FCPS school authority hierarchy

[Anonymous]

6:57–why are you continuing with the same overly dramatic post? It’s there 3 times in an hour. FCPS ruined your life. We got it.

[Anonymous]

I remember this posted. She posted before and gave the WISC and was told it was not high enough and none of the other stuff mattered because the decision was correct based on the WISC. She won’t give it again here because she will get the same advice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What were the WISC scores? Did I miss that post!

You didn’t miss it. She never gave them but did say that the scores were borderline, so probably 120-130 range. it sounds like bad GBRS, the emphasis on a bad 2nd Grade teacher, borderline test scores, and a perfectly good WISC but not high enough to get into AAP. The Math and Reading tutor bit sounds a whole lot like someone who posted a thread on this in AAP during the appeals period.

OP: Ask for a CogAT retake and hope for better GBRSs with a different teacher. See what happens. Or look at a private school.

—— Thanks. Correct, and after appeals I had additional professional view the teacher evaluation downgraded even reading level...
On my own, I was tracking math only.

I looked at all available private and catholic school options over summer. They don’t work due to preventive price or curriculum or class size issues.

More than anything, I need to learn to let it go.

I’ll see about cogat retake. He is not a good test taker - skips questions. My focus these days is to set up and go through adhd evaluations and rule it out or deal with it depending on findings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have an issue raised at principal level with multiple layers to it.

The resolution proposed by the principal is not satisfactory and lacks rational justification.

What is the next level (and the entire ladder) of authority to help us look at it?

I really do not want to out this matter for public discussion even as I feel strongly about being discriminated.

Thanks for the advice.

If this is a serious matter you want to get addressed, get your lawyer involved from the get go.
I am not saying go ahead and sue them, but talk to them involving your lawyer early before it is too late.
FCPS functions very differently than what they say and what they put out there.
Once they bite you, they will not let you go, but make your life a hell.
Just be careful how you go about this.
Sharing from my own experience. There were so many things I would have done differently if I had known what I know now.

—- what happened? Links on dcum?

[Anonymous]

I’d leave it alone. I thought my child would easily get in but she was denied. We didn’t even appeal because my older child went through gen ed and I was not sure I even wanted her in the AAP program. It doesn’t matter that much. All classes are open enrollment in high school. Parents and students students calm down and stop talking about who’s in AAP by 5th grade. At least that’s what happened in our area. It was only a huge issue in 3rd and worst the summer before. I would not escalate. Apply again next year if you are still interested.

[Anonymous]

Teacher, here. OP, you’re the one we all talk about in the break room. For the sake of your kid, just stop.

[Anonymous]

OP, I get why the score error is upsetting to you, and I think everyone else here would be upset as well. It still sounds like even with the correct scores, your child wouldn't have been found eligible. For principal placement, there are going to be a lot of bright kids, and it's likely that they're picking the ones who are the best behaved and most motivated. It doesn't sound like your son fits that bill, either.

Yes, a lot of parents complain that AAP isn't challenging enough, but that doesn't mean that GE will be awful. I have a kid in each one, and my view is that AAP isn't challenging enough because it isn't that different from GE with advanced math, highest reading group, and LIII pullout. My GE kid will be rejoining AAP for middle school, and I have no doubts that he will be able to keep up with the AAP kids.

[Anonymous]

If CogAT was 120-ish and WISC was 120-ish, then I wouldn't expect CogAT in 3rd grade to be that much higher. I also wouldn't assume that your child simply isn't a good test taker, but rather perhaps his actual ability level is accurately 120-ish. I'm not saying this to bash your child. If you turn away from the dcum craziness, a 120+ IQ is a very solid score indicating a child bright enough to be successful in any field.

If you're actually seeing red flags for ADHD, then by all means do an evaluation. If you're hunting for a reason that your child wasn't AAP material, then please stop.

[Anonymous]

I’ll see about cogat retake. He is not a good test taker - skips questions.

Maybe he skips them because he is uncertain. Or, maybe it is an indicator he is not ready for an accelerated class.

It's been a long time since my kids took it--but I don't think I had that kind of information (skipping questions). They tell you that now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What were the WISC scores? Did I miss that post!

You didn’t miss it. She never gave them but did say that the scores were borderline, so probably 120-130 range. it sounds like bad GBRS, the emphasis on a bad 2nd Grade teacher, borderline test scores, and a perfectly good WISC but not high enough to get into AAP. The Math and Reading tutor bit sounds a whole lot like someone who posted a thread on this in AAP during the appeals period.

OP: Ask for a CogAT retake and hope for better GBRSs with a different teacher. See what happens. Or look at a private school.

—— Thanks. Correct, and after appeals I had additional professional view the teacher evaluation downgraded even reading level...
On my own, I was tracking math only.

I looked at all available private and catholic school options over summer. They don’t work due to preventive price or curriculum or class size issues.

More than anything, I need to learn to let it go.

I’ll see about cogat retake. He is not a good test taker - skips questions. My focus these days is to set up and go through adhd evaluations and rule it out or deal with it depending on findings.

Sure, but the WISC was given one-on-one, and you haven’t posted that score. It’s the most comprehensive assessment he’s been given. My guess is that he is right where he should be.

[Anonymous]

OP,

It is time to be objective. What have you shown the principal that would indicate he/she should put your child in AAP?

test scores below the cutoff
questionable evaluations by the teacher

And, who was the person who evaluated your child for reading? A retired teacher, family member? Friend?

Also, remember, that many kids are reading above grade level--even those in gen ed. Reading level is an average. Everyone does not read at the same level, so most are above or below. Only a few are right on the target. If your child attends a fairly affluent school, then most are likely above level.

[Anonymous]

The OP had a long thread in the AAP forum during appeals. The reading was evaluated by a former FCPS teacher who was tutoring the child. The WISC was not at 132.

This is the case of a smart kid who is not testing high enough and showing the initiative in the classroom that they are looking for in AAP. The fact that the kid does better in tutoring but does not show that same ability in the classroom is problematic. it might be a sign of ADHD, the child does better ina 1 on 1 environment with individualized attention then in a classroom with a lot of distractions.

But the bigger issue seems to be a parent who is insisting that their kid belongs in category X and not accepting that their child for who their child is. Why is a bright kid who is not really struggling in school in tutoring for subjects that the child is performing well in?

I understand wanting your child to have access to all possible opportunities but Mom seems to be over focused on this one issue.

Hopefully her child gets level III pull outs for math, maybe in the AAP class. But I would be surprised to hear that the child makes it into AAP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The OP had a long thread in the AAP forum during appeals. The reading was evaluated by a former FCPS teacher who was tutoring the child. The WISC was not at 132.

This is the case of a smart kid who is not testing high enough and showing the initiative in the classroom that they are looking for in AAP. The fact that the kid does better in tutoring but does not show that same ability in the classroom is problematic. it might be a sign of ADHD, the child does better ina 1 on 1 environment with individualized attention then in a classroom with a lot of distractions.

But the bigger issue seems to be a parent who is insisting that their kid belongs in category X and not accepting that their child for who their child is. Why is a bright kid who is not really struggling in school in tutoring for subjects that the child is performing well in?

I understand wanting your child to have access to all possible opportunities but Mom seems to be over focused on this one issue.

Hopefully her child gets level III pull outs for math, maybe in the AAP class. But I would be surprised to hear that the child makes it into AAP.

This is where the damage will happen OP, not from being in Gen Ed

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have an issue raised at principal level with multiple layers to it.

The resolution proposed by the principal is not satisfactory and lacks rational justification.

What is the next level (and the entire ladder) of authority to help us look at it?

I really do not want to out this matter for public discussion even as I feel strongly about being discriminated.

Thanks for the advice.

If this is a serious matter you want to get addressed, get your lawyer involved from the get go.
I am not saying go ahead and sue them, but talk to them involving your lawyer early before it is too late.
FCPS functions very differently than what they say and what they put out there.
Once they bite you, they will not let you go, but make your life a hell.
Just be careful how you go about this.
Sharing from my own experience. There were so many things I would have done differently if I had known what I know now.

—- what happened? Links on dcum?

Check the Lake Braddock (sp) topic. FCPS has bullied all of her kids. They lied about their kids reading level, tried to deny them access to AAP, don’t send the proper transcripts, don’t send awards. One daughter was bullied by teachers at four schools over the course of her entire academic career because the adminstrators told the teachers to do so. Filed a complaint with the Department of Education.

[Anonymous]

We found the 2nd grade teachers were the weakest. Teachers were much stronger in K, 1st, 3rd, 4th. Relax. See how your kid connects with this year's teacher. FCPS tends to be more academically intense in 3rd grade, since it's the first year of SOLs.