COSA denial - submitting an appeal but do we mention "gifted" designation?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would definitely appeal. People seem to go through this a lot. Denial on the first try but then they eventually get the COSA.

If not, do you have a friend or family member who will allow you to use their address? This is pretty commonly done also. Make sure it is someone who you trust because the kid’s report cards will get sent to that address.

It's also fraudulent, no matter how common it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would definitely appeal. People seem to go through this a lot. Denial on the first try but then they eventually get the COSA.

If not, do you have a friend or family member who will allow you to use their address? This is pretty commonly done also. Make sure it is someone who you trust because the kid’s report cards will get sent to that address.

It's also fraudulent, no matter how common it is.

Maybe, but unlikely that OP would ever get caught. None of the families at our ES have ever had issues doing this. Several have continued on with their false addresses through MS.

Impossible for MCPS to enforce residency requirements, IME.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would definitely appeal. People seem to go through this a lot. Denial on the first try but then they eventually get the COSA.

If not, do you have a friend or family member who will allow you to use their address? This is pretty commonly done also. Make sure it is someone who you trust because the kid’s report cards will get sent to that address.

This constitutes fraud. Do not advise someone to commit fraud, PP. It's not ethical.

OP is looking for options and this is one of them that many families DO utilize without negative consequence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would definitely appeal. People seem to go through this a lot. Denial on the first try but then they eventually get the COSA.

If not, do you have a friend or family member who will allow you to use their address? This is pretty commonly done also. Make sure it is someone who you trust because the kid’s report cards will get sent to that address.

It's also fraudulent, no matter how common it is.

Maybe, but unlikely that OP would ever get caught. None of the families at our ES have ever had issues doing this. Several have continued on with their false addresses through MS.

Impossible for MCPS to enforce residency requirements, IME.

Another post from the "rules are for chumps" contingent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would definitely appeal. People seem to go through this a lot. Denial on the first try but then they eventually get the COSA.

If not, do you have a friend or family member who will allow you to use their address? This is pretty commonly done also. Make sure it is someone who you trust because the kid’s report cards will get sent to that address.

This constitutes fraud. Do not advise someone to commit fraud, PP. It's not ethical.

OP is looking for options and this is one of them that many families DO utilize without negative consequence.

This is a public board that MCPS administrators absolutely read. If you keep coming on here bragging that you’re gaming the system, they will begin to strengthen the system. Exactly like they did with all the parents who bragged about gaming the system to get their kids into the CES by sharing the test and telling each other what to write in the application.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - thanks for the quick responses. DD has severe anxiety when it comes to new situations and people. We submitted a letter from her therapist, pediatrician and we wrote a letter. The application was still denied.

We are going to appeal but we didn't mention the possibility of her moving twice in 2 years. She has scored in the 99th percentile for every MAP-P test she's taken and is reading on an "N" benchmark. I know that the designation of gifted isn't linked to CES acceptance but I thought it may be a factor.

Any insight on how we get them to understand the severity of her issues on appeal? I'm baffled that the letters from legit MD and PhDs didn't sway them.

Because there are literally thousands of parents in this county who will come up with some logical, wonderful reason why Larla HAS to go to X school, and why Larla is UNIQUE in this regard. She's not and if the BOE allowed the type of frivolous requests based on convenience and preference like yours, it would be total attendance chaos in this county. You go to the schools that you are zoned for based on where you live, and the BOE provides a free and appropriate education for your child in their home schools. If they can't meet your child's needs there (e.g. IEP needs), they will bus your child to the appropriate school.

[Anonymous]

I work in MCPS and my kids have a COSA. It doesn’t matter what your reasons are—the VAST majority are denied (as well they should be—most are junk). Some are real hardships, and sometimes those are approved, especially when the parents have limited opportunities and the school staff get involved. The trick, if there is one, is to appeal. And the appeal again. Once the office sees that you’re not giving up, it gets approved and they move to the next case. But you will be put through the wringer for your appeal. Be prepared to submit tons of evidence and have your life be scrutinized. I seen ridiculous cases be approved, just because the parents didn’t stop appealing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our rising 3rd grader was recently identified as gifted. We are moving soon and she will have to change elementary schools. We applied for a COSA but were denied. However, we didn't spell out that one of the reasons we were asking for a COSA was because her old school has an in-house center for enrichment which means if she is accepted for the gifted and talented (or whatever it's called now) program, she would continue in 4th and 5th at that school.

However, her new school is not an in house center so she would be bused to a different school. That means new school for 3rd and then another new school for 4th and 5th. That's crazy for a kid who already doesn't do well with change. I know we are relying on her acceptance into the gifted program as a factor for that worst case scenario but the child has consistently scored well on all of those tests she takes and is generally a year ahead in her studies.

So in our appeal, do we spell that out? Do we list that we don't want her to change schools twice in 2 years? Or would that be frowned upon?

Thank you for any insight - sorry if I've been unclear.

You might want to verify that bolded part, OP. If your old school has a local CES, but you’re no longer zoned for that school, are you sure your dd would even be in the pool considered for the local center? You’re moving away from a situation where she’d be likely to get into a local CES to a situation where she may very well be in competition with her home school (new school) peers for a seat at a regional center, which is far stiffer competition.

[Anonymous]

My coworker got a COSA for her ES kid using the babysitter situation (which was true).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - thanks for the quick responses. DD has severe anxiety when it comes to new situations and people. We submitted a letter from her therapist, pediatrician and we wrote a letter. The application was still denied.

We are going to appeal but we didn't mention the possibility of her moving twice in 2 years. She has scored in the 99th percentile for every MAP-P test she's taken and is reading on an "N" benchmark. I know that the designation of gifted isn't linked to CES acceptance but I thought it may be a factor.

Any insight on how we get them to understand the severity of her issues on appeal? I'm baffled that the letters from legit MD and PhDs didn't sway them.

My kid going into 2nd grade is reading at Level M and I would not say she is gifted. She is bright but not gifted. She is a year younger than your kid and only one letter behind, so I doubt your kid is going to a CES.

You know homeless and foster kids change schools repeatedly right? Anxiety or no anxiety, no one cares about them.

[Anonymous]

OP, since you are the one who is precipitating a move, it's a little ridiculous to demand a COSA on the basis of the fact that your child doesn't handle change well. Obviously that concern is not stopping you from moving - so why should MCPS be obliged to accommodate your school preferences based on the same concern?

As to why letters from MDs and PhDs didn't help, if your child doesn't have accommodations in place to deal with these issues, invoking these concerns to justify a school placement isn't going to fly. You're gaming the system and unless the school in question is under capacity, you're unlikely to prevail (even with appeals.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your babysitter who provides after care is near a school then you can get a COSA.

This is probably a better approach than mentioning anything about being ‘gifted’.

It usually doesn’t work because otherwise everyone would just select a babysitter near the school they wanted.

I know someone who got it based on the therapist being located a 5 min dry from the school, but she could show that her son had been in therapy there for years before and the therapist only did day time appointments. Moving him really do reduce the amount of class time missed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - thanks for the quick responses. DD has severe anxiety when it comes to new situations and people. We submitted a letter from her therapist, pediatrician and we wrote a letter. The application was still denied.

We are going to appeal but we didn't mention the possibility of her moving twice in 2 years. She has scored in the 99th percentile for every MAP-P test she's taken and is reading on an "N" benchmark. I know that the designation of gifted isn't linked to CES acceptance but I thought it may be a factor.

Any insight on how we get them to understand the severity of her issues on appeal? I'm baffled that the letters from legit MD and PhDs didn't sway them.

Perhaps if you could get letters from her teachers/counselors at the current school they might be considered helpful? Having a kid with an IEP I think MCPS is skeptical of results from paid outside people..regardless of the credential.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your babysitter who provides after care is near a school then you can get a COSA.

This is probably a better approach than mentioning anything about being ‘gifted’.

It usually doesn’t work because otherwise everyone would just select a babysitter near the school they wanted.

I know someone who got it based on the therapist being located a 5 min dry from the school, but she could show that her son had been in therapy there for years before and the therapist only did day time appointments. Moving him really do reduce the amount of class time missed.

I think it only works when the baby sitter is a family member that can provide free childcare not available near the local school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - thanks for the quick responses. DD has severe anxiety when it comes to new situations and people. We submitted a letter from her therapist, pediatrician and we wrote a letter. The application was still denied.

We are going to appeal but we didn't mention the possibility of her moving twice in 2 years. She has scored in the 99th percentile for every MAP-P test she's taken and is reading on an "N" benchmark. I know that the designation of gifted isn't linked to CES acceptance but I thought it may be a factor.

Any insight on how we get them to understand the severity of her issues on appeal? I'm baffled that the letters from legit MD and PhDs didn't sway them.

My kid going into 2nd grade is reading at Level M and I would not say she is gifted. She is bright but not gifted. She is a year younger than your kid and only one letter behind, so I doubt your kid is going to a CES.

You know homeless and foster kids change schools repeatedly right? Anxiety or no anxiety, no one cares about them.

Actually, homeless kids are definitely entitled to remain in the same school or to transfer to a school they choose. I don’t know about foster kids. I’ve had some leave abruptly when they switch placements. Others stayed.