Loudoun County FUTURA decisions

[Anonymous]

Hi! FTM here with a rising Kindergartner in LCPS. Can someone give me the cliffs notes version of what the heck you all are talking about? Is futura similar to Fairfax AAP? What grade does it start? Do the kids get moved to certain schools? TIA!

[Anonymous]

05/24/2012 14:35 - Welcome to LCPS. FUTURA is a program for gifted children starting at 4th grade. The FUTURA children go to the FUTURA center (Same school if their school is the FUTURA Center or another school) one day a week. The FUTURA children work on different projects there. This is not an advanced academic program.
The children will take COGAT test in 2nd grade and NNAT in 3rd grade. The qualifying score is 97% is any one of them (COGAT has 3 sections and if they have a 97% in 2 of the 3 sections they qualify). The qualifying score is only one aspect of it where they are placed in the pool for consideration. The SEARCH teacher will provide samples of what they have worked with in the school, along with a SIGS (Scales for Identifying Gifted) score form from the class teacher (3rd and maybe 2nd grade too). Parents are also required to fill the SIGS form and submit samples that show their gifted ability

The gifted review committee meets and uses all the samples submitted and makes a decision as to whether the child is eligible for the program. If the committee decides on the child being ineligible since they didn't find enough supporting documents, the parents are allowed to appeal within 10 days after receiving the notification (Which is what you see a lot of parents talking about in this thread).

[Anonymous]

14:35 FTM here. Thank you! Is middle school then the first time there are honors classes? When I was growing up (in Richmond) this is all there was - honors vs non-honors and it started in 6th grade. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Hi 05/22/2012 18:29,
Just curious... Do you work for LCPS GT placements? Though I want to appeal, I feel skeptical about the chances of a positive outcome. Does any one know such cases where an appeal resulted in a placement in Futura? If so, kindly post the details of what they submitted along with the appeal. I've heard that Fairfax is very considerate of the Parent appeals and almost everyone who appeals gets into the GT program. No idea how far thats true.

No, I do not work for LCPS GT currently. I am the parent of a FUTURA student and am quite familiar with all aspects of the process, as a former gifted teacher. Appeals without an additional test score (WISC-IV) are usually unlikely to reverse decisions. HOWEVER, the reality is that there are numbers in play here. FUTURA targets offering services to the intellectually gifted AND to an additional population who will likely benefit from participating-- they target 10% (while statistically, the gifted population is 3%). There is also a teacher earning a robust salary at each of these centers. They do need to have the numbers to support these teachers, since many, many LCPS schools are at maximum class sizes in traditional classrooms. If they do no have full classes in FUTURA, these teachers are much needed elsewhere.

I have not heard of many decision reversals in recent years, at least in Central Loudoun. I know ten people who have appealed and ten people whose appeals have failed (at least one of whom had, what I would consider, an extremely bright child WITH CogATs and NNATs both in 98th%tile).

This County is full of parents who advocate for their children on every level. A cogent, concise appeal that does not include extreme behavior (I once saw a parent walk in with a 3 foot Tae Kwon Do trophy) is nothing to be ashamed of.

And, 10 days to notify of pursuit of appeal is plenty. Call any psychologist in the area to schedule a WISC-IV. The test takes 2 hours to administer and the psychologist know it "'tis the season." Many are able to give you a score and quick summary on site that day, with the official results coming via email within a week. The full scale IQ and report are a valuable tool to understanding your child and how his/her mind works. It translates to much more than a weapon in the gifted eligibility process.

Good luck!

My DD took the WISC IV, she got a 129 FSIQ. So, does the committee look at the individual categories too? I mean Verbal, Memory, Perception scores etc.? Her 2nd grade teacher and 3rd grade Math enrichment teacher and her OM coach gave recommendation letters. Anything else I can enclose along with the appeal? What do you say her chances are at the appeal?

[Anonymous]

"My DD took the WISC IV, she got a 129 FSIQ. So, does the committee look at the individual categories too? I mean Verbal, Memory, Perception scores etc.? Her 2nd grade teacher and 3rd grade Math enrichment teacher and her OM coach gave recommendation letters. Anything else I can enclose along with the appeal? What do you say her chances are at the appeal?"


Forgot to add :

Cogat 95%ile ; NNAT 96%ile;
WISC IV - 129 FSIQ ; verbal - 98%(130); processing speed - 94%(123); working memory - 94%(123) ; perceptual reasoning - 84%(115);

I personally feel that my DD has been consistent in all the tests, so she should be given a chance in the Loudoun Futura program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"My DD took the WISC IV, she got a 129 FSIQ. So, does the committee look at the individual categories too? I mean Verbal, Memory, Perception scores etc.? Her 2nd grade teacher and 3rd grade Math enrichment teacher and her OM coach gave recommendation letters. Anything else I can enclose along with the appeal? What do you say her chances are at the appeal?"


Forgot to add :

Cogat 95%ile ; NNAT 96%ile;
WISC IV - 129 FSIQ ; verbal - 98%(130); processing speed - 94%(123); working memory - 94%(123) ; perceptual reasoning - 84%(115);

I personally feel that my DD has been consistent in all the tests, so she should be given a chance in the Loudoun Futura program.

I think it can't hurt to submit, since she did not get in the pool with test scores, so that would be new information. Often the kids who got in with test scores, will not benefit as much from additional testing, since they had the scores to begin with. Although the WISC IV scores are good, they may not be high enough to change a decision. My DS is in Futura, he was in the pool and got in last year. As much as he enjoyed it, I really don't think that it is that great of a program and nothing like FCPS. But that is just my opinion.

[Anonymous]

PP, please give concrete examples of your dissatisfaction with the FUTURA programme, thank you.

I have a difficult time with blanket statements so I would be grateful if you could be more specific.

Workload? Subject matter? DC's cohort? Aside from the obvious FCPS AAP centers vs. Loudoun pullout programme, what other differences can you give examples of? Teacher quality? Number of students? Again, I thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP, please give concrete examples of your dissatisfaction with the FUTURA programme, thank you.

I have a difficult time with blanket statements so I would be grateful if you could be more specific.

Workload? Subject matter? DC's cohort? Aside from the obvious FCPS AAP centers vs. Loudoun pullout programme, what other differences can you give examples of? Teacher quality? Number of students? Again, I thank you.

sorry for the blanket statement. Teacher was fantastic and very engaging, DS was interested in subject matter (systems), DC's cohort just fine. Just wish it was more of an all encompassing advanced level learning program like the FCPS centers. While I felt he got something out of it, I am not sure he would have missed it if he did not go. Just trying to say to the pp that while my son enjoyed it, after going through it, I don't think I would disappointed if he had not done it this year. Again, just a my own 2 cents. Never said I was dissatisfied, just not what I would want in a gifted program.

[Anonymous]

So your DS did enjoy it and he got something out of it so that's positive. Maybe I will have to resort to doing an academic enrichment program of my own making in addition to FUTURA. CTY online programs are always so pricey and the family programs are always so far away.

DC did get differentiation beyond my expectations this year with a great teacher. Last year was a completely different story.

[Anonymous]

Good lord, get over yourselves. If your kid fails to get into a gifted program, it's not the end of the world. I'd be amazed if they're well-adjusted in light of the hyper-competitiveness displayed here. My son's in Spectrum, but some of the pretentious attitudes I've witnessed over the years is enough to make me want to vomit. Just let your kids enjoy being young, they have the rest of their lives to be stressed out enough as it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good lord, get over yourselves. If your kid fails to get into a gifted program, it's not the end of the world. I'd be amazed if they're well-adjusted in light of the hyper-competitiveness displayed here. My son's in Spectrum, but some of the pretentious attitudes I've witnessed over the years is enough to make me want to vomit. Just let your kids enjoy being young, they have the rest of their lives to be stressed out enough as it is.

Why would you revive a 5 month old thread just to be snarky? I'm one of the PP's and I opened the thread today hoping there was a useful update or a new question posted about FUTURA. Instead I find your lovely snark. Has it ever occurred to you that some of us just want the best for our bright kids? Why does it make us hyper-competitive?

Besides you sound kind of hypocritical considering that your child is IN the program. Why does it bother you that others would like their children to have that same opportunity?

[Anonymous]

My daughter recently got selected for FUTURA program in Loudoun county while we were in the process of moving to Fairfax county.Any idea if Loudoun county GT selection would be accepted by Fairfax county without evaulation or if evaluation is done, how stringent would that be with the fact that she was already found eligible for the GT program in Loudoun?

I know there is a lot of discussion threads regarding GBRS, Loudoun county doesn't have this GBRS ratings unfortunately..

Any input would be much appreciated and help us move on or hold back our decision..

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

I was in FUTURA, but for some reason I don't remember taking a test and a lot of people are brighter than me

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter recently got selected for FUTURA program in Loudoun county while we were in the process of moving to Fairfax county.Any idea if Loudoun county GT selection would be accepted by Fairfax county without evaulation or if evaluation is done, how stringent would that be with the fact that she was already found eligible for the GT program in Loudoun?

I know there is a lot of discussion threads regarding GBRS, Loudoun county doesn't have this GBRS ratings unfortunately..

Any input would be much appreciated and help us move on or hold back our decision..

Thanks.

I think the cogat and nnat scores could be used, since that is a standardized test, but none of the other material would likely have bearing. I think it would be treated like any other out of area, even out of state, transfer.

Others hopefully know more to help you!

[Anonymous]

So, I read through this forum when I was trying to figure out if I should appeal the futura decision for my son. I just wanted to share my experience for anyone who sees this later…
My son scored 96 on NGAT, 98,95, and 84 on Cogat, so high, but no quite LCPS cutoff… He had previously been in a full time gifted program in another state.
He got into Futura, from my appeal. I put in a parent letter, recommendations from 2 past teachers (we were not in LCPS) and some samples (picture of a couple projects he did, math problem with detailed explaination of how he solved it). I also included test score from the OLSAT that he took at previous school system that he got 99% in. My opinion was that our SEARCH teacher was very poor. She didn't include any of his last schools scores or the fact that he had been in a gifted program at another school. She gave us no information on what to include and had poor communication with us the whole time. In fact we didn't even know his test scores until later! Also, she sent in his current teachers evaluation who had only known my son a couple weeks!
I should also say, we had the wisc done but chose not to submit it since he scored in 98% for verbal and the PR but the memory and speed brought it down to 94. Since I had his OLSAT scores we chose to just submit those instead.
I am not a very pushy parent at all, I rarely even talk to my children's teachers and just let them do their thing, but I felt that he had valid reasons for appealing, so figured he deserved a second look. If you are in a similar boat I would not hesitate to appeal if you have a good reason. Obviously, they do reverse their decisions if you are presenting new information…