On the chopping block: AAP Centers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As an AAP parent, I would absolutely welcome a change that required kids who have LLIV programs at their base schools to go to the base school. I've seen no evidence whatsoever that my kid's academic experience was enhanced in any fashion by attending our center and certainly not when you consider the effect of transportation across town. Send 'em back, I say. No need for all this nonsense.

Another AAP parent who feels the same way. Send everyone back to their base schools. Problem solved.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:yes, lines change and admission standards change (magnets and immersion). But, that's not really what we're talking about here.

When there is an overcrowding situation at a center school, something has to give. And most likely, that is going to be the center admission/feeder patterns rather than kids who live right next door to the school hosting students from outside its general boundaries.

Yes, it is ultimately up to the school board to decide on who goes where. That I do not argue. But the absolute outrage people had over being moved back to the school that is the base school for their neighborhood is just ridiculous. They were still getting the program they desired, just at a different location. A location that is NOT severely overcrowded.

Sorry, I will not relent on this. The base school students are not "hosting" the center students.

it's not the students personally hosting - it is the center school itself.

This is the nature of the program - students from outside the boundary of the school coming in for a special program. I'm sorry you don't like the way it is phrased, but this is factual. There are feeder schools for the AAP Center, but the center school is receiving students that wouldn't be attending the school were it NOT for the Center.

I have no horse in this race, but once a child is admitted to AAP and elects the center option, that center school is not "hosting" the child. The child has just as much right to be there as the base school kids. The center school "hosts" students who are pupil placed with principal approval. The principal can't just decide to kick the center kids out. Just as with the base school kids, AAP kids are subject to being rezoned. AAP realignment is more likely to happen that base school rezoning in the event of overcrowding, but that's also the case for kids living far from the school versus those living close. That doesn't mean the school is hosting those who live far away but in bounds just because they might be first to be rezoned. Maybe you shouldn't buy a house zoned for a center school if you don't want to deal with all the issues at a center school.

And therein lies the problem. FCPS needs to stop giving AAP kids the "option" to attend another school if they can receive said services at their own base school. Just like with AP/IB in high school. If your base school doesn't offer your preferred program, you may elect to transfer schools. So if LLIV were simply implemented within all base schools, there should be no need to give anyone the option to switch schools.

If the Local Level IV program has critical mass at the base school, a Center-eligible student should not have transportation provided to the Center. They can be provided the choice, but parents need to provide transportation.

Why should they be provided the choice at all? It's completely redundant.

+100

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am torn on the issue of transportation, as I have witnessed how horrific traffic can be when a center gets ridiculously overcrowded. Our neighborhood streets could not handle it. Our principal sent out emails basically begging for families to use the busses, yet they still continued to drive. It is a stressful and dangerous situation for all involved.

The advantage of LLIV for critical mass base schools is the no-transportation-provided requirement for Centers is the lessening of traffic at the Center and the reduced overcrowding.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Can we all just agree that we hate having AAP Centers?

I can certainly agree with this. They create far too many issues, resentment, and divisiveness.

I can certainly disagree with this as my student does not have a peer group at the base school. (He was subjected to frequent bullying, among other things.)

When my (Gen Ed) child was being bullied, I tried to have him transferred to another school, and these were the requirements I had to meet:

FCPS considers transfer requests for very specific reasons as outlined in Regulation 2230. They are:

Family Relocation* Attach a lease or deed for primary residence in requested school's boundaries.
Child care hardship (elementary only)* Attach affidavit for Student Transfer Child Care Requests.
Medical, emotional, or social adjustment* Attach current independent, detailed professional documentation.
FCPS parent employee working 20 or more hours per week* Provide work location.
High school curricular program* Attached appropriate Letter of Understanding.
Sibling* Name of sibling and grade at requested school.
Senior* rising 6th (5th grade for Poe, Holmes, and Glasgow feeder schools), 8th, 12th.
* Applicants must provide required documentation to support the transfer request.

Why is it that my child must meet one of these very specific criteria, yet your child can simply elect the center school option because he doesn't have a "peer group" at his base school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Why is it that my child must meet one of these very specific criteria, yet your child can simply elect the center school option because he doesn't have a "peer group" at his base school?

Let's compare numbers -- how many Center-eligible students are at your base school?

My child, with an IEP and 504, has no other Center-eligible students from his base school in his grade. He has no peer group at the base school. At the Center school, he is one student in the two AAP classes in 4th grade (and there are two Gen Ed classes, if that matters at all).

Are you suggesting it is equitable to send him back to the base school?

(Also, we could meet the "Medical, emotional, or social adjustment" requirement if we needed to.)

[Anonymous]

Are you suggesting it is equitable to send him back to the base school?

If everyone has to go back then yes it's equitable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am torn on the issue of transportation, as I have witnessed how horrific traffic can be when a center gets ridiculously overcrowded. Our neighborhood streets could not handle it. Our principal sent out emails basically begging for families to use the busses, yet they still continued to drive. It is a stressful and dangerous situation for all involved.

The advantage of LLIV for critical mass base schools is the no-transportation-provided requirement for Centers is the lessening of traffic at the Center and the reduced overcrowding.

I completely agree on this point. I'll be right there with all of you when this issue of critical mass LLIV schools comes up.

I was talking more about eliminating bus transportation entirely for ANY child attending the center from another base school. THAT is an issue I could go either way on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can we all just agree that we hate having AAP Centers?

I can certainly agree with this. They create far too many issues, resentment, and divisiveness.

I can certainly disagree with this as my student does not have a peer group at the base school. (He was subjected to frequent bullying, among other things.)

When my (Gen Ed) child was being bullied, I tried to have him transferred to another school, and these were the requirements I had to meet:

FCPS considers transfer requests for very specific reasons as outlined in Regulation 2230. They are:

Family Relocation* Attach a lease or deed for primary residence in requested school's boundaries.
Child care hardship (elementary only)* Attach affidavit for Student Transfer Child Care Requests.
Medical, emotional, or social adjustment* Attach current independent, detailed professional documentation.
FCPS parent employee working 20 or more hours per week* Provide work location.
High school curricular program* Attached appropriate Letter of Understanding.
Sibling* Name of sibling and grade at requested school.
Senior* rising 6th (5th grade for Poe, Holmes, and Glasgow feeder schools), 8th, 12th.
* Applicants must provide required documentation to support the transfer request.

Why is it that my child must meet one of these very specific criteria, yet your child can simply elect the center school option because he doesn't have a "peer group" at his base school?

NP. The pop's child wasn't moved because of a peer group issue. The pop's child was eligible and elected to be part of the AAP program. The county set up the option for her child to attend an AAP center school. She chose that option. The end.

You seem to be (deliberately?) missing the point. Yes, I'm well aware that the PP's child was "eligible" and elected to go to the center, and that it's the county that created this option. And that's the problem. The county needs to overhaul this program and the related "options" for AAP-eligible kids. And I'm posting this opinion here on a discussion forum, in case you come back with, "Take it up with the School Board, etc.".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Are you suggesting it is equitable to send him back to the base school?

If everyone has to go back then yes it's equitable.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can we all just agree that we hate having AAP Centers?

I can certainly agree with this. They create far too many issues, resentment, and divisiveness.

I can certainly disagree with this as my student does not have a peer group at the base school. (He was subjected to frequent bullying, among other things.)

When my (Gen Ed) child was being bullied, I tried to have him transferred to another school, and these were the requirements I had to meet:

FCPS considers transfer requests for very specific reasons as outlined in Regulation 2230. They are:

Family Relocation* Attach a lease or deed for primary residence in requested school's boundaries.
Child care hardship (elementary only)* Attach affidavit for Student Transfer Child Care Requests.
Medical, emotional, or social adjustment* Attach current independent, detailed professional documentation.
FCPS parent employee working 20 or more hours per week* Provide work location.
High school curricular program* Attached appropriate Letter of Understanding.
Sibling* Name of sibling and grade at requested school.
Senior* rising 6th (5th grade for Poe, Holmes, and Glasgow feeder schools), 8th, 12th.
* Applicants must provide required documentation to support the transfer request.

Why is it that my child must meet one of these very specific criteria, yet your child can simply elect the center school option because he doesn't have a "peer group" at his base school?

NP. The pop's child wasn't moved because of a peer group issue. The pop's child was eligible and elected to be part of the AAP program. The county set up the option for her child to attend an AAP center school. She chose that option. The end.

You seem to be (deliberately?) missing the point. Yes, I'm well aware that the PP's child was "eligible" and elected to go to the center, and that it's the county that created this option. And that's the problem. The county needs to overhaul this program and the related "options" for AAP-eligible kids. And I'm posting this opinion here on a discussion forum, in case you come back with, "Take it up with the School Board, etc.".

You said that your child had to meet a specific criteria to switch school whereas pp could elect the center because of a new peer group. Wrong. Her child was placed in the AAP program and only then was the option open to attend another school. Both situations (yours and pp) have to meet county requirements before switching.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an AAP parent, I would absolutely welcome a change that required kids who have LLIV programs at their base schools to go to the base school. I've seen no evidence whatsoever that my kid's academic experience was enhanced in any fashion by attending our center and certainly not when you consider the effect of transportation across town. Send 'em back, I say. No need for all this nonsense.

Another AAP parent who feels the same way. Send everyone back to their base schools. Problem solved.

Not going to happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Are you suggesting it is equitable to send him back to the base school?

If everyone has to go back then yes it's equitable.

I disagree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an AAP parent, I would absolutely welcome a change that required kids who have LLIV programs at their base schools to go to the base school. I've seen no evidence whatsoever that my kid's academic experience was enhanced in any fashion by attending our center and certainly not when you consider the effect of transportation across town. Send 'em back, I say. No need for all this nonsense.

Another AAP parent who feels the same way. Send everyone back to their base schools. Problem solved.

Not going to happen.

I agree.

However, I think the School Board is open to the idea of Center-eligible students attending Local Level IV programs with critical mass (2 classes per grade) not having transportation to the Center school.

[Anonymous]

I think FCPS should put a cap on total school population. Elementary schools, especially AAP centers, over 800 kids need to go. Too many logistical problems. These properties aren't built to accommodate so many children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think FCPS should put a cap on total school population. Elementary schools, especially AAP centers, over 800 kids need to go. Too many logistical problems. These properties aren't built to accommodate so many children.

Facilities plans on increasing school sizes across the county.