Fairfax County GT/AAP Appeals.

[Anonymous]

The average IQ score is 100, so a WISC score of 130 is in the 98%-- certainly "above average." Presumably, everyone is on this board because they are concerned or uncertain about AAP appeals-- I know that it's not a topic I would bring up at the bus stop. So maybe show a little more support and be a little less snarky?

[Anonymous]

I understand what you are saying and I also think that you are right and your DD would do wonderfully in the center. BUT....looks like she might not make it in on appeal ( from your description) and that's hard and feels unfair to you. I get it. Your job now is to work on how you can re- frame this for her. I have one at the center and one not. We have always said it's about how you learn - not how " smart" you are. yes, maybe score to score one is a bit higher but they were never told their scores and we never let one say they are smarter and always highlight both their strengths. No big heads allowed and it works for us. Again, I feel for you but she is always going to have someone do better than her in something. It is how you frame it. Hope you can let it go and have a nice summer!

[Anonymous]

I think the venting parent's daughter is definitely going to get in on appeal. My understanding is those WISC scores (130 FS, 132 Verbal, etc) are about average FOR THOSE KIDS IN THE PROGRAM. I hope that parent will let us know on this forum when they hear, either way (although I could see why he/she might not be interested in sharing any more info here, just to have her head cut off again).

The class testing system (Cogat, Nag) is problematic in many ways. There is no reason to feel badly about using the appeals process. That's why they have an appeals process - they are aware the screening is a crude method, and are open to more specific, validated information. Approx. 40% get in on appeal. There is a reason for that.

Just because the word "appeal" is used by FCPS, this is nothing like suing with a lawyer, and no one who appeals is some kind of criminal.

The sad thing to me about the appeals process is that many other kids who didnt get pool scores but would turn out to have high IQs will not be included because many parents either A) don't know about the appeals process B) know but can't afford the $300- $400 for a WISC, or C) know but are too ashamed to appeal because of pressure from an uninformed but highly judgmental community.

I'm not sure who all these angry parents are on this forum topic, and why they would spend time reading and commenting, if they believe the whole appeals process is stupid.

[Anonymous]

Could these judgmental parents start their own thread? "The Appeals Process for AAP is Stupid, and Any Parents Who Appeal are Pushy Show-Offs Who Only Want to Brag About Their Smarty-Pants Kid and Are Likely to Sue."

Except then they would only have themselves to talk with, and could only make fun of those parents in general, rather than getting the rush of being personally judgmental and mean to anyone brave enough to post their personal situations here.

These forums used to be more informative and much less judgmental. there may have been one or two snarky comments, but nothing like the past year or two. Whew. Look back over previous years.

[Anonymous]

Venting poster here. Thank you so much to the most of you with kind words and encouragement! We know DD may not make the pool this year, but our base school has LL4, and so we know who her teachers would be, (through DS) and many of the kids who would be in her class. I did file a request, including her WISC scores that she be placed into LLv if there are any open seats. DD is not selected, then I have no intention of storming the principal's office or suing anyone, or being nasty to the parents whose kids are in the class. As I said, I just wanted to make sure that the committee had the info they needed to make a good decision. Also, DD has no idea she was in the o

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just want to vent for a minute. My DS is a rising 5th grader and is in AAP Level 4. He's a very bright kid, and has needed the extra challenge to be successful (he was having problems with reading in class, not paying attention, etc. in first and second grade). This year, my DD is going through the AAP process. Her scores on the CogAT and NNAT were nearly the same as her brother's (about 128 on each--his verbal subtest on the CogAt was over 150, which put him in the pool his year), but this year, her almost identical scores did not get DD in the pool. I parent referred her, and when she didn't get in, appealed her with a WISC score (130 FS; 132 VC; 129 PR; WM 113; 115 PS). Her GBRS is 10. Having watched my son for 2 years, I believe that she can do the work, and I don't want her to believe she is "less smart" than her brother. I have been amazed how many people, on this board and in real life, have mean things to say about parents who AAP appeal-- although I am certainly not out in the community advertising that we are. I am not trying to push my daughter into an ivy league college and I don't need the bragging rights-- my kids are amazing, smart funny, kind little people no matter what their academic label. And I don't think I am trying to get a second bite at the apple for her, or some sort of unfair advantage. The psychologist who tested her said that the WISC (esp. Verbal reasoning) is a much better indicator of academic success than the CogAT, or especially the NNAT (which apparrently people are "prepping" their kids for), but that the County can't afford to individually administer the WISC to all 2nd graders. I just want to make sure that whoever makes her decison has the information they need to make a good one. So, why the hating on parents who appeal AAP decisions? Some of us are more interested in making sure our kids are properly placed, than we are in bragging at the pool this summer. And who doesn't want to make sure that their child is placed in the appropriate classroom for their learning style?

There's only one weird individual hating appealing. Don't mind that.
Appeal is just a part of the process. You just play by the rule.
Your DS seems to be a borderline case.
If don't make it this year, try next year.
Try to put her in local level IV (depends on your school), or at least level III
Get new GBRS, and try again.

[Anonymous]

I have been on this forum for two years now, and there's only one very strange individual extremely against appealing for some strange reason.
She/he showed up on this thread.

[Anonymous]

Can someone provide a link to a sample appeal letter. thanks

[Anonymous]

Any chance for GBRS of 6 with strong WISC? I'm trying get see if it's worth for us to even try. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

if you think your kid belongs in app, appeal. since when do people (selection cmte) who dont even know my kid, know better than I, the parent?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any chance for GBRS of 6 with strong WISC? I'm trying get see if it's worth for us to even try. Thanks.

Same boat here. Appeal anyway. For a kid with high WISC and in pool by testing results, the 6 may indicate the lack of knowledge of the raters about our kids. Kids with high ability but low achievement may indicate that the teaching method is WRONG!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can someone provide a link to a sample appeal letter. thanks

There might be a sample out there somewhere, but what you really need to do is write about your own child and why he or she needs the AAP. The letter really should be personal and contain detail about your child and how your child learns, the kind of detail that only you as the parent can know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any chance for GBRS of 6 with strong WISC? I'm trying get see if it's worth for us to even try. Thanks.

Same boat here. Appeal anyway. For a kid with high WISC and in pool by testing results, the 6 may indicate the lack of knowledge of the raters about our kids. Kids with high ability but low achievement may indicate that the teaching method is WRONG!

I understand and agree. I would assume when you're writing your appeal that the committee will assume extensive test prep generated the scores. I would look for evidence that would show that your child excels places outside of school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:if you think your kid belongs in app, appeal. since when do people (selection cmte) who dont even know my kid, know better than I, the parent?[/quote]

with respect to slection for AAP, pretty much all the time I would think.

[Anonymous]

I read the comments on GBRS and they are assuming that my child was prepared. The evidence that my kid already knew the math facts ahead of school instruction, did a word question that needs multi-step algebraic thinking independently, were all used to hint that he was prepared. God knows this child may have ADHD and has never listened. How on earth could you prepare a child like that? I really hope that the teachers try to prepare a 7 year old to do algebra to see if an ordinary kid without the 130+ IQ can do it..