COSA denial - submitting an appeal but do we mention "gifted" designation?

[Anonymous]

Our rising 3rd grader was recently identified as gifted. We are moving soon and she will have to change elementary schools. We applied for a COSA but were denied. However, we didn't spell out that one of the reasons we were asking for a COSA was because her old school has an in-house center for enrichment which means if she is accepted for the gifted and talented (or whatever it's called now) program, she would continue in 4th and 5th at that school.

However, her new school is not an in house center so she would be bused to a different school. That means new school for 3rd and then another new school for 4th and 5th. That's crazy for a kid who already doesn't do well with change. I know we are relying on her acceptance into the gifted program as a factor for that worst case scenario but the child has consistently scored well on all of those tests she takes and is generally a year ahead in her studies.

So in our appeal, do we spell that out? Do we list that we don't want her to change schools twice in 2 years? Or would that be frowned upon?

Thank you for any insight - sorry if I've been unclear.

[Anonymous]

but she hasn't been accepted into the CES program yet, right? So your argument is that you just don't want her to have her move 2x in case she does get in?

[Anonymous]

A child who is one year ahead is unlikely to get into CES. It's for kids who are well outside the norm.

[Anonymous]

A COSA is only granted for a hardship situation. The only COSA student I know had been bullied in his old school, seriously enough that it warranted a change of school.

If you are choosing to move, or choosing to send your child to a CES, then those are not hardships as MCPS sees them.
My oldest attended 3 different schools in one school year, because of a personal family matter. No COSA.

[Anonymous]

Gifted designation isn’t linked to CES acceptance.

[Anonymous]

The second grade designation is entirely unrelated to getting in to a center. About 40% of MCPS are labeled gifted in second grade. Her chances at a regional center are much smaller.

[Anonymous]

I think they will only care about her being gifted if she is 2E and your therapist says that your DD’s emotional health would suffer from the many transitions. Hard to argue that since you are initiating the move to the new zone. Otherwise, there’s a ton of non-2E gifted kids who also struggle with the bus and switching schools.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I don't think spelling it out possible CEG as you describe it will matter. They will believe you will be back to fight again next year for 4th grade, if she is not selected.

I do think that if you put in the COSA that you only want it for one year, third grade, and will be fine with her moving to your new neighborhood school if she doesn't get into the CEG, you might increase your odds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The second grade designation is entirely unrelated to getting in to a center. About 40% of MCPS are labeled gifted in second grade. Her chances at a regional center are much smaller.

This. Is she sky high on all of the metrics? Then you may have a chance, but as it stands it will look like you are "gaming" the system because it is easier to get into a local center than a regional one.

[Anonymous]

OP here - thanks for the quick responses. DD has severe anxiety when it comes to new situations and people. We submitted a letter from her therapist, pediatrician and we wrote a letter. The application was still denied.

We are going to appeal but we didn't mention the possibility of her moving twice in 2 years. She has scored in the 99th percentile for every MAP-P test she's taken and is reading on an "N" benchmark. I know that the designation of gifted isn't linked to CES acceptance but I thought it may be a factor.

Any insight on how we get them to understand the severity of her issues on appeal? I'm baffled that the letters from legit MD and PhDs didn't sway them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Gifted designation isn’t linked to CES acceptance.

+1 look at peer cohort first. I would not mention the "gifted" designation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - thanks for the quick responses. DD has severe anxiety when it comes to new situations and people. We submitted a letter from her therapist, pediatrician and we wrote a letter. The application was still denied.

We are going to appeal but we didn't mention the possibility of her moving twice in 2 years. She has scored in the 99th percentile for every MAP-P test she's taken and is reading on an "N" benchmark. I know that the designation of gifted isn't linked to CES acceptance but I thought it may be a factor.

Any insight on how we get them to understand the severity of her issues on appeal? I'm baffled that the letters from legit MD and PhDs didn't sway them.

I mean, she's going to have to deal with change at some point, and you have made the decision to move despite what you describe as "severe" issues. Basically, you are fighting an uphill battle here, and some of it your own doing.

What is your actual concern about the school in your new neighborhood?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - thanks for the quick responses. DD has severe anxiety when it comes to new situations and people. We submitted a letter from her therapist, pediatrician and we wrote a letter. The application was still denied.

We are going to appeal but we didn't mention the possibility of her moving twice in 2 years. She has scored in the 99th percentile for every MAP-P test she's taken and is reading on an "N" benchmark. I know that the designation of gifted isn't linked to CES acceptance but I thought it may be a factor.

Any insight on how we get them to understand the severity of her issues on appeal? I'm baffled that the letters from legit MD and PhDs didn't sway them.

I have to ask.. if you know your kid has anxiety issues with moving, I'm baffled as to why you would move twice in 2 years. From the sound of things, you are still within the same district, so it's not like you had to move to a different county or state for job.

If I were looking at your application, I would wonder the same thing. You know your kid has issues, but you still moved, and then you decided that it was important enough to ask for a COSA. Something seems off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - thanks for the quick responses. DD has severe anxiety when it comes to new situations and people. We submitted a letter from her therapist, pediatrician and we wrote a letter. The application was still denied.

We are going to appeal but we didn't mention the possibility of her moving twice in 2 years. She has scored in the 99th percentile for every MAP-P test she's taken and is reading on an "N" benchmark. I know that the designation of gifted isn't linked to CES acceptance but I thought it may be a factor.

Any insight on how we get them to understand the severity of her issues on appeal? I'm baffled that the letters from legit MD and PhDs didn't sway them.

Does she have a 504 or IEP? You can get a change of placement through them. However, changing schools now, when classes are self contained and kids are open to forming new relationships, and then staying in the new school and moving on to middle school with her cohort might be a better choice for a very anxious kid.

[Anonymous]

About half of all 3rd graders are designated gifted. It is NOT in anyway a foregone conclusion that your child will be accepted to CES. The denial is the right decision.