It sounds like FCPS has no idea whether the local level IV programs follow the same curriculum as the AAP centers or not then. Do the principals have a lot of leeway with how centers are run as well? Are the centers run the same or are they all run differently too?

I think not only are local level 4 programs different than centers, but they are different from each other. I am sure of that. One year our LL4 had math/science/and social st. as level 4 and level 3s - not a big deal) but mixed language arts with ALL levels of kids. No center does that. Most LL4 schools do not do that, though. I know that my friend's LL4 school had one intact classroom of AAP students (level 4 with some 3s mixed in). The principals have a lot of leeway to decide how local level 4 is run.

They do this for reading in the lower grades. If not 3 to 4, then how many? Are we back to the local level IV programs having a different math curriculum than the centers then?

It can't be. A teacher isn't going to teach three or four separate math lessons in the same classroom. It's discouraging to the kids that are behind and way too much work for the teacher.

There was a comment recently that an AAP Center needed at least 3 classrooms for proper math groupings. Why would this be if it can all be done in one classroom?

There was a comment recently that an AAP Center needed at least 3 classrooms for proper math groupings. Why would this be if it can all be done in tone classroom?

The teachers work with the kids who are in their classes and adjust their teaching to fit with and challenge the abilities of the students to learn the curriculum for the grade. Teachers can vary the types of assignment to best suit the students in each class.

So if your child is in local level IV, what does the math and spelling look like there? Is it just one AAP level per grade or are there 4 math groups in 3rd-6th for all AAP centers and local level IV schools but maybe just divided up in the classroom?

Anonymous wrote:Same curriculum per year? What do they do with the rest of the time after they've gone through the curriculum faster? Can you give an example of how local level IV and the centers use the same curriculum but the AAP center might go faster? To me the centers seem more like magnets with different levels of AAP and the local level IV's seem like they have just the one AAP step up from general ed. Those aren't the same curriculums then.

It is the same curriculum, but the curriculum is applied differently by each center and by each teacher. They cover the same things. They just do it differently. The speed at which the basics are covered is what leaves time for the more in depth and fun projects.

Anonymous wrote:So Mrs. Z doesn't get all the geniuses for homeroom, but does she get them for any other subject? Just math? Are they just doing more in depth math projects or is it actually a different curriculum?

I have a 6th grader and a 3rd grader. The 6th graders have team teachers. One does math/science with both classes and the other does social studies and language arts. Science/Social Studies/Language arts are the exact same for all AAP kids, but there are two math groups. One does the curriculum plus deeper thinking enrichment, one does the curriculum plus math contest/math team stuff.
In 3rd grade, they switch for math and spelling. For math, they are assessed before every unit and split into 4 groups based on where they are. Spelling was assessed at the beginning of the year and those groups will likely remain the same.

Same curriculum per year? What do they do with the rest of the time after they've gone through the curriculum faster? Can you give an example of how local level IV and the centers use the same curriculum but the AAP center might go faster? To me the centers seem more like magnets with different levels of AAP and the local level IV's seem like they have just the one AAP step up from general ed. Those aren't the same curriculums then.

Same curriculum, just a different pace.

So Mrs. Z doesn't get all the geniuses for homeroom, but does she get them for any other subject? Just math? Are they just doing more in depth math projects or is it actually a different curriculum?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hear about Haycock having three different level classes. How is the intended curriculum the same in this instance? Why isn't FCPS more up front about this?

They don't have different levels of classes, but the AAP kids do switch classes for subjects just like kids in the base programs do. Why would this be a big deal?

Let me clarify...
When I say they don't have different levels of classes, I mean they don't have the kids grouped by ability for their homeroom class.
There is no... Mrs. X has the bottom of the barrel AAP kids, Mrs. Y has the middle level kids and Mrs. Z has the true geniuses. It's not set up that way. But they do pretest the kids before a math unit and put them where they need to be. That is typical for most schools.

Anonymous wrote:I hear about Haycock having three different level classes. How is the intended curriculum the same in this instance? Why isn't FCPS more up front about this?

They don't have different levels of classes, but the AAP kids do switch classes for subjects just like kids in the base programs do. Why would this be a big deal?