Level IV AAP Courses at Cooper MS Next School Year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh, I see, reason is defined as the assertions made by someone who agrees with you. Got it.

So, by that "logic," you're saying that only people you disagree with are voices of reason? Weird.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Thanks for posting this-more objective evidence finally about what is being said. Everyone should read before they comment further.

How is a Washington Post article about Catherine Lorenze objective evidence?

Objective evidence would consist of information on class sizes, spending per student and test scores in different schools, not (unsuccessful) pandering to rich people who like to feel imposed upon because they pay taxes.

[Anonymous]

I realize this thread is a bit old, but hoping to get some updated intel on the AAP/Level IV situation at Cooper MS.

I understand they have been trying to implement a Level IV/AAP center there for some years now, but they still have not been designated as a center. We just moved into the Cooper district from another FCPS pyramid. As far as we can see, though not a center, Cooper is operating a Level IV program that is exclusive to students who have been determined Level IV eligible - that is, centrally eligible (as opposed to at the school level). The program is not open to students who were "principal designees" in the local level IV programs at their elementary schools. Cooper's principal indicated that this is a hard and fast criteria and that NO local level IV designees - even those who have been in Level IV classes since 3rd grade and have performed well - are eligible for Cooper's Level IV program. No exceptions (so she says). There's actually a box for Level IV eligibility to check on the course selection sheet when enrolling. They still run Honors classes, separate and apart from the Level IV program (except Honors math is the same class as Level IV math, separate from Algebra), but I understand that the Level IV students are given the opportunity to participate in more large-scale projects and field trips associated with those, etc. and are clustered together as they would be in a center.

Has anyone else heard of or experienced this at Cooper? How is this permissible, if Cooper is not a center? At best, they can arguably be running a "local level IV" program, but if that's the case, how can they restrict students who were local level IV students at the elementary level from participating?

[Anonymous]

Site based management.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I realize this thread is a bit old, but hoping to get some updated intel on the AAP/Level IV situation at Cooper MS.

I understand they have been trying to implement a Level IV/AAP center there for some years now, but they still have not been designated as a center. We just moved into the Cooper district from another FCPS pyramid. As far as we can see, though not a center, Cooper is operating a Level IV program that is exclusive to students who have been determined Level IV eligible - that is, centrally eligible (as opposed to at the school level). The program is not open to students who were "principal designees" in the local level IV programs at their elementary schools. Cooper's principal indicated that this is a hard and fast criteria and that NO local level IV designees - even those who have been in Level IV classes since 3rd grade and have performed well - are eligible for Cooper's Level IV program. No exceptions (so she says). There's actually a box for Level IV eligibility to check on the course selection sheet when enrolling. They still run Honors classes, separate and apart from the Level IV program (except Honors math is the same class as Level IV math, separate from Algebra), but I understand that the Level IV students are given the opportunity to participate in more large-scale projects and field trips associated with those, etc. and are clustered together as they would be in a center.

Has anyone else heard of or experienced this at Cooper? How is this permissible, if Cooper is not a center? At best, they can arguably be running a "local level IV" program, but if that's the case, how can they restrict students who were local level IV students at the elementary level from participating?

Regarding the bolded, if this is going on, it needs to stop. There is no way AAP kids should be getting any more resources than General Ed or Honors students. SO sick of the blatant inequity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I realize this thread is a bit old, but hoping to get some updated intel on the AAP/Level IV situation at Cooper MS.

I understand they have been trying to implement a Level IV/AAP center there for some years now, but they still have not been designated as a center. We just moved into the Cooper district from another FCPS pyramid. As far as we can see, though not a center, Cooper is operating a Level IV program that is exclusive to students who have been determined Level IV eligible - that is, centrally eligible (as opposed to at the school level). The program is not open to students who were "principal designees" in the local level IV programs at their elementary schools. Cooper's principal indicated that this is a hard and fast criteria and that NO local level IV designees - even those who have been in Level IV classes since 3rd grade and have performed well - are eligible for Cooper's Level IV program. No exceptions (so she says). There's actually a box for Level IV eligibility to check on the course selection sheet when enrolling. They still run Honors classes, separate and apart from the Level IV program (except Honors math is the same class as Level IV math, separate from Algebra), but I understand that the Level IV students are given the opportunity to participate in more large-scale projects and field trips associated with those, etc. and are clustered together as they would be in a center.

Has anyone else heard of or experienced this at Cooper? How is this permissible, if Cooper is not a center? At best, they can arguably be running a "local level IV" program, but if that's the case, how can they restrict students who were local level IV students at the elementary level from participating?

Regarding the bolded, if this is going on, it needs to stop. There is no way AAP kids should be getting any more resources than General Ed or Honors students. SO sick of the blatant inequity.

They don't. Large scale projects are long term academic assignments. I'm sure if your DC wants to get a copy of the rubric and add a science fair project onto their academic load, their teacher will allow it. Field trips these days are funded by the students themselve-- down to the cost of the buses. Which is why we send in $6 checks for trips to the Smithsonian. LLIV does not cost $1 more than honors or gen Ed. At the classroom level. Here's hat needs to stop-- GE parents whining about AAP students being bused to Centers and saying they should stay at their base school AND ALSO whining when the students stay at their base school at an LLIV program. AAP (gifted education) is the law-- it has to go somewhere. If you don't want centers, and you don'T want base schools, what do you want (we know-- your child to be in the program, or for it to be disbanded. Not going to happen).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I realize this thread is a bit old, but hoping to get some updated intel on the AAP/Level IV situation at Cooper MS.

I understand they have been trying to implement a Level IV/AAP center there for some years now, but they still have not been designated as a center. We just moved into the Cooper district from another FCPS pyramid. As far as we can see, though not a center, Cooper is operating a Level IV program that is exclusive to students who have been determined Level IV eligible - that is, centrally eligible (as opposed to at the school level). The program is not open to students who were "principal designees" in the local level IV programs at their elementary schools. Cooper's principal indicated that this is a hard and fast criteria and that NO local level IV designees - even those who have been in Level IV classes since 3rd grade and have performed well - are eligible for Cooper's Level IV program. No exceptions (so she says). There's actually a box for Level IV eligibility to check on the course selection sheet when enrolling. They still run Honors classes, separate and apart from the Level IV program (except Honors math is the same class as Level IV math, separate from Algebra), but I understand that the Level IV students are given the opportunity to participate in more large-scale projects and field trips associated with those, etc. and are clustered together as they would be in a center.

Has anyone else heard of or experienced this at Cooper? How is this permissible, if Cooper is not a center? At best, they can arguably be running a "local level IV" program, but if that's the case, how can they restrict students who were local level IV students at the elementary level from participating?

Regarding the bolded, if this is going on, it needs to stop. There is no way AAP kids should be getting any more resources than General Ed or Honors students. SO sick of the blatant inequity.

They don't. Large scale projects are long term academic assignments. I'm sure if your DC wants to get a copy of the rubric and add a science fair project onto their academic load, their teacher will allow it. Field trips these days are funded by the students themselve-- down to the cost of the buses. Which is why we send in $6 checks for trips to the Smithsonian. LLIV does not cost $1 more than honors or gen Ed. At the classroom level. Here's hat needs to stop-- GE parents whining about AAP students being bused to Centers and saying they should stay at their base school AND ALSO whining when the students stay at their base school at an LLIV program. AAP (gifted education) is the law-- it has to go somewhere. If you don't want centers, and you don'T want base schools, what do you want (we know-- your child to be in the program, or for it to be disbanded. Not going to happen).

Absolute B.S. and everyone is aware of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I realize this thread is a bit old, but hoping to get some updated intel on the AAP/Level IV situation at Cooper MS.

I understand they have been trying to implement a Level IV/AAP center there for some years now, but they still have not been designated as a center. We just moved into the Cooper district from another FCPS pyramid. As far as we can see, though not a center, Cooper is operating a Level IV program that is exclusive to students who have been determined Level IV eligible - that is, centrally eligible (as opposed to at the school level). The program is not open to students who were "principal designees" in the local level IV programs at their elementary schools. Cooper's principal indicated that this is a hard and fast criteria and that NO local level IV designees - even those who have been in Level IV classes since 3rd grade and have performed well - are eligible for Cooper's Level IV program. No exceptions (so she says). There's actually a box for Level IV eligibility to check on the course selection sheet when enrolling. They still run Honors classes, separate and apart from the Level IV program (except Honors math is the same class as Level IV math, separate from Algebra), but I understand that the Level IV students are given the opportunity to participate in more large-scale projects and field trips associated with those, etc. and are clustered together as they would be in a center.

Has anyone else heard of or experienced this at Cooper? How is this permissible, if Cooper is not a center? At best, they can arguably be running a "local level IV" program, but if that's the case, how can they restrict students who were local level IV students at the elementary level from participating?

Regarding the bolded, if this is going on, it needs to stop. There is no way AAP kids should be getting any more resources than General Ed or Honors students. SO sick of the blatant inequity.

They don't. Large scale projects are long term academic assignments. I'm sure if your DC wants to get a copy of the rubric and add a science fair project onto their academic load, their teacher will allow it. Field trips these days are funded by the students themselve-- down to the cost of the buses. Which is why we send in $6 checks for trips to the Smithsonian. LLIV does not cost $1 more than honors or gen Ed. At the classroom level. Here's hat needs to stop-- GE parents whining about AAP students being bused to Centers and saying they should stay at their base school AND ALSO whining when the students stay at their base school at an LLIV program. AAP (gifted education) is the law-- it has to go somewhere. If you don't want centers, and you don'T want base schools, what do you want (we know-- your child to be in the program, or for it to be disbanded. Not going to happen).

Absolute B.S. and everyone is aware of it.

Pp, could you please elaborate? What are the associated costs, apart from bussing to centers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I realize this thread is a bit old, but hoping to get some updated intel on the AAP/Level IV situation at Cooper MS.

I understand they have been trying to implement a Level IV/AAP center there for some years now, but they still have not been designated as a center. We just moved into the Cooper district from another FCPS pyramid. As far as we can see, though not a center, Cooper is operating a Level IV program that is exclusive to students who have been determined Level IV eligible - that is, centrally eligible (as opposed to at the school level). The program is not open to students who were "principal designees" in the local level IV programs at their elementary schools. Cooper's principal indicated that this is a hard and fast criteria and that NO local level IV designees - even those who have been in Level IV classes since 3rd grade and have performed well - are eligible for Cooper's Level IV program. No exceptions (so she says). There's actually a box for Level IV eligibility to check on the course selection sheet when enrolling. They still run Honors classes, separate and apart from the Level IV program (except Honors math is the same class as Level IV math, separate from Algebra), but I understand that the Level IV students are given the opportunity to participate in more large-scale projects and field trips associated with those, etc. and are clustered together as they would be in a center.

Has anyone else heard of or experienced this at Cooper? How is this permissible, if Cooper is not a center? At best, they can arguably be running a "local level IV" program, but if that's the case, how can they restrict students who were local level IV students at the elementary level from participating?

Regarding the bolded, if this is going on, it needs to stop. There is no way AAP kids should be getting any more resources than General Ed or Honors students. SO sick of the blatant inequity.

They don't. Large scale projects are long term academic assignments. I'm sure if your DC wants to get a copy of the rubric and add a science fair project onto their academic load, their teacher will allow it. Field trips these days are funded by the students themselve-- down to the cost of the buses. Which is why we send in $6 checks for trips to the Smithsonian. LLIV does not cost $1 more than honors or gen Ed. At the classroom level. Here's hat needs to stop-- GE parents whining about AAP students being bused to Centers and saying they should stay at their base school AND ALSO whining when the students stay at their base school at an LLIV program. AAP (gifted education) is the law-- it has to go somewhere. If you don't want centers, and you don'T want base schools, what do you want (we know-- your child to be in the program, or for it to be disbanded. Not going to happen).

Absolute B.S. and everyone is aware of it.

Pp, could you please elaborate? What are the associated costs, apart from bussing to centers?

+100. Without Centers, there is no additional busing overhead. There may or may not be some administrative OH (depending on the role of AARTs in your school) but it's impossible to tease out from testing (all kids) and LLIV a I-III pullouts (does not benefit LLIV kids). And in 8 years of ES AAP and 2 years of MS AAP at 3 different schools, I have never have an AART work with one of my LLIV kids-- their hands are too full with 2 nd grade testing, k-2 differentiation, young scholars, and LLI-IIIS pullouts.

if you think it's BS, identify any extra $$ at all being spent of LLIV (not Center) kids. And tell me, if you think being assigned extra projects are so unfair, have you ever asked that your DC be allowed to do one? Because I just don't see a competent honors teacher telling a kid they can't do extra work. And if they do the extra work, I can't see them not allowing the honors kid to PAY FOR and attend a corresponding field trip ( but I'm sure there are rigid, incompetent honors teachers in FCPS). And would you rather have Centers than LLIVs to meet FCPS's legal requirement to educate gifted kids? Or have stand alone gifted schools (TJs for the ES/MS kids) I thought not (to all of the above). Because, on this board at least, there is non-stop griping about Centers and busing costs and TJ. IF these are all gone, what's the financial problem/ disparity? (I get your philosophical problem: other kids are eligible for a more prestigious program than your kid). So how do you want this handled, since you like none of the options on the table? At some point, you have to stop griping about all possible solutions and get behind one. And Members of this board insists that LLIV costs the least and keeping kids at their base schools is the most fair.

[Anonymous]

There was a big jump in the white enrollment this fall at Cooper and an even larger decline in the white enrollment at Kilmer. It seems like many white parents are opting for the LLIV programs at Cooper and Thoreau for their kids, whereas the Asian parents are still sending their kids to the established AAP centers while that's still an option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There was a big jump in the white enrollment this fall at Cooper

Where are the demographics posted for this school year? The only demographics I can find are from last year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There was a big jump in the white enrollment this fall at Cooper

Where are the demographics posted for this school year? The only demographics I can find are from last year.

http://www.fcps.edu/it/studentreporting/historical/pdfs/Ethnicity_Race_Gender/2015-16%20EthnicRaceGenderReport.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There was a big jump in the white enrollment this fall at Cooper

Where are the demographics posted for this school year? The only demographics I can find are from last year.

http://www.fcps.edu/it/studentreporting/historical/pdfs/Ethnicity_Race_Gender/2015-16%20EthnicRaceGenderReport.pdf

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

2.3% change is a big jump?

[Anonymous]

4.2% for Kilmer.