Anonymous wrote:OP here, thank you for all the answers. I was just curious why there were so many people wanting to get their kids into the program And why so many people were against those parents that "prep' their kids to get into the program.
I am visiting/helping my sister (I live overseas) She is always checking this board so I decided to do the same. I noticed there is a lot about AAP and I just wanted to know what happens to those kids that just can't make it but are A students. In my country all kids get the same curriculum and those who don't do well in Math or Grammar repeat the grade.
I don't have any kids yet but I will have my first nephew in a few weeks and I want to make sure he will have the best of the best too. So far we know the school district is really good . I am sorry If I offended anyone, it was not my intention. (FYI, English is not my first language so I apologize for the grammar too.)

Where in the world are you?

OP here, thank you for all the answers. I was just curious why there were so many people wanting to get their kids into the program And why so many people were against those parents that "prep' their kids to get into the program.
I am visiting/helping my sister (I live overseas) She is always checking this board so I decided to do the same. I noticed there is a lot about AAP and I just wanted to know what happens to those kids that just can't make it but are A students. In my country all kids get the same curriculum and those who don't do well in Math or Grammar repeat the grade.
I don't have any kids yet but I will have my first nephew in a few weeks and I want to make sure he will have the best of the best too. So far we know the school district is really good . I am sorry If I offended anyone, it was not my intention. (FYI, English is not my first language so I apologize for the grammar too.)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I understand the pain of finding out DCs not smart enough.

Please don't think that all the kids who are found eligible for level IV services are gifted or "smarter" than yours. Getting into AAP may just entail a perseverent parent that preps a little, goes out of the way to get a WISC and/or appeals/self refers.

And at the same time, please don't assume that all kids found eligible for the AAP program are not gifted or remarkably advanced and are only the product of pushy parents. I have a dd in AAP and there are kids who range from very capable to off the charts and they come with a wide variety of parents. Yes, some are obviously tiger moms or "get what I want" parents, but it's definitely not the majority.

Anonymous wrote:I understand the pain of finding out DCs not smart enough.

Please don't think that all the kids who are found eligible for level IV services are gifted or "smarter" than yours. Getting into AAP may just entail a perseverent parent that preps a little, goes out of the way to get a WISC and/or appeals/self refers.

Yes to this! It wasn't just an innocent question, but a poorly disguised slam.

Anonymous wrote:PP, why, just because you say so?

I think the original question is from someone that does not seem to be familiar with LL III services and with good reason, since there is so much variability between schools.

Not the PP you're responding to but I think it was the snarkiness that made this question outrageous

"Will these kids take just regular classes designed for the lowest denominator?"

That's insulting to the school, the teachers and the other students. There may be some difference between teachers but there really isn't much difference in the schools. It's not like staying at the base school is going to mean academic purgatory.

PP, why, just because you say so?

I think the original question is from someone that does not seem to be familiar with LL III services and with good reason, since there is so much variability between schools.

I thought that the AAP threads were pretty nutty last year (comparing all the scores and agonizing about when the acceptance letters would come in the mail), but this thread takes the cake!

At our ES entire classes take advanced math (used to be compacted math). They almost get tot eh same point as the AAP kids at the end of the year.

What happens to these kids that just miss AAP? When the AAP kids leave to go to the center, they now become the smartest kids in the class. There confidence soars and they are more comfortable sharing their ideas and being leaders in the classroom.

I agree that the services vary by school, which contributes to the "angst" parents have about getting into the centers. If there were more uniform services for Level III, parents would have more confidence about staying at their base school....

Anonymous wrote:Your child will be placed in a program to develop skills as a barista because they just weren't smart enought...so they should be given early training in a vocational skill.

I love this response! You crack me up

In all seriousness to the OP's question -- both of my kids attend an AAP center but re in Gen Ed classes. My daughter is bright and her teacher referred her for level III services in 3rd grade. At this particular school, level III consists of 1 hour a week of being pulled out of regular classes, along with a bunch of others, to work on a special project. It's interesting, but it's just not very much. They differentiate in the classroom for certain subjects (math, English), which is helpful. DD is in 5th grade and is on an all A streak - sometimes I wish we had prepped her for the test or appealed - but only because I wish she were with her good friends and because of the stigma associated with not being in the program when you go to an AAP center - not because she's not challenged. I've head good things about level III services at other schools though. There is also accelerated math classes offered at some schools (they used to call it "compacted math" but I think it's "advanced math" now) so that your kid could potentially be at the same level of math leaving 6th grade as the AAP kids. They don't offer it at our school except to a select couple individuals. At other schools they have a whole group of gen ed kids who take advanced math every day. I think some of the services vary by school.

Your child will be placed in a program to develop skills as a barista because they just weren't smart enought...so they should be given early training in a vocational skill.

I understand the pain of finding out DCs not smart enough.

Their teachers will differentiate learning opportunites for them. Everyone needs to be more relaxed about getting into the AAP programs. Not getting in is not the end of the world.

Anonymous wrote:No, she is in 2nd grade. Didn't get in the level 4. I asked if I should fill out a form for level 3 services and was told no she would be in. However, I just don't want to mess up the paperwork trail. I guess I worry that this will fall through, if I screw it up. Sorry, for my stupid questions......

Not stupid questions at all -- there is great information on the FCPS website but it can be confusing to understand, and then there are the rumor mills, and the great AARTs at some schools and not-so-great AARTs at some other schools....