of ESs in FCPS that are not Centers, and that would meet your definition of "normal". You chose to buy into/rent in your neighborhood, so you are "entitled" to go to that school. It's you're own problem if you didn't do the research before buying or renting and don't like what you ended up with. You're not "entitled" to your ideal version of an ES-- you're entitled to the one in your attendance zone. Most people in Fairfax County do a lot of legwork/research and spend a lot of money to get schools that are a good fit for their family. You apparently didn't (or you assumed your snowflake was Center material). Now you get the consequences-- just like the parent of a STEM heavy kid in an IB zone or of a TJ kid from Herndon-- that's not ideal either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I absolutely won't be signing that petition. It's clear the authors care only about one group of kids - AAP - and will do and say anything to continue the favoritism shown to them. So many families, including my own, have had it with the constant inequity between what is offered to AAP students and what is "offered" Gen Ed students (hint: not nearly enough). General Education students aren't given the option of either staying at their base school or transferring to another school. In fact, they're given no options whatsoever.

Enough with AAP parents complaining that their kids have to "share" a classroom with Gen Ed students, and that the AAP kids "need" a special learning environment. I'm waiting for someone to look around at the non-AAP kids and realize that they, too, might just need a better curriculum and some attention directed their way, and that these students are, for all intensive purposes, no different than the vast majority of "AAP kids". Stop treating General Education students like second-class citizens and start realizing that AAP kids aren't somehow more worthy of extra funds and smaller classes.

As a taxpayer, I would be very happy to see AAP services cut. Enough is enough.

There are plenty of options. Have you considered applying for a magnet school or language immersion school?

Let's say it agin, because some parents are slow: on average, AAP classes are larger, not smaller. And the only extra funds are bussing (which many kids would use anyway) and testing (which all kids get). There are no extra instructional costs associated with AAP Level IV (unlike levels I-III, which use resources for pull outs).

[Anonymous]

And I think my MS student is "entitled" to FAPE at his base school, so I don't have to wake him up at 5:45 to catch a 6:30 bus for a 7:30 start time. When the base MS is walkable. And I think DC2 is entitled to receive the math dedifferentiation she needs (Algebra I) at her base ES, rather than having to transfer to the MS for it. It's tough all around that FCPS cannot accommodate everyone's vision of how their snowflake's assigned school should work/ what programs should be available, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And I think my MS student is "entitled" to FAPE at his base school, so I don't have to wake him up at 5:45 to catch a 6:30 bus for a 7:30 start time. When the base MS is walkable. And I think DC2 is entitled to receive the math dedifferentiation she needs (Algebra I) at her base ES, rather than having to transfer to the MS for it. It's tough all around that FCPS cannot accommodate everyone's vision of how their snowflake's assigned school should work/ what programs should be available, etc.

Exactly, my snow flake only likes marble sized green seedless organic grapes, why can't she have that in the cafeteria line m

[Anonymous]

My child is dyslexic. I have to pay for very expensive afterschool tutoring that my ADHD kid has to sit through after 7 hours in school.

Is she getting FAPE? According to FCPS she is.

But AAP kids who would do just fine in a regular class with pull outs is apparently a huge injustice?

Please. These parents of high academic achievers are the most asinine, arrogant people in the world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And I think my MS student is "entitled" to FAPE at his base school, so I don't have to wake him up at 5:45 to catch a 6:30 bus for a 7:30 start time. When the base MS is walkable. And I think DC2 is entitled to receive the math dedifferentiation she needs (Algebra I) at her base ES, rather than having to transfer to the MS for it. It's tough all around that FCPS cannot accommodate everyone's vision of how their snowflake's assigned school should work/ what programs should be available, etc.

I realize your post is tongue on cheek, but people have enough trouble understanding FAPE without more disingenuous and incorrect ideas coloring their understandings.

If your child does not have an IEP, she is not "entitled" to FAPE. Additionally, the A in FAPE is 'appropriate', not best or even 'most appropriate' or 'above average'. As a PP stated, getting to the 30th percentile is considered appropriate in most circumstances as that is considered to be in the 'average' range. Yes, there are the memos and letters from OCR (2007) and OSEP (2010 and 2013) that address gifted children with disabilities- but getting school districts to comply with those can be arduous, expensive and time consuming at a time when parents are putting all of the time talent and treasure towards their child(ren). The ones who have the extra money simply enroll their children in private school and drop the fight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child is dyslexic. I have to pay for very expensive afterschool tutoring that my ADHD kid has to sit through after 7 hours in school.

Is she getting FAPE? According to FCPS she is.

But AAP kids who would do just fine in a regular class with pull outs is apparently a huge injustice?

Please. These parents of high academic achievers are the most asinine, arrogant people in the world.

Judging from the amount of time I spent with the Asst. Principal, Guidance Counselor and school psychologist when DC was K-2, you really don't want my bored, highly gifted, ADHD kid in your child's classroom. While he was waiting for your kid to catch up to him in 2nd grade, he was reading Tom Sawyer and Swiss Family Robinson for fun instead of listening to the teacher, and constantly interrupting, and acting out. In the 6 years he's been in the AAP Center, we've had no behavioral complaints. Fortunately, he heads to HS next year, so he has no stake in the continuation of AAP. But if you had moved him back to a GE classroom 3 years ago, you would be the parent on DCUM griping that my DC was taking all of the teacher's time & attention, and making it hard for your DC to learn. No matter how good a teacher is, they can't differentiate instruction for 30 Kids with an IQ range of 70 (b/c Sped kids are pushed in) to 150. People like you will find a reason to gripe no matter what the situation is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And I think my MS student is "entitled" to FAPE at his base school, so I don't have to wake him up at 5:45 to catch a 6:30 bus for a 7:30 start time. When the base MS is walkable. And I think DC2 is entitled to receive the math dedifferentiation she needs (Algebra I) at her base ES, rather than having to transfer to the MS for it. It's tough all around that FCPS cannot accommodate everyone's vision of how their snowflake's assigned school should work/ what programs should be available, etc.

I realize your post is tongue on cheek, but people have enough trouble understanding FAPE without more disingenuous and incorrect ideas coloring their understandings.

If your child does not have an IEP, she is not "entitled" to FAPE. Additionally, the A in FAPE is 'appropriate', not best or even 'most appropriate' or 'above average'. As a PP stated, getting to the 30th percentile is considered appropriate in most circumstances as that is considered to be in the 'average' range. Yes, there are the memos and letters from OCR (2007) and OSEP (2010 and 2013) that address gifted children with disabilities- but getting school districts to comply with those can be arduous, expensive and time consuming at a time when parents are putting all of the time talent and treasure towards their child(ren). The ones who have the extra money simply enroll their children in private school and drop the fight.

My post is very tongue in cheek. Because unlike the PP, I recognize that in order for my kids to get the right education for them, we needed to be very thoughtful about where we bought our house. And that we need to put up with inconvenience (like a 5:45 wake up call) to navigate the FCPS system. Because it was not designed to be perfect for my DCs. And it isn't. But the "I'm entitled to what I think is a perfect school (even though others zoned for the school would not agree with my vision)" attitude is infuriating to those of us who don't have the ideal situation, and sacrifice time, money, sleep and energy to make it work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child is dyslexic. I have to pay for very expensive afterschool tutoring that my ADHD kid has to sit through after 7 hours in school.

Is she getting FAPE? According to FCPS she is.

But AAP kids who would do just fine in a regular class with pull outs is apparently a huge injustice?

Please. These parents of high academic achievers are the most asinine, arrogant people in the world.

Judging from the amount of time I spent with the Asst. Principal, Guidance Counselor and school psychologist when DC was K-2, you really don't want my bored, highly gifted, ADHD kid in your child's classroom. While he was waiting for your kid to catch up to him in 2nd grade, he was reading Tom Sawyer and Swiss Family Robinson for fun instead of listening to the teacher, and constantly interrupting, and acting out. In the 6 years he's been in the AAP Center, we've had no behavioral complaints. Fortunately, he heads to HS next year, so he has no stake in the continuation of AAP. But if you had moved him back to a GE classroom 3 years ago, you would be the parent on DCUM griping that my DC was taking all of the teacher's time & attention, and making it hard for your DC to learn. No matter how good a teacher is, they can't differentiate instruction for 30 Kids with an IQ range of 70 (b/c Sped kids are pushed in) to 150. People like you will find a reason to gripe no matter what the situation is.

You are a jerk.