cutoff scores for Fairfax County GT centers for this year?

[Anonymous]

our letter came in the mail today.

And . . . what's the verdict?!

[Anonymous]

I was the poster who decided to not do the WISC for financial reasons, and as everyone suggested, the appeal was denied. I was frustrated to a certain point, but know that I plan to be on top of things to be sure that he is getting the challenges he needs. Since our school has school based GT as well, there is a chance that he will be placed in that class anyway. Unfortunately, our school is going through a principal transition right now (ours retired) so a lot that is normally settled is up in the air. I plan to get in touch once the new principal has some time to breathe...certainly do not want to get off on the wrong foot.

My plan for next year is to see how things go, and decide if I need to reapply for the following year. (at which point I probably would get the WISC).

I found it very interesting that my son's teacher, and guidance counselor who we met with towards the end of the year both said "we would not be surprised at all if "x" matured immensely over the summer, and ended up placed in AAP for 4th grade. This was after telling me that maturity, or lack thereof did not figure in at all in their GBRS ratings, which I highly suspected.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was the poster who decided to not do the WISC for financial reasons, and as everyone suggested, the appeal was denied.

Sorry about your news.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was the poster who decided to not do the WISC for financial reasons, and as everyone suggested, the appeal was denied. I was frustrated to a certain point, but know that I plan to be on top of things to be sure that he is getting the challenges he needs. Since our school has school based GT as well, there is a chance that he will be placed in that class anyway. Unfortunately, our school is going through a principal transition right now (ours retired) so a lot that is normally settled is up in the air. I plan to get in touch once the new principal has some time to breathe...certainly do not want to get off on the wrong foot.

My plan for next year is to see how things go, and decide if I need to reapply for the following year. (at which point I probably would get the WISC).

I found it very interesting that my son's teacher, and guidance counselor who we met with towards the end of the year both said "we would not be surprised at all if "x" matured immensely over the summer, and ended up placed in AAP for 4th grade. This was after telling me that maturity, or lack thereof did not figure in at all in their GBRS ratings, which I highly suspected.

well it is heartening to hear some appeals are denied. From what I've been reading most are granted and that bloats the class sizes.

[Anonymous]

I plan to get in touch once the new principal has some time to breathe...certainly do not want to get off on the wrong foot.

If I were you I would contact the principal ASAP! They are in the process of doing class assignments now and the time to let them know is NOW, before things have been settled. I would definitely let him/her know that based on scores you strongly feel that your child would benefit from being in the Level 4 class. It is much easier for them to do this now than it is to make changes once the school year has started. I would also share that you decided not to have the WISC and you feel that this hurt your child's chances on appeal.

The further I get in FCPS, the more I realize it really is not possible to advocate too little for my kid's needs. My only regrets are not advocating more and earlier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was the poster who decided to not do the WISC for financial reasons, and as everyone suggested, the appeal was denied. I was frustrated to a certain point, but know that I plan to be on top of things to be sure that he is getting the challenges he needs. Since our school has school based GT as well, there is a chance that he will be placed in that class anyway. Unfortunately, our school is going through a principal transition right now (ours retired) so a lot that is normally settled is up in the air. I plan to get in touch once the new principal has some time to breathe...certainly do not want to get off on the wrong foot.

My plan for next year is to see how things go, and decide if I need to reapply for the following year. (at which point I probably would get the WISC).

I found it very interesting that my son's teacher, and guidance counselor who we met with towards the end of the year both said "we would not be surprised at all if "x" matured immensely over the summer, and ended up placed in AAP for 4th grade. This was after telling me that maturity, or lack thereof did not figure in at all in their GBRS ratings, which I highly suspected.

well it is heartening to hear some appeals are denied. From what I've been reading most are granted and that bloats the class sizes.

Wow, aren't you insensitive!

I'm sorry that your appeal was denied , 23:25. I hope your child is in a setting next year where he is appropriately challenged.

As for the facts, the most recent available data from 2004-05 shows that 59% of appeals were successful. Those who submitted additional testing succeeded 92% of the time and only 38% of those who did not submit testing were accepted on appeal. I, for one, hope that any child who belongs in the AAP ends up there so that they are appropriately challenged, whether they get in on the first round or on appeal. It's not a competition, it's an appropriately challenging education for those who need it.

http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/Fairfax/Board.nsf/39c6389c088be51585256e56000c1bf2/2b1b2b585a5d305e852570fb004f3f9f/$FILE/Gifted%20and%20Talented%20Center%20Program.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:[quote=Anonymous

Wow, aren't you insensitive!

I'm sorry that your appeal was denied , 23:25. I hope your child is in a setting next year where he is appropriately challenged.

As for the facts, the most recent available data from 2004-05 shows that 59% of appeals were successful. Those who submitted additional testing succeeded 92% of the time and only 38% of those who did not submit testing were accepted on appeal. I, for one, hope that any child who belongs in the AAP ends up there so that they are appropriately challenged, whether they get in on the first round or on appeal. It's not a competition, it's an appropriately challenging education for those who need it.

http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/Fairfax/Board.nsf/39c6389c088be51585256e56000c1bf2/2b1b2b585a5d305e852570fb004f3f9f/$FILE/Gifted%20and%20Talented%20Center%20Program.pdf

well if it's it's "an appropriately challenging education for those who need it" why can't those that need it be identified through the CogAt/NNAT and GBRS score?
I suspect those who get in on appeal are much less those that "need it" than those whose parents really, really want them to get in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:[quote=Anonymous

Wow, aren't you insensitive!

I'm sorry that your appeal was denied , 23:25. I hope your child is in a setting next year where he is appropriately challenged.

As for the facts, the most recent available data from 2004-05 shows that 59% of appeals were successful. Those who submitted additional testing succeeded 92% of the time and only 38% of those who did not submit testing were accepted on appeal. I, for one, hope that any child who belongs in the AAP ends up there so that they are appropriately challenged, whether they get in on the first round or on appeal. It's not a competition, it's an appropriately challenging education for those who need it.

http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/Fairfax/Board.nsf/39c6389c088be51585256e56000c1bf2/2b1b2b585a5d305e852570fb004f3f9f/$FILE/Gifted%20and%20Talented%20Center%20Program.pdf

well if it's it's "an appropriately challenging education for those who need it" why can't those that need it be identified through the CogAt/NNAT and GBRS score?
I suspect those who get in on appeal are much less those that "need it" than those whose parents really, really want them to get in.

Because it's a cheap group test that misses some kids. It's not a true IQ test. A true IQ test would be too expensive for FCPS to administer. They will accept WISC or Stanford Binet results, which are individually administered by a psychologist and provide a much more accurate measure of intelligence.

[Anonymous]

Agree with PP about the group test. Also, some kids (like mine) are very strong in a certain area, but not as strong in others and the committee assumes it's a fluke. The WISC shows that it's not a fluke. If your child happens to have a not so great second grade teacher (as mine also did), his or her talents may not be recognized on the GBRS (which is very subjective) becuase he or she is doing fine, but not spectacularly (because he or se is not challenged, is shy, lacks confidence, etc.).

Sorry to the PP whose child did not get in. I hope you can work something out.

[Anonymous]

This whole process is very subjective; I found out hard way that this is all about numbers game-“numbers” being strong scores, scores, and scores especially GBRS score. You can apply again next year but make sure you have a strong WISC or Stanford Binet scores to back up your case. They will accept additional achievement scores as well. You can have all kinds of samples and compelling recommendation letters but in the end, having strong scores will get your kid in. Also, testing at George Mason is done by student NOT BY A LICENCED DOCTOR and they only offer WISC IV. You may end up with a tester that may have just completed the training and may not get the true result of your child’s ability. Also, WISC IV is not for every child. If a child has a slow processing speed, it will lower the full scale IQ. I strongly recommend private testing by licensed psychologist. They will determine which testing is better for your child’s personality. Hope this helps

[Anonymous]

Some parents prepare their kids for NNAT and Cog-at. So, "pushy parent" comment should be for these parents too. Perhaps, "prepared" kids without true IQ testing does not belong to center........

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some parents prepare their kids for NNAT and Cog-at. So, "pushy parent" comment should be for these parents too. Perhaps, "prepared" kids without true IQ testing does not belong to center........Anyway, this is a complicated process.

[Anonymous]

Bumping this up since we seem to have taken August off but now the AAP debates on this forum are back in full swing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bumping this up since we seem to have taken August off but now the AAP debates on this forum are back in full swing.

Smart idea -- plus the Information Sessions for the AAP Center selection process are in October.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was the poster who decided to not do the WISC for financial reasons, and as everyone suggested, the appeal was denied. I was frustrated to a certain point, but know that I plan to be on top of things to be sure that he is getting the challenges he needs. Since our school has school based GT as well, there is a chance that he will be placed in that class anyway. Unfortunately, our school is going through a principal transition right now (ours retired) so a lot that is normally settled is up in the air. I plan to get in touch once the new principal has some time to breathe...certainly do not want to get off on the wrong foot.

My plan for next year is to see how things go, and decide if I need to reapply for the following year. (at which point I probably would get the WISC).

I found it very interesting that my son's teacher, and guidance counselor who we met with towards the end of the year both said "we would not be surprised at all if "x" matured immensely over the summer, and ended up placed in AAP for 4th grade. This was after telling me that maturity, or lack thereof did not figure in at all in their GBRS ratings, which I highly suspected.

well it is heartening to hear some appeals are denied. From what I've been reading most are granted and that bloats the class sizes.

DD was denied on appeal with a private WISC. I don't know what the cut off was that year, but was surprised that an IQ of 133 wasn't high enough. As far as the GBRS goes, I think that was what did in our DD, who was very impulsive with below average self control. Our elementary school GT teacher really just didn't like her.