Anonymous wrote:work on your packet now, so you aren't running around in late January getting it all together if your child is not in the pool. Just do it!

For the information in the packet provided by the school (GBRS, Ability Test Scores, Report Cards), I assume we need to obtain that from the school and then re-submit it as part of the packet, correct? We don't just submit the documentation to which we have access and ask the school to supplement with the documentation within their control, right?

Thia isn't my conclusion all, it is what was said. Sheesh! Please don't shoot the messenger!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP,they maybe didn't make it as their daily work may not have been exceptional. For example, if the teacher says to write 5-7 sentences on what you did over the weekend and child writes 5-7 sentences, that is not exceptional. However, if child writes 3 pages with big and appropriate vocabulary, that is exceptional! AAP is supposed to be for the exceptional child, not just a good test taker. Or with a STEM approach, if a child just builds legos, nothing exceptional. However, if a child actually builds a model airplane or creates own gadget, that is exceptional. Currently, too many kids in AAP are not exceptional, just hardworking. I think that FCPS is getting back to the true intent of AAP.

I thought you were joking about the 3 pages, but now I'm not so sure. I completely disagree with a conclusion of giftedness if a child writes 3 pages when the assignment is to write 5-7 sentences. More likely, I'd say, that's a failure to follow directions or really really long run on sentences or really big writing.

I agree. If the teacher says 5-7 sentences, my son would never dream of writing more because in his mind, that is not following directions. But he is in AAP now after both test scores in the 99th percentile and a GBRS of 16.

I just called the aap office and was told the scores will be mailed this month. Please post when u receive the letter, as will I. Curious if all will come at the same time!

people that have called the testing office had been told another 2 weeks for the scores to be mailed

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Very true and hard to explain. Our DD had a COGat of 114, GBRS 8 and Wisc 145--made it. Knew others who were automatically in the pool, higher GBRS and no WISC, didn't make it.

Why some kids have no WISC? Did you get the WISC yourself in the appeal process? Just curious, in case my DS not getting into the pool.

We did. A bit stressful for the DCs, but they sailed through the program. We won the appeal. Many people do.

OP again...more from my notes..New CoGat is normed into percentiles. Local screening committee consists of AART, Administrator usually 1 sometimes 2, guidance counselor(s), 2nd grade teacher, sometimes also 1st grade teacher and maybe other teachers if they feel strongly about the student. This committee decides on the GBRS score with everyone's input. Feb. 8 is the deadline for parent referrals. May 31 is the deadline for appeals.

On a side note...older DC aap pool letter was dated Jan 4 and the deadline for referrals was Feb. 12. Hopefully, the letters will be in the mailbox this week!

Anonymous wrote:
Very true and hard to explain. Our DD had a COGat of 114, GBRS 8 and Wisc 145--made it. Knew others who were automatically in the pool, higher GBRS and no WISC, didn't make it.

Why some kids have no WISC? Did you get the WISC yourself in the appeal process? Just curious, in case my DS not getting into the pool.

9:28 here. OK - that helps. My DD is in 1st grade - which would probably be why I hadn't heard about this.

Anonymous wrote:OP here...not sure if if is CogAT only. Can someone who attends their aap mtg ask this question and report back. Thanks!

I will ask tonight at our meeting.

Anonymous wrote:I just found out our school's AAP info meeting was held in Sept. What the hell???

The one in September was to give an overview of the AAP program (all levels) for all grades. The meeting that your school will have this month is specifically aimed at 2nd grade parents looking for info about Level IV AAP admissions for next school year.

I just found out our school's AAP info meeting was held in Sept. What the hell???

OP here...not sure if if is CogAT only. Can someone who attends their aap mtg ask this question and report back. Thanks!

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if it being based on percentile, means a percentile of just FFX students since it's now the Fairfax County version of the Cogat. So, instead of 30% of kids making 132 and being eligible, they can better control the percentage of kids in AAP. They could make it only the top 10% are eligible, or whatever number they choose. Do you think this is why they're changing it to percentile this year?

I don't think so. Percentile is different than percentage. A score of 132 still is at 98 percentile. Changing from scores to percentile may in fact increase the percentage of students in the screening pool since percentiles are also based on the age of the child at the time the test is taken. So a younger child with a score less than, say 132, could still be in a higher percentile and would make it into the screening pool, whereas they would not have with the actual score as a cutoff. On the flip side, an older child with a higher score may be in a lower percentile and could miss out on making the screening pool.

Perhaps they are doing this because the CogAt scores for this year may be unusually lower? I'm wondering because OP specifically mentioned CogAt only and not NNAT.

No I am serious. 5-7 sentences is about a 1-1/12 pages in the writing journal book. Remember, the 2nd grade writing books, the 1st page is 3/4 a box to draw a picture, so 3 pages, including page 1, of well-written sentences is exceptional.