Anonymous wrote:My kid just came back from school and nothing in the Thursday folder. DD took the test on Feb 20. Did anyone got their results today ?

When my son took it a few years ago, the results were mailed.

My kid just came back from school and nothing in the Thursday folder. DD took the test on Feb 20. Did anyone got their results today ?

Can the Parent request the kids teacher for recommendations ? or the middle school

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents can place their kids into Algebra 1 H in 7th grade regardless of what they score on the IAAT and SOL. I get that there will be some pushback from the school but parents can request their kids be placed in the class.

Is that a smart decision? Probably not but hopefully it relieves the anxiety some parents have. I was waiting last year and it drove me nuts, more because I feel like FCPS has test scores and doesn't share them in a tmely matter. I like data so I like getting the test scores. I was pretty certain that DS would be fine, he is very strong in math but you never know when a kid has a bad day. I tried reminding myself that the test score really doesn't matter because we have to wait on the SOL scores anyway. I can't say that it helped but I tried.

Is it even possible ? . How can a parent push the kids if it was based on scores . Then what is the purpose of those assessments ?

What the PP said, and I agree with. The assessments are meant to provide a baseline so that everyone has confidence that the kids who pass are ready for the program. That said, every year there are parents who work themselves into a frenzy because their kid scored in the 89th percentile and now they can't take Algebra 1 in 7th grade and how awful it is. Or their kid scored 480 on the SOL and didn't pass advanced and now they can't take Algebra 1 in 7th grade. Some of those parents return with info that their kid was placed in Algebra 1 H because the Teacher thought it was a good fit or because the parents insist on placing their kid in Algebra 1 regardless of the test scores.

I am not saying I agree with the practice, just that the test scores are an indicator but that they are not the end all. Hoping to reduce the anxiety, that is all.

Anonymous wrote:Parents can place their kids into Algebra 1 H in 7th grade regardless of what they score on the IAAT and SOL. I get that there will be some pushback from the school but parents can request their kids be placed in the class.

Is that a smart decision? Probably not but hopefully it relieves the anxiety some parents have. I was waiting last year and it drove me nuts, more because I feel like FCPS has test scores and doesn't share them in a tmely matter. I like data so I like getting the test scores. I was pretty certain that DS would be fine, he is very strong in math but you never know when a kid has a bad day. I tried reminding myself that the test score really doesn't matter because we have to wait on the SOL scores anyway. I can't say that it helped but I tried.

Is it even possible ? . How can a parent push the kids if it was based on scores . Then what is the purpose of those assessments ?

Anonymous wrote:Parents can place their kids into Algebra 1 H in 7th grade regardless of what they score on the IAAT and SOL. I get that there will be some pushback from the school but parents can request their kids be placed in the class.

Is that a smart decision? Probably not but hopefully it relieves the anxiety some parents have. I was waiting last year and it drove me nuts, more because I feel like FCPS has test scores and doesn't share them in a tmely matter. I like data so I like getting the test scores. I was pretty certain that DS would be fine, he is very strong in math but you never know when a kid has a bad day. I tried reminding myself that the test score really doesn't matter because we have to wait on the SOL scores anyway. I can't say that it helped but I tried.

There’s pushback bc the scores are a pretty solid indicator of whether or not the student can handle the material. A good way to shake your child’s confidence in their ability is to force them into a program they aren’t ready for.

Parents can place their kids into Algebra 1 H in 7th grade regardless of what they score on the IAAT and SOL. I get that there will be some pushback from the school but parents can request their kids be placed in the class.

Is that a smart decision? Probably not but hopefully it relieves the anxiety some parents have. I was waiting last year and it drove me nuts, more because I feel like FCPS has test scores and doesn't share them in a tmely matter. I like data so I like getting the test scores. I was pretty certain that DS would be fine, he is very strong in math but you never know when a kid has a bad day. I tried reminding myself that the test score really doesn't matter because we have to wait on the SOL scores anyway. I can't say that it helped but I tried.

Anonymous wrote:If your kid needs to prep for the IAAT test, so much that they require additional weeks! to score adequately, they shouldn’t be taking algebra 1H in 7th.

Agreed. We are in a different district (parents are not as cutthroat/pushy) and there are no levels or tracking or anything like that in elementary school. Then in 6th grade kids can go into advanced math or regular. To be eligible for algebra in 7th, they have to score in the IAAT at/above 95 percentile, plus meet a host of other criteria. The parents are informed that their child has been asked to take the IAAT a few days before the test (offered on one day only, around late Feb if I recall- and this is the first time anyone mentions that there is a test called IAAT), and you can opt your child in or opt out. There is no opportunity to prep or reschedule.

If your kid needs to prep for the IAAT test, so much that they require additional weeks! to score adequately, they shouldn’t be taking algebra 1H in 7th.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In FCPS site it states that the results will be posted in SIS ,but in the forum it said it will be sent in the kids take home folder and some said it will be sent in email so which one its going to be ?

Last year, my kid brought a sealed letter from school. The result was posted on SIS later.

Good to know. Thanks!

Anonymous wrote:In FCPS site it states that the results will be posted in SIS ,but in the forum it said it will be sent in the kids take home folder and some said it will be sent in email so which one its going to be ?

Last year, my kid brought a sealed letter from school. The result was posted on SIS later.

yes , DD and other kids who took it on the date are at disadvantage and as a parent it really hurts . I can do nothing about it.As PP rightly mentioned they would not only get a month of extra instructions but also they will give SOL revisions on April/ May so they will be more stronger in the concepts .

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know its odd ,even I was surprised too . our DD's teacher sent out an email just before the test date that they are going to have the kids write the exam on different date since DD's half the class were on leave the entire week and they assumed everyone who were on leave were sick but the truth is only few were really sick and few others were simply at home to prepare for the exam (DD heard this info from her friends) . Some Parents are taking advantage of this and they didnt appear on the test date buying them extra time . on CoGAT DD was sick and they didnt have any such exceptions since it was only for my kid and my kid struggled .

The teachers have told me that the later you take the exam the better you do since you have learned more of the 7th grade curriculum. So a bunch of children at your dd's school are able to get an extra month of instruction, before taking the test? Lame. They should not be allowed to take.

Really lame!!!

Anonymous wrote:I know its odd ,even I was surprised too . our DD's teacher sent out an email just before the test date that they are going to have the kids write the exam on different date since DD's half the class were on leave the entire week and they assumed everyone who were on leave were sick but the truth is only few were really sick and few others were simply at home to prepare for the exam (DD heard this info from her friends) . Some Parents are taking advantage of this and they didnt appear on the test date buying them extra time . on CoGAT DD was sick and they didnt have any such exceptions since it was only for my kid and my kid struggled .

That is really lousy if parents are keeping kids home all week just to study for the IAAT and deliberately missed the test. Looking at the FCPS site again - it has two testing windows. One is from May 27 to June 11. It also says that "spring make-up only". So maybe those kids at your school will take the IAAT in the spring testing window from May to June. Regardless, I would not expect them to withhold results from the rest of the students just because some students haven't taken the test yet.

Anonymous wrote:I know its odd ,even I was surprised too . our DD's teacher sent out an email just before the test date that they are going to have the kids write the exam on different date since DD's half the class were on leave the entire week and they assumed everyone who were on leave were sick but the truth is only few were really sick and few others were simply at home to prepare for the exam (DD heard this info from her friends) . Some Parents are taking advantage of this and they didnt appear on the test date buying them extra time . on CoGAT DD was sick and they didnt have any such exceptions since it was only for my kid and my kid struggled .

The teachers have told me that the later you take the exam the better you do since you have learned more of the 7th grade curriculum. So a bunch of children at your dd's school are able to get an extra month of instruction, before taking the test? Lame. They should not be allowed to take.