Regret prepping for cogat now . . .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
The rule has not changed in the literal sense. In Virginia, "gifted education" is still viewed as special ed in the sense that the children in the program have special needs, which could not be met under a general ed curriculum. But as FCPS has broadened the AAP program to include not only "gifted," but also high achieving kids and smart ones with particularly persistent parents, the special ed justification has become a sham. Now in many ways, it's become an arbitrary separation of kids into have and have-notes.

I think the fact, that many parents don't realize it has changed so much (and I say this has a parent who had a kid in GT when it was GT) is what has kept FCPS from getting in trouble.

From what the parents say here, it does seem to be a different group than when it was GT. It wasn't meant to change though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's a link to a FCPS document that includes an explanation of why the test was changed last year:

http://www.fcps.edu/is/aap/pdfs/FAQre2012CustomizedCogAT.pdf

See fourth paragraph, first sentence:

"FCPS staff members chose to administer the custom form of the CogAT this year after it came to our attention that some students, in previous years, had prepared for the CogAT using the exact form of the CogAT being administered in FCPS."

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Then it's a shame they don't retest the past couple of years of students who didn't have to take the FxAT and who have increased AAP numbers exponentially.

Right, because we all know the best use of the precious amount of classroom time is administering a standardized test.

I don't think they should retest the kids at this point, but not because it would use up time to take a standardized test. Standardized tests are part of modern life on up through graduate/professional school and beyond. It would just be too disruptive to retest kids and take kids out of the program at this point.

No, but parents are saying it's a larger group of kids now because the standards appear to be different. Probably a good idea to get the standards back to what they were when it was about 10% of the student population.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's a link to a FCPS document that includes an explanation of why the test was changed last year:

http://www.fcps.edu/is/aap/pdfs/FAQre2012CustomizedCogAT.pdf

See fourth paragraph, first sentence:

"FCPS staff members chose to administer the custom form of the CogAT this year after it came to our attention that some students, in previous years, had prepared for the CogAT using the exact form of the CogAT being administered in FCPS."

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Then it's a shame they don't retest the past couple of years of students who didn't have to take the FxAT and who have increased AAP numbers exponentially.

Right, because we all know the best use of the precious amount of classroom time is administering a standardized test.

I don't think they should retest the kids at this point, but not because it would use up time to take a standardized test. Standardized tests are part of modern life on up through graduate/professional school and beyond. It would just be too disruptive to retest kids and take kids out of the program at this point.

No, but parents are saying it's a larger group of kids now because the standards appear to be different. Probably a good idea to get the standards back to what they were when it was about 10% of the student population.

FCPS could have easily done that if they wanted. But I asked earlier, why is FCPS AAP office allowing this. Are they hoping that by loosening the standards they can get more balck and Hispanic kids into the program because the NAACP was causing such a fuss? Or maybe bigger program means bigger budgets, more prestige for those running the program? That's the classic bureaucratic imperative -- grow for the sake of growing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
But that's just the thing. It's NOT special ed because it was CHANGED (see above, "rules changed in middle of game" reference) to allow kids who would never qualify for a special education for their giftedness in a MILLION YEARS to get in!

Citation, please as to what was "changed."

[Anonymous]

No time to do your research, PP, but maybe someone on this forum can help. The changes in AAP, have been well-documented though, so I'm sure you'll be able to find what you're looking for. Ask the AART at your kid's school, ask AAP director Carol Horn and they will tell you that the FCPS broadened definition of who needs what was formerly called the gifted and talented program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But, that would amount to changing the rules in the middle of the game.

Gee, that never happens (as we see our national insurance model turned upside down; as my DH faces a layoff due to a merger; as my health-nut aunt is diagnosed with breast cancer; etc. etc.).

There are no guarantees in life.

+100
AAP is an extra, not a guarantee. This is public school, after all. There are other children to think about as well.

I don't think AAP is viewed as an extra in Fairfax County schools. I think it is viewed as similar to special ed so it's a little harder to get rid of.

But that's just the thing. It's NOT special ed because it was CHANGED (see above, "rules changed in middle of game" reference) to allow kids who would never qualify for a special education for their giftedness in a MILLION YEARS to get in! Let's be honest: People who got their smart, but not in any way, shape or form intellectually-gifted children into the currently bloated AAP are the ones who don't want the rules to change.

It's not equitable. It's not fair to equally bright kids in GE and it's not how you run a public education system. It's also potentially discriminatory since not all super-bright FCPS students have an equal chance in the admissions process.

Exactly right. And it's those parents who are most afraid of "the rules changing" because they know their child wouldn't qualify if standards went back to the much tougher ones of a few years back. Or perhaps they're afraid a younger sibling won't get in. Either way, something needs to change. The AAP explosion of the last couple of years needs to be reined in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But, that would amount to changing the rules in the middle of the game.

Gee, that never happens (as we see our national insurance model turned upside down; as my DH faces a layoff due to a merger; as my health-nut aunt is diagnosed with breast cancer; etc. etc.).

There are no guarantees in life.

+100
AAP is an extra, not a guarantee. This is public school, after all. There are other children to think about as well.

I don't think AAP is viewed as an extra in Fairfax County schools. I think it is viewed as similar to special ed so it's a little harder to get rid of.

But that's just the thing. It's NOT special ed because it was CHANGED (see above, "rules changed in middle of game" reference) to allow kids who would never qualify for a special education for their giftedness in a MILLION YEARS to get in! Let's be honest: People who got their smart, but not in any way, shape or form intellectually-gifted children into the currently bloated AAP are the ones who don't want the rules to change.

It's not equitable. It's not fair to equally bright kids in GE and it's not how you run a public education system. It's also potentially discriminatory since not all super-bright FCPS students have an equal chance in the admissions process.

Exactly right. And it's those parents who are most afraid of "the rules changing" because they know their child wouldn't qualify if standards went back to the much tougher ones of a few years back. Or perhaps they're afraid a younger sibling won't get in. Either way, something needs to change. The AAP explosion of the last couple of years needs to be reined in.

Why?

[Anonymous]

http://qz.com/139453/theres-one-key-difference-between-kids-who-excel-at-math-and-those-who-dont/

Settle down ignorati. Prepping is not gaming the system "in the open". Hard work is good in sports and in class, for games and for tests. So settle down. take a little Benadryl for your aversion to hard work and historical preference for centuries longstanding entitlement. Be like Peyton Manning. He does not cheat or game the system through prepping

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But, that would amount to changing the rules in the middle of the game.

Gee, that never happens (as we see our national insurance model turned upside down; as my DH faces a layoff due to a merger; as my health-nut aunt is diagnosed with breast cancer; etc. etc.).

There are no guarantees in life.

+100
AAP is an extra, not a guarantee. This is public school, after all. There are other children to think about as well.

I don't think AAP is viewed as an extra in Fairfax County schools. I think it is viewed as similar to special ed so it's a little harder to get rid of.

But that's just the thing. It's NOT special ed because it was CHANGED (see above, "rules changed in middle of game" reference) to allow kids who would never qualify for a special education for their giftedness in a MILLION YEARS to get in! Let's be honest: People who got their smart, but not in any way, shape or form intellectually-gifted children into the currently bloated AAP are the ones who don't want the rules to change.

It's not equitable. It's not fair to equally bright kids in GE and it's not how you run a public education system. It's also potentially discriminatory since not all super-bright FCPS students have an equal chance in the admissions process.

Exactly right. And it's those parents who are most afraid of "the rules changing" because they know their child wouldn't qualify if standards went back to the much tougher ones of a few years back. Or perhaps they're afraid a younger sibling won't get in. Either way, something needs to change. The AAP explosion of the last couple of years needs to be reined in.

Why?[/quote]

Because it's disruptive to the entire system and not in keeping with the law to bus kids to different schools when their needs can be met perfectly well at their base schools. Big numbers means critical mass. Centers were created because you couldn't get a critical mass of these gifted kids together any other way. Lowering the standards and continued population growth have made it much easier to find a critical mass at many base schools particularly in the north part of the county. So why is it necessary to bust-up school communities and have kids going to school with other kids who live miles from them? Answer: It's not. The default should be to educate children in their local communities as much as possible unless there is a compelling special need --- and that means more than, "my kid gets bored" or "my other child is already in AAP" or" they do it this way in other countries."

[Anonymous]

Be like Peyton and prep. We respect Peyton for the hard work and prep. Be like Peyton.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Be like Peyton and prep. We respect Peyton for the hard work and prep. Be like Peyton.

It's not the same thing. But knowing that requires higher level thinking and a sense of ethics. So sad you feel your child isn't smart enough to do it on his/her own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Be like Peyton and prep. We respect Peyton for the hard work and prep. Be like Peyton.

You are very strange. Is Peyton Manning the only thing you can think of to say? He works hard, practices, and prepares: FOR FOOTBALL. We're talking about 7/8 yr. olds who are supposed to be taking this particular test with no prior exposure to it. Get a grip.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But, that would amount to changing the rules in the middle of the game.

Gee, that never happens (as we see our national insurance model turned upside down; as my DH faces a layoff due to a merger; as my health-nut aunt is diagnosed with breast cancer; etc. etc.).

There are no guarantees in life.

+100
AAP is an extra, not a guarantee. This is public school, after all. There are other children to think about as well.

I don't think AAP is viewed as an extra in Fairfax County schools. I think it is viewed as similar to special ed so it's a little harder to get rid of.

But that's just the thing. It's NOT special ed because it was CHANGED (see above, "rules changed in middle of game" reference) to allow kids who would never qualify for a special education for their giftedness in a MILLION YEARS to get in! Let's be honest: People who got their smart, but not in any way, shape or form intellectually-gifted children into the currently bloated AAP are the ones who don't want the rules to change.

It's not equitable. It's not fair to equally bright kids in GE and it's not how you run a public education system. It's also potentially discriminatory since not all super-bright FCPS students have an equal chance in the admissions process.

Exactly right. And it's those parents who are most afraid of "the rules changing" because they know their child wouldn't qualify if standards went back to the much tougher ones of a few years back. Or perhaps they're afraid a younger sibling won't get in. Either way, something needs to change. The AAP explosion of the last couple of years needs to be reined in.

Why?[/quote]

Because it's disruptive to the entire system and not in keeping with the law to bus kids to different schools when their needs can be met perfectly well at their base schools. Big numbers means critical mass. Centers were created because you couldn't get a critical mass of these gifted kids together any other way. Lowering the standards and continued population growth have made it much easier to find a critical mass at many base schools particularly in the north part of the county. So why is it necessary to bust-up school communities and have kids going to school with other kids who live miles from them? Answer: It's not. The default should be to educate children in their local communities as much as possible unless there is a compelling special need --- and that means more than, "my kid gets bored" or "my other child is already in AAP" or" they do it this way in other countries."

THIS.

[Anonymous]

Do you you think Peyton was smart, strong, and sound enough to do it on his own? Peyton is not a fool, despite QB pedigree, he prepped hard all his life. Only a simpleton can't connect the dots. Of course, there will be those who spawned children with off the chart IQ even while swallowing amniotic fluid in the womb!

[Anonymous]

You are very strange. Is Peyton Manning the only thing you can think of to say? He works hard, practices, and prepares: FOR FOOTBALL. We're talking about 7/8 yr. olds who are supposed to be taking this particular test with no prior exposure to it. Get a grip.

Guess what Peyton Manning (Michael Phelps) were doing for hours each day at 7/8 year of age? Hint: Starbucks coffee and watching soap operas are wrong

Connect the dots.

Don't your kids want to be like Peyton or Mike? Prep and hard work = success (and sometimes luck)

What's strange about this?