Loudoun County FUTURA decisions

[Anonymous]

Very interesting thread, and appreciate all the inputs. I got the Gifted Education Services District Referral Form in the mail earlier this week for my son. Referral is based on Test Scores(99%CoGAT 99%NNAT). It also came with a SIGS form, which I'm supposed to evaluate my son with extremely biased views????? This can't be weighed in heavily in the decision process.....someone 2nd me on this? I moved from Fairfax County, and I heard from FCPS parents that 7-page(or 5) write-up is a must......hmmmm

[Anonymous]

Agree wholeheartedly with the comment above. I can't fathom that the SIGS questionnaire and "unbiased" parental input could be weighed heavily in the decision. Makes me wonder about brilliant children who don't have strong parental advocates because of their own personal, financial, or other issues. I would hope a child who tested off the charts would be accepted to the program despite not having brilliantly crafted portfolios created by their parents. I, for one, will not be scoring my child with all 4's on this questionnaire. I mean, rate how my child "Seeks to understand why people, cultures, or groups act the way they do" and "Desires to develop solutions to social problems." Really? He's 8. He gets upset when I make him go to sleep at bedtime or when I limit his Xbox time. I just don't think 8 year-olds are contemplating solutions to the problems in Syria, for example.
I'm not trying to be snarky here, I just don't get this SIGS form.

[Anonymous]

We just submitted our Parent View to the search teacher for Futura this year. Does the parent view get shared with the class teacher as well? Just want to understand whether the class teacher does an independent review for the SIGS Form and the letter of recommendation or she gets to see the parent view that is also submitted in?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We just submitted our Parent View to the search teacher for Futura this year. Does the parent view get shared with the class teacher as well? Just want to understand whether the class teacher does an independent review for the SIGS Form and the letter of recommendation or she gets to see the parent view that is also submitted in?

I don't think the teacher views the parent form. He/she will do their own independent SIGS form. They are all submitted to search teacher along with the Search portfolio and test scores to make the packet that the committee will review.

[Anonymous]

I was told when I was going through this process that the SIGS form is really a curtesy to the parents. I think to make them feel like they can tell their side of the story. I think any samples you can attach are more important that the actual scores you give on various areas. Try to show higher level thinking in your samples you give. But, getting in is based on 3 areas…test scores, the teachers form they fill out and the Searchs teachers samples she submits.
Hope that helps…good luck

[Anonymous]

The letter came today. I wasn't expecting it quite so early!

[Anonymous]

The SIGS form is super dumb. It's the same form for teachers and parents. It makes sense for teachers to fill it out because they are less likely to be biased, and have more knowledge of how a typical kid behaves. I didn't know how I was supposed to compare my child to the hypothetical average same age peer. It's not like I have in depth conversations on a regular basis with other children. And even if I did, it wouldn't be all that helpful because my child is friends with mainly bright/gifted kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The SIGS form is super dumb. It's the same form for teachers and parents. It makes sense for teachers to fill it out because they are less likely to be biased, and have more knowledge of how a typical kid behaves. I didn't know how I was supposed to compare my child to the hypothetical average same age peer. It's not like I have in depth conversations on a regular basis with other children. And even if I did, it wouldn't be all that helpful because my child is friends with mainly bright/gifted kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The SIGS form is super dumb. It's the same form for teachers and parents. It makes sense for teachers to fill it out because they are less likely to be biased, and have more knowledge of how a typical kid behaves. I didn't know how I was supposed to compare my child to the hypothetical average same age peer. It's not like I have in depth conversations on a regular basis with other children. And even if I did, it wouldn't be all that helpful because my child is friends with mainly bright/gifted kids.

You can roll your eyes all you want, but he has three close friends, two are gifted identified, and the third is not identified as gifted but is a straight A student. Kids tend to hang out with children who are like them, just as adults do.

[Anonymous]

Curious if any one is going through the appeal process for FUTURA? Could you provide some examples of work samples to submit for this process in case you have found this info either from your research or through talking to people? Are the worksheets from the class on which the teacher had some great commments a good example?

[Anonymous]

I do not have personal experience with an appeal or reapplying. I have heard that very few students are found eligible with an appeal. If you have not done so already, you would need to see the packet to see what areas were NOT found eligible. If it is test scores, then obviously a good WISC score would help. If it is teacher recommendation, then maybe letters from other teachers that work with the child (has to be from non LCPS teachers). If it is the portfolio then some critical/creative thinking activities. I do know of a few students that were not found eligible with an appeal, but were found eligible the next year when they resubmitted an application. So if the appeal is not successful this year, you may want to resubmit next year. Sorry I could not be more help.

[Anonymous]

Thank you very much for the response. The test scores are not a problem, but the other two areas are not high enough, though close. Anyway, it is good to know from your reply that there is a chance of success when we reapply next year. Appreciate your time in answering my question.

[Anonymous]

Our child has just recently been found eligible after my wife and I made an appeal. At first, we were debating whether to let him undergo another intellectual test like WISC but decided against it because he scored 98% in NNAT2 and we felt another test score wouldn't make a difference. In the end, we put together a recommendation letter from an adult (his aunt, who wrote a well-crafted letter), 3 art works (from school and private art class) and a unique material which our son created himself, a 2-page Book of Jokes. All people we shared his jokes with before laughed hysterically and I think that must have been the reaction of the committee members as well. Bottom line, if you're going to make an appeal, based on our experience, it would really help, I believe, if there's at least one well-written recommendation letter and a creative/unique/unusual work of the student. I think the committee is looking for something that would make the student stand out. Just my 2 cents. BTW, we prayed for God to give us wisdom and my wife suddenly had the insight to ask our child to compile his jokes together

[Anonymous]

Congratulations PP! It is very nice to know that your son was accepted into FUTURA and to know that the appeals do work.
One question - is his aunt a teacher? what would you think should be highlighted in the recommendation letter? Do skills like music, dance and crafts count or should the recommendation letter be focused on academics?

[Anonymous]

Is there a sample of how to fill out SIGS form and provide optional evidence for Maths, Science etc?