Sound off if you think AAP is BS

[Anonymous]

I agree with the original concept - where there exists a very small percentage of kids that have a high IQ and at one time were not able to access a curriculum that met their needs. I do believe maybe *AT MOST* and I'm being generous - 5% of FCPS kids have a very high IQ and have exceptionally gifted capabilities. Those kids should have special resources. Fine.

That being said, the situation that has devolved over the past 3 decades is a joke. I am seeing overbearing parents pushing their kids to steal a ticket into the program and I am getting sick of it. Schools have between 25% - 50% gifted students across the board. What is the point of that?

What if we decided to create a special classroom for children gifted in sports? Why not? Time and time again, those gifted in sports become our brilliant leaders of the future? Why not continue to foster those values in the classroom?

What if we decided to create special classrooms for children gifted in beauty? How would society react to that? One could argue that beauty is a major factor to success. Intelligence is not a definitive indicator of success.

Anyone else see how ridiculous and unequal this has all become? If you don't then please help me understand otherwise.

I am most interested in hearing responses from parents of kids who are non-AAP.

[Anonymous]

My kids are not in AAP. I do think the number of gifted is higher in Fairfax county than other parts of the country. Just look at aptitude percentiles. When you look at FCPS instead of Virginia the percentile goes way down cuz everybody be a smarty pants (Grammatical mistakes intentional).

Both as a former teacher and a parent I can say there is a subset in AAP that should not be there. I have known several parents over the years who's kids scored solidly average on aptitude, etc and they either got a copy of the WISC (cheated) and prepped the kid and then appealed or pulled some other bullshit. In each case the kids was miserable (regular crying, unable to learn at the pace of others) and the parent just continued bragging about their genius. Narcissistic parenting is alive and well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids are not in AAP. I do think the number of gifted is higher in Fairfax county than other parts of the country. Just look at aptitude percentiles. When you look at FCPS instead of Virginia the percentile goes way down cuz everybody be a smarty pants (Grammatical mistakes intentional).

Both as a former teacher and a parent I can say there is a subset in AAP that should not be there. I have known several parents over the years who's kids scored solidly average on aptitude, etc and they either got a copy of the WISC (cheated) and prepped the kid and then appealed or pulled some other bullshit. In each case the kids was miserable (regular crying, unable to learn at the pace of others) and the parent just continued bragging about their genius. Narcissistic parenting is alive and well.

Thank you for this post. Sometimes I feel like I'm losing my mind with this stuff.

[Anonymous]

It's BS because the curriculum is something that should be used in every single classroom in FCPS. It's not a special curriculum for the highly gifted.
It can easily be used in every GenEd class.

What they should have is one center for extremely gifted kids. Kids that are off the charts intelligent that simply cannot function in a regular classroom. Implement a curriculum for them that is truly for highly gifted kids.

The kids in the current AAP would be absolutely fine with the rest of their peers and their peers would do absolutely fine with the current AAP curriculum.

It's has turned into a circus like competition that simply lowers the learning standards for the rest of the general FCPS community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's BS because the curriculum is something that should be used in every single classroom in FCPS. It's not a special curriculum for the highly gifted.
It can easily be used in every GenEd class.

What they should have is one center for extremely gifted kids. Kids that are off the charts intelligent that simply cannot function in a regular classroom. Implement a curriculum for them that is truly for highly gifted kids.

The kids in the current AAP would be absolutely fine with the rest of their peers and their peers would do absolutely fine with the current AAP curriculum.

It's has turned into a circus like competition that simply lowers the learning standards for the rest of the general FCPS community.

+1,000,000 Standing ovation.

[Anonymous]

In my kids school, many of the AAP kids have marginal test scores but very high GRBS scores. Those are also the kids whose parents brown nose the AAP administrator. Hmmmm......

[Anonymous]

I will report from MoCo, where the gifted program is in fact as small as you suggest (a couple of kids get selected from each elementary tops). Helicoptet parents here also prep their kids way beyond what the schools want them to do. But it is probably a saner system because most everyone who gets left behind in the home school is pretty bright too, and an excellent education isn't reserved only for those called gifted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I will report from MoCo, where the gifted program is in fact as small as you suggest (a couple of kids get selected from each elementary tops). Helicoptet parents here also prep their kids way beyond what the schools want them to do. But it is probably a saner system because most everyone who gets left behind in the home school is pretty bright too, and an excellent education isn't reserved only for those called gifted.

I wish fcps would run things the same way as MoCo. This seems way more reasonable and fair.

[Anonymous]

Talk about selection bias. If you don't have first hand experience with AAP, then no, you won't really see the benefits of the program. Some kids need it badly (I have one, who is 2e and now at TJ), some kids benefit from it, but would probably be fine in GE (I have one of these too). And some kids are prepped, pushed and forced in when they aren't ready-- which is the fault of parents and not the school system. I think FCPS errs on the side of overly inclusive, and gets all of group one and a reasonable chunk of group 2. The downside is that yes, sometimes they get group 3. But I don't know what they can reasonable do to prevent it.

I like the inclusiveness, because I do think kids who can handle advanced material should get it, even if they don't need it. I think it's better than MCPS, where kids are fighting for a limited number of seats, and lots of kids who can benefit don't get services.

The two problems: (1) it may not be inclusive enough. There are kids who can benefit who are missed. I like the idea of level V services for kids, like DC1, who need the extra. And serving them at a handful of standalone centers or schools within a school. And making level IV even bigger to get more of the kids who can benefit, like DC2. And serving them at their base schools, except in areas where there aren't enough to get a full class. (2) kids being prepped for the tests and forced in when they are not ready. On this, I got nothing.

So, rather than griping, what are your solutions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Talk about selection bias. If you don't have first hand experience with AAP, then no, you won't really see the benefits of the program. Some kids need it badly (I have one, who is 2e and now at TJ), some kids benefit from it, but would probably be fine in GE (I have one of these too). And some kids are prepped, pushed and forced in when they aren't ready-- which is the fault of parents and not the school system. I think FCPS errs on the side of overly inclusive, and gets all of group one and a reasonable chunk of group 2. The downside is that yes, sometimes they get group 3. But I don't know what they can reasonable do to prevent it.

I like the inclusiveness, because I do think kids who can handle advanced material should get it, even if they don't need it. I think it's better than MCPS, where kids are fighting for a limited number of seats, and lots of kids who can benefit don't get services.

The two problems: (1) it may not be inclusive enough. There are kids who can benefit who are missed. I like the idea of level V services for kids, like DC1, who need the extra. And serving them at a handful of standalone centers or schools within a school. And making level IV even bigger to get more of the kids who can benefit, like DC2. And serving them at their base schools, except in areas where there aren't enough to get a full class. (2) kids being prepped for the tests and forced in when they are not ready. On this, I got nothing.

So, rather than griping, what are your solutions.

This is actually the sanest and most rational post of this thread.

Unless OP is looking for a bash fest full of sour grapes, there is nothing more to be said on the topic after this post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's BS because the curriculum is something that should be used in every single classroom in FCPS. It's not a special curriculum for the highly gifted.
It can easily be used in every GenEd class.

What they should have is one center for extremely gifted kids. Kids that are off the charts intelligent that simply cannot function in a regular classroom. Implement a curriculum for them that is truly for highly gifted kids.

The kids in the current AAP would be absolutely fine with the rest of their peers and their peers would do absolutely fine with the current AAP curriculum.

It's has turned into a circus like competition that simply lowers the learning standards for the rest of the general FCPS community.

This.

[Anonymous]

Even if some parents push kids who don't belong into AAP, AAP is a net benefit to FCPS and the county. Just look how top schools in FCPS match up against Yorktown, the wealthiest school in Arlington.

National Merit Semifinalists 2017: Langley 15, McLean 13, Woodson 13, Madison 10, Oakton 7, Marshall 2, Yorktown 1
National Merit Semifinalists 2016: McLean 16, Madison 12, Oakton 7, Langley 6, Woodson 5, Marshall 5, Yorktown 2

Overall performance on SOLs in 2015-16

Langley
Marshall
McLean
West Springfield
Woodson
Madison
Oakton
Chantilly
Yorktown

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's BS because the curriculum is something that should be used in every single classroom in FCPS. It's not a special curriculum for the highly gifted.
It can easily be used in every GenEd class.

What they should have is one center for extremely gifted kids. Kids that are off the charts intelligent that simply cannot function in a regular classroom. Implement a curriculum for them that is truly for highly gifted kids.

The kids in the current AAP would be absolutely fine with the rest of their peers and their peers would do absolutely fine with the current AAP curriculum.

It's has turned into a circus like competition that simply lowers the learning standards for the rest of the general FCPS community.

+1,000,000 Standing ovation.

Agree. Take a bow, PP. (And PS- my DD made "the pool" but we didn't pursue it).

[Anonymous]

When you have 25 - 50% in AAP, the term "gifted" has lost all meaning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When you have 25 - 50% in AAP, the term "gifted" has lost all meaning.

It is not a gifted program. FCPS did away with its gifted program (in early 2000s??). Now it is Advanced Academics. There is a difference - AAP is intended to be more inclusive. It is not intended to be only for the gifted. So gifted still has its meaning - it just doesn't apply to FCPS AAP.