Reply to Someone please explain to me the difference between tracking and the AAP program/centers.

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Reply to "Someone please explain to me the difference between tracking and the AAP program/centers."

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]

Good point to PPs who explain how it is equal opportunity.  Way beyond, really, because of all the checks and balances, appeals and multi-year chances.  [b]AAP is not for every learner[/b].

Also, what is wrong with tracking?  [b]The system attempts to meet the needs of each learner.[/b]  I believe that fails often but that is not because of AAP.[/quote]

AAP should be the curriculum for most learners.  It is sad that only 18% of the students are given access to a curriculum that probably 50-75% of the students could benefit from.  Would a student who performs in the top 50 - 80% in the nation not deserve an advanced curriculum?  The problem with the current system is that it caters to the top 18% while limiting resources to the remaining 82% of the student population.  This system does not meets the needs of most learners - it really only meets the needs of the top 18% and the bottom 25% of the GE populations.  [b]In a system like FCPS, the 50-80% is not getting their needs meet.[/b]

The system also doesn't account for learners that need advanced education in only one area - ie. language arts or math.  The current Level III program of 2x/month pull-outs is a joke.  The GE students advanced in one subject could easily perform well in the AAP classes in their advanced subject.  FCPS only provides advanced learning for students who score well cumulatively on the IQ tests.  Again, no equal access to advanced education to meet the needs of students who could benefit from it.[/quote]

I see this regularly but don't understand what people really mean by it. How is the school system *failing* the general population of students?[/quote]

For students who test into the 50-80% range, they are not eligible for AAP.  The GE base curriculum is so watered down, the curriculum is very easy for this group.  The bright GE kids are really the ones losing out with AAP.  [b]If more of the AAP students were in GE, and only the truly gifted children were separated, then the GE classes would teach to a higher level. [/b] More differentiation would be available for higher-level learners.  Now, the advanced curriculum is concentrated on one set of students - and you're either in or out of the AAP Level IV.  The current GE curriculum is failing all but the lowest level of learners, because it is so easy.  [/quote]

Regarding the quote bolded above, stating that if more AAP students were in GE then the GE classes would teach to a higher level, I don't think this is true. How many kids are usually selected from a second grade class to be in AAP the following year? Usually not more than five students per class on average throughout the county? Let's say that it became only two students and three of those that would have been pulled will stay in GE. Is the presence of those three in next year's GE class going to make a substantial difference to the curriculum? I would say no. The GE curriculum would stay the same and the teacher would still focus most on those struggling in order to for them to be able to pass the SOLs. Parents would still need to provide outside enrichment as needed. That can even be a benefit since you can target the enrichment in the way you wish, rather than having your child spend time on "in depth" projects that may or may not teach anything of lasting value. [/quote]

I posted this on another thread, but it seems applicable here too:  in my child's 2nd grade class, 18 children were selected for AAP.  [b]18[/b].  And this is the norm at our school.  Now, if the reality was that only five or two were chosen, that might reflect more normalcy.  But... 18?  It's no wonder AAP is bursting at the seams, ridiculously so.[/quote]

And also so sad that those 18 clearly need a special education at another school in order to find a critical mass of their intellectual peers.  This is why AAP needs to be localized wherever possible.[/quote]

Our base school has 1 Center eligible student in 3rd grade, 3 in 4th grade, 2 in 5th grade, and 1 in 6th grade.  Is that "critical mass"?  [/quote]

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