Anonymous
06/02/2025 18:55
Subject: missing data in Gifted and Talented Identification letter
In 7th grade and beyond, the only testing you need are MAP scores for special programs admissions.
Anonymous
06/02/2025 18:14
Subject: missing data in Gifted and Talented Identification letter
Anonymous wrote:The designation is pointless. Kids are allowed to enroll in higher level courses without it. For middle school, they can enroll in honors. For HS, they can take APs.
+1
Meaningless
Anonymous
06/02/2025 18:12
Subject: missing data in Gifted and Talented Identification letter
Anonymous wrote:I don't think there's anything you can do, MCPS just won't care that your kid didn't attend MCPS for long enough to accumulate data. If your kid is an advanced reader and good at math, the teacher will notice next year and put him in the correct group - or you can follow up and make sure that happens!
What DOES matter, OP, is 3rd grade data, which is critical to determine whether kids are eligible for the CES (magnet) in 4th and 5th grade. I highly recommend the CES experience, even though it only lasts two years, and then you need to apply again for middle school magnets your kid might or might not get into.
I hear that these days all the magnets have a lottery portion, so even though kids may be selected for the pool, they might not actually get a spot. If that's the case, don't despair. You need to enrich at home anyway.
The high school and middle school magnet programs are being analyzed for sunsetting, relocating, or perhaps staying the same. High school programs will adopt these changes beginning next January, when magnet applications would usually begin for the coming school year. Middle school analysis will start next year. The superintendent wants great change, with more regional programs and less driving/busing.
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/academic-programs-analysis/
Anonymous
06/02/2025 18:11
Subject: missing data in Gifted and Talented Identification letter
The designation is pointless. Kids are allowed to enroll in higher level courses without it. For middle school, they can enroll in honors. For HS, they can take APs.
Anonymous
06/02/2025 17:58
Subject: missing data in Gifted and Talented Identification letter
Anonymous wrote:We moved to Maryland this year, and my Grade 7 kid got a letter that they did not meet the criteria for the gifted and talented designation.
However, it would have been impossible for my child to be designated as gifted. The letter indicates that my child is missing last year's MCAP data, which for middle school is 2 of 4 of the required data points, and you need at least 3 fields to qualify for G&T, despite my kid's two 99 pct MAP scores.
I can't invent MCAP data from last academic year, when they didn't attend MCPS. And presumably they could have used MCAP data from this academic year to fill the gaps, but I understand that takes many many months for MCPS to assess and share with parents.
Anyone know if there are any possibilities to fill these testing gaps with private testing or other data? Thanks in advance.
Was your child identified as GT in your previous state? If so, there is a way to submit that if it’s important to you to have the label. Call or email AEI for more information. It doesn’t mean a lot, but can be helpful in advocating for access to some courses.
Anyone moving to MCPS in 7th grade or later would be in the same boat. By high school they don’t look at GT much. It’s more about grades, pre-requisite courses and motivation.
Anonymous
06/02/2025 17:53
Subject: Re:missing data in Gifted and Talented Identification letter
I'm still awaiting this year's COGAT....
Anonymous
06/02/2025 17:48
Subject: missing data in Gifted and Talented Identification letter
Anonymous wrote:I don't think there's anything you can do, MCPS just won't care that your kid didn't attend MCPS for long enough to accumulate data. If your kid is an advanced reader and good at math, the teacher will notice next year and put him in the correct group - or you can follow up and make sure that happens!
What DOES matter, OP, is 3rd grade data, which is critical to determine whether kids are eligible for the CES (magnet) in 4th and 5th grade. I highly recommend the CES experience, even though it only lasts two years, and then you need to apply again for middle school magnets your kid might or might not get into.
I hear that these days all the magnets have a lottery portion, so even though kids may be selected for the pool, they might not actually get a spot. If that's the case, don't despair. You need to enrich at home anyway.
Scrap all I said, apparently I can't read
I didn't realize GT designation was a thing beyond the test they do in second grade.
Anonymous
06/02/2025 17:47
Subject: missing data in Gifted and Talented Identification letter
Anonymous wrote:I don't think there's anything you can do, MCPS just won't care that your kid didn't attend MCPS for long enough to accumulate data. If your kid is an advanced reader and good at math, the teacher will notice next year and put him in the correct group - or you can follow up and make sure that happens!
What DOES matter, OP, is 3rd grade data, which is critical to determine whether kids are eligible for the CES (magnet) in 4th and 5th grade. I highly recommend the CES experience, even though it only lasts two years, and then you need to apply again for middle school magnets your kid might or might not get into.
I hear that these days all the magnets have a lottery portion, so even though kids may be selected for the pool, they might not actually get a spot. If that's the case, don't despair. You need to enrich at home anyway.
That's not entirely true (plus OP has a 7th grader not a 3rd grader)--the only thing that matters much for Grade 3 CES admission is MAP-R...plus grades which are usually As in MCPS anyway--they don't look at COGAT or anything.
Anonymous
06/02/2025 17:45
Subject: Re:missing data in Gifted and Talented Identification letter
Don't stress, OP, or spend any time on this particular issue. GT designation doesn't matter, especially in the upper grade - what does matter is school placement and course placement. Figure out what DC's high-school options are and aim for those.
Anonymous
06/02/2025 17:42
Subject: missing data in Gifted and Talented Identification letter
I don't think there's anything you can do, MCPS just won't care that your kid didn't attend MCPS for long enough to accumulate data. If your kid is an advanced reader and good at math, the teacher will notice next year and put him in the correct group - or you can follow up and make sure that happens!
What DOES matter, OP, is 3rd grade data, which is critical to determine whether kids are eligible for the CES (magnet) in 4th and 5th grade. I highly recommend the CES experience, even though it only lasts two years, and then you need to apply again for middle school magnets your kid might or might not get into.
I hear that these days all the magnets have a lottery portion, so even though kids may be selected for the pool, they might not actually get a spot. If that's the case, don't despair. You need to enrich at home anyway.
What DOES matter, OP, is 3rd grade data, which is critical to determine whether kids are eligible for the CES (magnet) in 4th and 5th grade. I highly recommend the CES experience, even though it only lasts two years, and then you need to apply again for middle school magnets your kid might or might not get into.
I hear that these days all the magnets have a lottery portion, so even though kids may be selected for the pool, they might not actually get a spot. If that's the case, don't despair. You need to enrich at home anyway.
Anonymous
06/02/2025 17:39
Subject: missing data in Gifted and Talented Identification letter
It is definitely meaningless. They are required by the state to do it but they are not required to provide gifted education or anything based on it. Your kid is no doubt terrific and will do great things. Do not think about this particular situation again.
Anonymous
06/02/2025 17:36
Subject: missing data in Gifted and Talented Identification letter
OP, do not worry about it; it is meaningless. Makes absolutely no difference.
Anonymous
06/02/2025 17:35
Subject: missing data in Gifted and Talented Identification letter
Not sure, but just FYI they don't use the gifted designation for much if anything (unless your school is an outlier-- you can contact them to ask if they use it in any way or it would get your kid access to anything he's not already getting.). MCPS just does it because it is a legal requirement by the state. So not having the designation is unlikely to have any practical impact
Anonymous
06/02/2025 17:31
Subject: missing data in Gifted and Talented Identification letter
We moved to Maryland this year, and my Grade 7 kid got a letter that they did not meet the criteria for the gifted and talented designation.
However, it would have been impossible for my child to be designated as gifted. The letter indicates that my child is missing last year's MCAP data, which for middle school is 2 of 4 of the required data points, and you need at least 3 fields to qualify for G&T, despite my kid's two 99 pct MAP scores.
I can't invent MCAP data from last academic year, when they didn't attend MCPS. And presumably they could have used MCAP data from this academic year to fill the gaps, but I understand that takes many many months for MCPS to assess and share with parents.
Anyone know if there are any possibilities to fill these testing gaps with private testing or other data? Thanks in advance.
However, it would have been impossible for my child to be designated as gifted. The letter indicates that my child is missing last year's MCAP data, which for middle school is 2 of 4 of the required data points, and you need at least 3 fields to qualify for G&T, despite my kid's two 99 pct MAP scores.
I can't invent MCAP data from last academic year, when they didn't attend MCPS. And presumably they could have used MCAP data from this academic year to fill the gaps, but I understand that takes many many months for MCPS to assess and share with parents.
Anyone know if there are any possibilities to fill these testing gaps with private testing or other data? Thanks in advance.