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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I agree with this in principal, but then you read parents on this board who say even the kids selected can't keep up with the pace. Should we put more children into that situation? I believe that more thinking needs to be taught in general ed rather than just rote learning, but maybe not at the same pace. I only have a 1st grader, so I don't know if this is happening or not. Do the general ed kids get the AAP curriculum materials, but just get taught less of them in 1 year? I think this would alleviate any problem if everyone had access to the materials, but just did them at their own pace.[/quote]

At our center school, based on the projects on the walls of the hallways, all of the students are following the same basic curriculum for many of the classes. My kid's assessment is that the AAP class moves through the material at a much quicker pace, leaving more time for discussion, debate, etc.  Between the three AAP classes, it appears that one of the three has more of the most advanced and fastest learners funneled into it this year.  It could be just a coincidence, but most of the kids in this class have been in the same class since fourth grade, with a few exceptions in and out.  It is the class with the most advanced math students as well.

Math is definitely different, as evident by the SOL scores.  The scores in math are very high, especially in fourth grade.  But when the AAP and the advanced math kids from gen ed break off and take the 6th grade SOLs for math, the scores tank.  About 30% of our kids (half of the gen ed kids) are not in advanced math so they take the 5th grade SOLs instead of the 6th grade SOLs.  Our center's fourth grade SOL math scores are traditionally in the upper 90%, as are our 6th grade math SOL scores.  Our fifth grade math SOL scores are around 20% lower than the years before and after, around the low 80% range.  Math is where we see the biggest difference.

The AAP and gen ed classes at our school do a big interclass project in fifth grade.  It incorporates writing and history mostly, and each group has an equal number of AAP and non AAP kids on the team.  They work together for all phases from planning and researching to writing and presenting.  It seems to work well at our center and my kid felt that it was a fun and positive experience.

The center does an excellent job combining the kids in every possible and practical way to make them all feel like they are an important part of the school.  Any of the AAP vs non AAP drama is parent or student created and not from the school or administration.

I have seen a very limited amount of parent competitiveness and angst between AAP and non-AAP parents, but I think that is parent specific and that their are more things at play (like queen bee drama or big man on campus syndrome) than just AAP vs non AAP drama.  There also seems to be a bit more conflict or hurt feelings with the gigantic fourth grade AAP class, but in my opinion this is due to the fluke of having such a large percentage of kids qualifying for the program.  I also think the problems caused by the fourth grade AAP class is district wide and is likely the source of a lot of problems between parents, both at the base schools and the centers.  I have multiple kids at several elementary grades, one at AAP center and the others at the base school.  I have heard very little said about AAP or qualifying from AAP from the older families and the younger families, but I have heard some passionate feelings about AAP from those with kids in the current fourth grade class.

The parents at our center, both AAP and non AAP are very nice, fun and kind people with similar values so overall it is a great place for learning for all of the kids in my opinion.  Everyone wants the best education possible for their kids, and I think that our center does an excellent job providing one for all of the students, no matter which program they are in.[/quote]

So do the general ed kids get taught with the same materials? It's hard to say from your post. It has some nice information about the interaction of general ed and AAP students at the center school, but it's hard to understand what exactly is right or wrong about the general ed curriculum now.[/quote]

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