Is the Parent Referral worthwhile? If yes, suggestions on the types of submissions

[Anonymous]

This is a new process for me. I am asking kindly for suggestions and advice. Please no snark.
My son's school has indicated that he is a likely candidate for AAP (school referral).
The cogat scores come out so close to the deadline.
Is it worth doing the parent referral if the child is likely to get a school recommendation? I understand the school referral is far more important, but does it add to his application if he has the parent referral (proverbial cherry on top)?
If yes, what types of submissions/examples do you add? Our school doesn't do an annual award ceremony and I understand sports recommendations/awards add little weight.
Thanks in advance for your constructive feedback.

[Anonymous]

What was the NNAT score?

If the scores are good enough, the parent referral is unnecessary, but makes parents feel good to have some input.

There isn't really a downside to submitting it. Look for creativity if you are going to submit anecdotes or work products. They want info. on how this child thinks... not what types of worksheets he/she can do.

I honestly couldn't mark 4's on any of those parental questions... but my kid was high on the NNAT and CogAT. So-so on the GBRS (11). I didn't submit anything. He got in on whatever the school provided. FWIW, they weren't too impressed with him either b/c he is very young for grade and a little ADHD. (Doesn't look like a typical "good student"). He's in 6th grade. Doing pretty well. (Math moreso than writing -- but nobody's perfect!).

Submit it if you want. If scores are high enough -- you don't need it.

[Anonymous]

I say you should submit.

[Anonymous]

Yes off course. You have nothing to lose. Make an appointment with the AART and ask for some advice......We were asked to parent refer our DC and will be doing so.

[Anonymous]

I did the optional parent questionnaire and threw in one piece of art work that came home right before submission that I thought was nice (done in art class but about a book he had recently read).

I wasn't planning to parent refer but then found out he was in pool on cogat a few days before the app was due. Prior to that I hadn't appreciated that anyone could turn in the optional stuff - whether parent referred or in pool.

[Anonymous]

You should submit the referral since FCPs deadline for it is 12th January and decision for school based referral is way later then that.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, I've never understood questioning what types of work samples did someone else provide. First, if I say I produced x for my kid, are you going to copy that? Second, are you going to have your kid actually produce work solely for the submission? Finally, if you haven't seen your kid produce work that really stands out to you when you saw it, there's nothing really for you to do for the work submissions. I'm not commenting on whether your kid belongs in aap. I'm only commenting that you probably shouldn't include work samples.

[Anonymous]

If he isn't in-pool on the NNAT, you would have to fill out a parent referral. The schools generally won't do a referral unless the child is in-pool. It's just a one page form, so there's no reason not to do it. Even if your child is in-pool, it could be helpful to highlight your child's abilities and why his needs can't be met in a regular classroom.

For work samples, just grab anything that comes home from school that shows advanced writing or math skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, I've never understood questioning what types of work samples did someone else provide. First, if I say I produced x for my kid, are you going to copy that? Second, are you going to have your kid actually produce work solely for the submission? Finally, if you haven't seen your kid produce work that really stands out to you when you saw it, there's nothing really for you to do for the work submissions. I'm not commenting on whether your kid belongs in aap. I'm only commenting that you probably shouldn't include work samples.

And yet... other parents shared helpful hints that sparked ideas.

[Anonymous]

You should definitely do the parent referral questionnaire.

As for samples, pick one or two work pieces to attach.

As someone who went through the process a few years ago, what I didn't realize at the time was that the school/AART/teachers already had files with work samples for kids they suspected of qualifying for AAP. So when I requested my child's file from the AART, I saw loads of work examples from the school - some that I had never even seen before!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should definitely do the parent referral questionnaire.

As for samples, pick one or two work pieces to attach.

As someone who went through the process a few years ago, what I didn't realize at the time was that the school/AART/teachers already had files with work samples for kids they suspected of qualifying for AAP. So when I requested my child's file from the AART, I saw loads of work examples from the school - some that I had never even seen before!

This is very helpful.

Can you request the file at any time? Is it best to coordinate who submits what?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should definitely do the parent referral questionnaire.

As for samples, pick one or two work pieces to attach.

As someone who went through the process a few years ago, what I didn't realize at the time was that the school/AART/teachers already had files with work samples for kids they suspected of qualifying for AAP. So when I requested my child's file from the AART, I saw loads of work examples from the school - some that I had never even seen before!

This is very helpful.

Can you request the file at any time? Is it best to coordinate who submits what?

I’m not sure when the school will have the actual file. From what I understand, they start putting these together in winter. The school will submit what they consider good examples. What you will submit is only 1 page and I think only three samples of the work. We were advised to focus on creative examples, i.e no math worksheets.

[Anonymous]

I thought you couldn't get the AART file until after they submitted a package to the committee.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought you couldn't get the AART file until after they submitted a package to the committee.

I requested & got it after it was submitted to the central committee. I doubt our AART would have given it sooner but I don't know for sure. At our school I didn't get the sense that they want to help you with AAP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, I've never understood questioning what types of work samples did someone else provide. First, if I say I produced x for my kid, are you going to copy that? Second, are you going to have your kid actually produce work solely for the submission? Finally, if you haven't seen your kid produce work that really stands out to you when you saw it, there's nothing really for you to do for the work submissions. I'm not commenting on whether your kid belongs in aap. I'm only commenting that you probably shouldn't include work samples.

I have seen questions like OP's a few times and responses like this every time. The thing is, if it is your oldest kid, none of their work is really going to stand out as exceptional because you are talking about 2nd graders. For example, if my 2nd grader is doing stuff that would be more typical of a 5th grader, I really have no way of knowing that because I am not really familiar with anyone's school work except for my own 2nd grader (and my own Kindergartener). According to my 2nd grader's teacher, he is a great writer, but I have never been impressed with any of his writing until very recently when I saw some writing samples from classmates of his. Anyway, OP, talk to your kid's teacher. Maybe he or she can help you identify some good samples.