Gifted IEP
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Anonymous
| DC public schools issue IEPs for gifted kids? |
Anonymous
| No they don't. Your child has to have an actual disability to get an IEP. |
Anonymous
|
Depends what you call gifted. We are in Fairfax, our definition of gifted is: "top 2% of US kids of the same age, or 5% or Fairfax kids taking the same test" as measured by an adapted crystalized intelligence test, and/or by a teacher who believes your child should be in. Emphasize the teacher recommendation, because a bright child without a recommendation still does not make it in. Which is why they call it "Advanced Academics" instead of "Gifted". Many bright, but not gifted children are in, and many gifted children who need accommodations are out.
Our AAP programs are dispensed in "Centers" which are usually large, crowded schools, at the end of a long bus drive, often difficult to navigate for certain personalities. Some lucky few schools managed to get their local program, but the thrust is now away from that idea and back to the factory schools. I have heard dr. Carol Horn, the program director, state that AAP and IEP are incompatible. That was said at a meeting for parents of twice exceptional children, within a FCPS conference Special Ed, two years ago, when I was in your shoes. Essentially, in our AAP, they do it the way they do it and have no time for accommodations. They select not the kids who need a challenge, but those aligned with their way of teaching AAP. It's easier to implement, and it saves money, but most 2E children are left out. So get your facts straight before jumping in for an IEP. If you have independently verified that your child is truly gifted (check the AAP board for guidelines for DC), *and* if you believe the program will benefit your child, then settle for the minimum accommodations (504) in school, and work on additional skills at home. Once you child is on an IEP, transition to AAP/ Gifted or whatever they call it will be difficult. If your child is borderline, chances are the teachers already know about it and about the additional help that may be needed. Sadly, they will withhold a recommendation because any extra need does not fit in the program. So by all means, try to meet your child's educational needs at school, through an IEP and invest on additional support to feed the "gifted" side of the brain. Don't count on the AAP. Some will chime in that their ADHD kid is in the program -- those are kids who happen to have their needs met through medication, not accommodation. Or their SN does not impact the way they absorb new information (not distracted, just hyper). Or, they are lucky enough to have a local program where a principal carefully selects the children attending from within the school and is committed to their success. Some parents complain that it dilutes the level, I'd say to the contrary -- their children are more likely to be surrounded by their quirky intellectual peers, rather than by compliant bright kids who happen to learn the AAP way. Centers are different, and much less likely to be accommodating. On the other hand, your bright child who overcame personal challenhes to meet the grade will not even be able to access the IEP, because he just showed that he can gain mastery of the classroom materials without support. The worse outcome of this conversation is no AAP, no IEP and an entire school, principal and all out to show you that your child is just average no matter how their achievements, good or bad. So pick your battles wisely is what I'm saying. |
Anonymous
| The above is basically true for elementary school; there is no place in AAP Centers for remediation/basic skills no matter the intellectual ability of the child. SOMe of the LLVI schools get it and do it, but it it not the norm. I can't speak to MS because our MS experience was so horrific and individualized and the Principal is a known thwart to 2E and LD in particular. HS has been much better. DC receives all his accommodations and takes Honors and AP courses. |
Anonymous
So to answer your main question. FCPS does issue IEPs for gifted children but not based on their giftedness, only based on their LDs or other issues. |
Anonymous
Thank you! Unfortunatley, my child is smarter than me. So most of what has been discussed just went over my head. But, I do get I have my terms confused. I grew up in the 80s in a different city and we were issed IEPs and went to a special school one day a week until High School- then they put us in the AP classes and if necessary (not me) sent kids to college for the courses they needed. Oh what fun the next 15 years will be! Thanks Again -OP |
Anonymous
| A friend who teaches "highly gifted students" in a Pennsylvania district maintains that highly gifted students have specialized learning needs. Gifted students in her district receive specialized services that are spelled out in a "gifted individualized educational plan." Students are eligible for services based on a series of standardized tests by a certified psychologist (usually parent or teacher prompted). At the elementary level, she said it represents fewer than 1% of all students in the district. She joked that her children are super smart, yet are not in this category of learners. |
Anonymous
There are some states where being gifted is a qualifying "diagnosis" for an IEP, Virginia is not one of them. |
Anonymous
And of course, I am from PA- OP 
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Anonymous
Are you really complaining on a board for parents of kids with disabilities that parenting your smart kid will be too difficult? |
Anonymous
+1000 To get an IEP you have to have a disability that fits into one of these categories under IDEA: ?Autism ?Deaf-blindness ?Deafness ?Developmental delay ?Emotional disturbance ?Hearing impairment ?Intellectual disability ?Multiple disabilities ?Orthopedic impairment ?Other health impairment ?Specific learning disability ?Speech or language impairment ?Traumatic brain injury ?Visual impairment, including blindness Nowhere does it list "High IQ" |
Anonymous
No. Put on your reading comprehension cap- op BTW DCUM police troll my kid also has an SN. |
Anonymous
not PP - but no where did you mention special needs in your posts. |
Anonymous
This. 1. You need to have a disability 2. Can show that the disability has "educational impact" that prevents FAPE (free appropriate public education) High IQ or "gifted" is irrelevant in getting an IEP. With the caveat that if the child is at or above grade level academically, you most likely will not get an IEP unless your DC has an "Autism" designation. |
Anonymous
| My son has a GTLD IEP in MCPS. He has adhd and dysgraphia, reads and does math above grade level and can barely write. We started with a 504 plan and moved to an IEP in 3rd grade. |