Critical Mass – what is the ‘critical number’ of AAP
students in a building to create a new Center?
 Estimates in the literature range from 15% ? 25%
 Student enrollment is insufficient to make the decision
also need:
? Cadre of strong teacher advocates and leaders
? Critical mass of qualified teachers (endorsed)
? Paired classes per grade/content level
? Strong administrative and resource support
? Documented effect on financial implications
(transportation and resource needs)
? (Callahan, 2010; Cross, 2013; Renzulli, 1979; Rogers,

Interesting too, that all stakeholders overwhelmingly love this program -- except they didn't bother to survey the 80% of FCPS stakeholders who are affected by the program but not in it.

I also like that a team of principal investigators composed of George Mason professors suggests that perhaps they have to go to one source for the outside assessment test (WISC, I'm guessing). Hmmm,.... George Mason University perhaps?

What a crock!

"critical mass":

Recommendations for Expansion of Program Services
1. Critical Mass Requirements for Expansion of Program Services

To expand program services, whether it is a Middle or Elementary School Center or the Young Scholars program, a critical mass of students is necessary, but not a sufficient condition for the program to be expanded. In addition to the figures listed for enrollment in the first bullet following, several other conditions must exist before expanding a program. Minimum requirements include:

? 15-25% of the total school enrollment
? a cadre of strong leaders and stakeholder advocates
? strong and supportive administrators
? a critical mass of qualified (endorsed) teachers
? at least 2 classes per grade level or subject area
? sufficient funding for transportation and other resource needs

Tomorrow night (June 27) at 6 pm the Fairfax County School Board will hold a work session at Gatehouse to receive the "AAP study" report that was requested earlier this year.

The AAP report agenda items have been posted to BoardDocs:

http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=98VKD44E06CA

A link to the presentation:
http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/98ZTKA77B2AE/$file/Presentation%20FCPS%20AAP%20Final%20for%20Board.pdf

And a link to the executive summary:
http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/98ZTKU77BFF9/$file/AAP_Executive%20Summary.pdf