Surprise top-down changes to AAP center this fall . . .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
OP wrote: "I hope the parents will not stand for this and that it will not become the new trend spreading throughout FCPS AAP." Are you saying now that it was the parents who pushed for this particular change? Why would a principal make a change unless some parents asked for it or if they got feedback from admin? How do we know if there will be a new trend in AAP if we don't even know what is happening at Forest Edge?

Because a principal can decide how (s)he wants to "best" manage the resources of the school -- even a school with an AAP Center.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I only asked so that the changes are defined for this forum instead of people freaking out over something they don't even know the details on. I don't have a child at Forest Edge, but I would assume if there are changes at Forest Edge there may be changes elsewhere.

Changes are made by the principal

How much latitude does the principal have? Something like what is being talked about here sounds out of the bounds of the FCPS-wide stated guidelines for AAP, and I would think that's not at the principal's discretion.

Anyone know?

Guidelines are merely that -- guidelines. There is no mandate to follow the guidelines. A principal can choose to follow or not follow the guidelines.

[Anonymous]

So why such a long thread if you aren't even willing to tell what the changes are?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So why such a long thread if you aren't even willing to tell what the changes are?

Those that are members of the FCAG Yahoo group already know what the OP referenced.

To summarize, a parent learned at Back to School Night that all 5th grade classes (general ed and AAP) will be taught by the same teachers and do projects together. It was described as an experiment for 5th grade only.

(I am not the OP but did see the message in the Yahoo group.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this the new tactic after last year's push for AAP expansion/dilution met such parental resistance? A poster on the FCAG listserve notified us that at their AAP center, Forest Edge, this fall suddenly AAP is to be "integrated" with base school -- AAP classes taught by base school teachers and vice versa. Other changes as well. Parents were not consulted at all, it was just a big surprise at back to school night.

I hope the parents will not stand for this and that it will not become the new trend spreading throughout FCPS AAP. We pulled our DC out of base school because LLIV was not going to provide the same academic (AND social/emotional) support for him as a center would . . . we thought.

I beleive this is expanding, as they are also doing this at our center school. We learned at back to school night that two subjects (social studies and science) would be taught as a team between all the teachers for the grade (AAP and GE). The students will be rotated as a class between the teachers. The GE teacher explained that since the social studies and science curriculum was the same for both AAP and GE, that it was more effecient for the teachers to specialize in an topic and rotate the students through the classes. The GE and AAP students are not really "mixing," but the GE teachers will be teaching the AAP students for some topics and vice versa.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this the new tactic after last year's push for AAP expansion/dilution met such parental resistance? A poster on the FCAG listserve notified us that at their AAP center, Forest Edge, this fall suddenly AAP is to be "integrated" with base school -- AAP classes taught by base school teachers and vice versa. Other changes as well. Parents were not consulted at all, it was just a big surprise at back to school night.

I hope the parents will not stand for this and that it will not become the new trend spreading throughout FCPS AAP. We pulled our DC out of base school because LLIV was not going to provide the same academic (AND social/emotional) support for him as a center would . . . we thought.

I beleive this is expanding, as they are also doing this at our center school. We learned at back to school night that two subjects (social studies and science) would be taught as a team between all the teachers for the grade (AAP and GE). The students will be rotated as a class between the teachers. The GE teacher explained that since the social studies and science curriculum was the same for both AAP and GE, that it was more effecient for the teachers to specialize in an topic and rotate the students through the classes. The GE and AAP students are not really "mixing," but the GE teachers will be teaching the AAP students for some topics and vice versa.

I think this is a great idea. Having teachers specialize in an area allows them to provide a better quality of education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Christ, the sense of entitlement with some of you. And your precious little snowflakes.

Oh shut up, guber.

[Anonymous]

Haycock is mixing social studies classes with AAP and Gen Ed kids just for current 3rd graders (rolling a plan out??)...not sure how the AAP are receiving Center services if they do this???

Top down - no community involvement...

The schools need to be more transparent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Haycock is mixing social studies classes with AAP and Gen Ed kids just for current 3rd graders (rolling a plan out??)...not sure how the AAP are receiving Center services if they do this???

Top down - no community involvement...

The schools need to be more transparent.

Oh, dear God: not mixing AAP and GE?? Whatever will we do???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Haycock is mixing social studies classes with AAP and Gen Ed kids just for current 3rd graders (rolling a plan out??)...not sure how the AAP are receiving Center services if they do this???

Top down - no community involvement...

The schools need to be more transparent.

They are also mixing science classes. The third grade team said the science and social studies is the same curriculum, so it is easier for them to team teach. With the GE/AAP division in the school, if the curriculum is the same they should mix more. It would help the atmosphere within the school if they didn't have a wall between GE and AAP students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Haycock is mixing social studies classes with AAP and Gen Ed kids just for current 3rd graders (rolling a plan out??)...not sure how the AAP are receiving Center services if they do this???

Top down - no community involvement...

The schools need to be more transparent.

They are also mixing science classes. The third grade team said the science and social studies is the same curriculum, so it is easier for them to team teach. With the GE/AAP division in the school, if the curriculum is the same they should mix more. It would help the atmosphere within the school if they didn't have a wall between GE and AAP students.

Haycock AAP parent here. I agree 100%. A lot of the drama around AAP is caused by the division within the schools. either they should be more integrated or they should have separate schools for AAP only. The Gen Ed parents should not be made to fee inferior or like their child is getting less than the AAP kids.

[Anonymous]

Anytime you talk about changing what is considered "gifted," you are diluting the program. AAP centers are now mainstreamed so the "average" child has a place to learn. The "base" classes are geared toward those with IEPs and LDs/EDs. The gifted child? Once again forgotten. Shame.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anytime you talk about changing what is considered "gifted," you are diluting the program. AAP centers are now mainstreamed so the "average" child has a place to learn. The "base" classes are geared toward those with IEPs and LDs/EDs. The gifted child? Once again forgotten. Shame.

Yes. I saw this coming back when they decided to stop using the term "gifted" in the center program. Gifted? What gifted?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Christ, the sense of entitlement with some of you. And your precious little snowflakes.

Oh shut up, guber.

Truth must hurt if you had to go dig this out of the archives of this thread...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anytime you talk about changing what is considered "gifted," you are diluting the program. AAP centers are now mainstreamed so the "average" child has a place to learn. The "base" classes are geared toward those with IEPs and LDs/EDs. The gifted child? Once again forgotten. Shame.

FYI, a child with ED and/or LD can ALSO be gifted.