letter received today from MCPS about HGC
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
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I spoke with central as the comments were conflicting with the system documents I read.
--all Grade 3 student in the field test schools will be reviewed for academic need regardless of completing an application --all Grade 3 students in field tests schools will receive an outcome letter about the review and recommend system next steps (recommendation for assessment, enrichment and acceleration is meeting student needs at this time) --all Grade 3 parents will have the ultimate say of being considered for and not being considered for moving forward in the assessment process – continue into assessment, decline assessment (process will stop) or request assessment if not initially recommended Kim Testa ps. fyi- This meeting mentioned below is open to all. MCCPTA GT Liaison Training and Parent Information Night Wednesday, Nov. 2nd, 7-9pm Location: MCPS Carver Auditorium, 850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville, MD 20850 Agenda: MCPS Presentation: Hear the MCPS message about the Choice Study as it relates to elementary school programming and the system's proposed 3 year response plan for elementary to high schools. Hear the updates for Math 4/5 and Math 5/6 student programming. Hear plans to work collaboratively with fellow MCCPTA and GTA members on strategies to support students and respond to questions about schools through a liaison to liaison approach. Speakers: Ms. Meredith Casper, Director of MCPS Division of Accelerated and Enriched Instruction Ms. Lori-Christina Webb, Executive Director for the MCPS Chief Academic Officer Ms. Siobhan Alexander, Director of MCPS Elementary Integrated Curriculum Team Advocacy Update from the Gifted and Talented Association of Montgomery County Speaker: Ms. Michelle Gluck, President, GTAMC Advocacy Priorities from MCCPTA Gifted Child Committee This is a great opportunity for parents to get first hand information on the Choice Study response plan and what parents and students can do to voice their opinions. Please share with your school communities. Lang Lin Chair, MCCPTA Gifted Child Committee Iris Masucci & Kim Testa Vice Chairs, MCCPTA Gifted Child Committee |
Anonymous
It sounds like the CogAt is an appropriate test for HGC applicants. The curriculum is rigorous and challenging and it is appropriate that children are evaluated properly. If an applicant has trouble getting through the test it is a good sign hat the HGC might not be a good fit. I personally think it is a good idea to test all third grade students unless their parents opt out. This might be a great way of identifying children who normally would not be considered because their parents did not initiate the process. I do however strongly oppose any move to change the selection criteria. |
Anonymous
Thanks for posting. I am not sure I can attend this evening. If anyone plans to attend could you please take good notes and post a summary tomorrow? Thanks!! |
Anonymous
Anne Arundel is giving the CoGat to all second graders this year. So far I haven't heard of any brutality involved in the test administration. I really can't understand why anyone would be against at least evaluating all children. If you're so in favor of a meritocracy for HGC, then you should give all children the opportunity to show their merit. |
Anonymous
I agree, give Cogat instead of Inview to all second graders at the end of the year or at the very beginning of third. Just test everyone, without the stupid redundancy, and let the chips fall where they may. |
Anonymous
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Sure its fine to test everyone but I still have my doubts that this is going to affect the students that actually attend the program. Parents aren't applying since either a) they live in a hole and ignore the many calls, emails and letters b) can't logistically get kid to transportation c) kid does not want to leave home school d) kid not interested
This program is great but its is a commitment |
Anonymous
I've been thinking about this barrier to participation in the HGC programs and how it contributes to unequal representation of gifted kids from low-income families. We have a family at our neighborhood school with bright kids that should apply to the HGC. I know that they have one reliable working vehicle, and that the single parent uses that vehicle to get to and from a long day at work, leaving in the morning before the kids are up and arriving home after an afterschool program would be closed (and couldn't afford an afterschool program anyway). There's another adult in the house who currently gets the kids up and on and off the school bus to the local school but doesn't have a reliable car. How would this family be able to make an HGC work? The local school (where the current HGC bus stop is) is not walkable (2 miles away down a busy road with no sidewalks). The HGC is actually closer (1.5 miles) but again, there's not a safe way to walk it. There's no public transit option. I'm sure there are other kids in similar situations. Expanding gifted options to more schools would help, but as long as there are magnet schools, there are going to be significant barriers to entry for certain families, and the emphasis on trying to reach out to underrepresented groups doesn't seem to address these barriers (although reducing the first barrier to getting into the testing group is also a good step -- just doesn't address this issue). |
Anonymous
Another thanks for posting! |
Anonymous
Good post from PP. As a single mom this would be really tricky. I'm assuming the morning drop off is easier for most parents as it's earlier and possibly on their way to work but there's no way I or many others could make the pick up in the afternoon and get in a full day of work at an office and the pick up location (location) is too far for DC to walk safely. |
Anonymous
Great points! |
Anonymous
| Yes transportation and logistics are very challenging. I do know several single parents who are able to manage it so I hope people don't assume they should not apply because it would be too difficult to make the logistics work. I know these are anecdotes but I know families with just one car, just one parent, or with two parents who work long hours or who travel overseas a lot or who have children in several different schools (eg home elem school, HGC, magnet MS). It takes significant planning and sacrifice. Most people in this situation use the student directories to set up carpools etc. It is tough because you are reaching out to strangers and very often you have to reorganize the carpools every year as older kids finish the program and move on. MCPS students (middle school and high school) are able to use public transport for free and this is one option. Also although most parents are highly educated and therefore typically middle class there are all kinds of families in the program. We are always asked for donations for field trips so that all the children can participate and I have never heard of a child not being able to go on a field trip because they could not afford the fee. |
Anonymous
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Anonymous
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Sorry the formatting got messed up.
Did anyone attend the meeting last night and if so would you be willing to share what you heard. Thank you |
Anonymous
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I attended. Don't have much time to write up but what I heard was encouraging. In the pilot areas the same test is administered but on computer so it can be scored faster. There are no plans to change the selection criteria. Selection for the in school HGCs will be centralized. So what we are ending up with is more seats and more kids tested which all sounds reasonable.
Math... there are 2x more kids are in math 4/5 than 5/6 this year since they softened up the criteria. This sounds like a mistake to me. |