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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Since some people might have missed it, here is a link to the AAP equity report:

https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/BPD4M50C2B1F/$file/FCPS%20final%20report%2005.05.20.pdf

If you scroll down to page 66, you can see average CogAT and NNAT scores of LIV eligible kids broken down by race.  It's very enlightening. For the kids who got accepted to AAP -  CogAT Q score:  Asian mean = 130.95.  AA mean: 119.8   Hispanic mean: 118.9[/quote]

I believe that the report addresses some of that as well. Part of that gap is explained by a gap in enrichment opportunities. Kids who have been read to, speak the language natively, attend enrichment classes or programs (tutoring or robotics or coding club) are likely to score better on those types of tests. we can kvetch all we want about them being IQ tests but additional education and stimulation are going to improve scores on tests like the NNAT, CogAT, and yes, even the WISC.

They also presented some good solutions. Every school should have a full time AART. This would bolster level II and Level III programs at schools. With better Level III programs, there would be less pressure to get a kid who is strong in math but on grade level in LA or strong in LA and on grade level on math into AAP to make sure that the child's strong area receives the attention it deserves.

They also suggested that each school should have its own AAP program and determinations for entrance should be made based on the individual schools population. So schools with highly involved parents invested in enrichment programs will end up with a program that looks different then the Title 1 schools. That would also address a lot of the issues with diversity.

Finally, they recommend not allowing parents to submit additional material, including WISCs, and doing away with appeals. Mainly because there is a real bias towards who is likely to include additional materials and appeal.

The reality is that committee members know how test scores can be increased through enrichment. My son was at an advantage because he did robotics and coding club and chess club after school. It wasn't a math program but it still teaches logical thinking and engineering and mathematical concepts in a fun way. The kid at a Title 1 school was far less likely to even have those programs offered, nevermind joining those programs.

While I have no doubt that the kids scoring in the 140's on the WISC are very smart, I am not going to pretend that families that can afford the WISC have not been providing enrichment which is going to influence how their child does on the WISC. And the kid who is at a Title 1 school who scores a 118 on the CogAT could probably score a good deal higher if they had been as exposed to math and English concepts through their home environment and enrichment programs.

And that is why the committee does not weigh the test scores as highly as you all wish that they would.

AAP needs to be changed but I am not sure that everyone here would be thrilled if the change is that only 10% per grade level is placed in a school based AAP. Because I suspect that how ever they adjust the application process, the competition at the non Title 1 schools will become even greater then it is now. And I doubt too many of you would want to move to the areas with the Title 1 schools to insure that your kid is in AAP. [/quote]

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