Anonymous
Post 02/06/2014 12:41     Subject: IEP for a gifted child?
I can't get over how many gifted kids there are out there. We're only in Pk4 right now, and I think my kid is reasonably smart, but reading DCUM makes me think the other shoe's gonna drop soon -- I'm anxiously awaiting a kindergarten class full of Doogie Howsers.
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2014 12:38     Subject: IEP for a gifted child?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:People do try to mobilize on DCUM, only to be met with obnoxious, condescending, arrogant and ignorant comments about "special snowflakes". So instead "mobilize" turns into marching with your feet, dollars, et cetera. DCPS continues to underserves its students and there is no hope for change currently in sight, so parents are bailing out and going to charters, going to the burbs, going to privates in ever greater numbers.

If DCPS ever wants to change that trend, they have to start LISTENING. It's not as though they can't meet every student's needs. They currently spend far more per student than virtually any school district in the nation. The money is there. It's just being mismanaged and spent in all the wrong ways.


Who gave you an "obnoxious, condescending, arrogant, and ignorant comments" about "special snowflakes" from DCPS? What was the specific request you gave that resulted in a DCPS employee responding to you in that manner? Or is this an exaggeration or possible straight-out lie?


The poster was clearly referring to responses received on DCUM to attempts to mobilize on DCUM. I tend to agree with the poster. While advocacy on behalf of FARM kids, OOB kids, and kids with IEPs and 504s are usually tolerated on DCUM, advocacy on behalf of GT kids is usually met with derision, etc.
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2014 11:51     Subject: IEP for a gifted child?
Anonymous wrote:People do try to mobilize on DCUM, only to be met with obnoxious, condescending, arrogant and ignorant comments about "special snowflakes". So instead "mobilize" turns into marching with your feet, dollars, et cetera. DCPS continues to underserves its students and there is no hope for change currently in sight, so parents are bailing out and going to charters, going to the burbs, going to privates in ever greater numbers.

If DCPS ever wants to change that trend, they have to start LISTENING. It's not as though they can't meet every student's needs. They currently spend far more per student than virtually any school district in the nation. The money is there. It's just being mismanaged and spent in all the wrong ways.


Who gave you an "obnoxious, condescending, arrogant, and ignorant comments" about "special snowflakes" from DCPS? What was the specific request you gave that resulted in a DCPS employee responding to you in that manner? Or is this an exaggeration or possible straight-out lie?
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2014 11:03     Subject: IEP for a gifted child?
People do try to mobilize on DCUM, only to be met with obnoxious, condescending, arrogant and ignorant comments about "special snowflakes". So instead "mobilize" turns into marching with your feet, dollars, et cetera. DCPS continues to underserves its students and there is no hope for change currently in sight, so parents are bailing out and going to charters, going to the burbs, going to privates in ever greater numbers.

If DCPS ever wants to change that trend, they have to start LISTENING. It's not as though they can't meet every student's needs. They currently spend far more per student than virtually any school district in the nation. The money is there. It's just being mismanaged and spent in all the wrong ways.
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2014 10:41     Subject: IEP for a gifted child?
People have asked and they have responded that the system has greater needs (your kids don't need extra help and others come first). So families leave and go to where their children will be served (private and suburbs).


Anonymous wrote:Agree PP. Parents need to do more than mobilize on DCUM. This is almost a daily topic on DCUM but no one seems to be making the specific demand to Council or Mayoral candidates for gifted education and differentiated classrooms. I think people are worried it will look elitist so instead they just pull their kids out of DCPS which doesn't help either.
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2014 10:34     Subject: IEP for a gifted child?
PP but isn't it against the law for public school system to not serve the needs of each student? If severaly disabled students are being sent to private schools (DCPS used to do this more often than people realize), then shouldnt DCPS be legally required to send the most gifted students to adademically rigorous private schools as well?
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2014 10:24     Subject: IEP for a gifted child?
DS's teacher and GT teacher both suggested that we pull out of DCPS, because he would never be served by the system. It's probably the best advice we have ever received from a DCPS representative.

I truly feel bad for those kids whose parents don't have the ability to support their children's needs. For us, sacrificing an income was hard. For others, it isn't an option. Even if it is an option, their parents may not be prepared to offer the type of education demanded by the child.
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2014 09:18     Subject: IEP for a gifted child?
Agree PP. Parents need to do more than mobilize on DCUM. This is almost a daily topic on DCUM but no one seems to be making the specific demand to Council or Mayoral candidates for gifted education and differentiated classrooms. I think people are worried it will look elitist so instead they just pull their kids out of DCPS which doesn't help either.
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2014 09:11     Subject: IEP for a gifted child?
Anonymous wrote:Many parents of gifted children do figure out early on that DCPS is unwilling to meet their needs, and they pull out. But that's typically only those who have the means to do so, and it that leaves behind many other families, where the giftedness of their child may go unidentified, or if identified, goes unmet by the system. That's the case for many lower-SES families with gifted children. They are the ones getting the short end of the stick, getting left behind.

Why would the rule of "Free and Appropriate Public Education" (FAPE) only apply to special needs? Why is it that ALL children can't get free and appropriate public education?


You are right, and you know it, but you should also know that this will only change when parents mobilize - and I don't see any sign of it happening.
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2014 07:37     Subject: IEP for a gifted child?
Many parents of gifted children do figure out early on that DCPS is unwilling to meet their needs, and they pull out. But that's typically only those who have the means to do so, and it that leaves behind many other families, where the giftedness of their child may go unidentified, or if identified, goes unmet by the system. That's the case for many lower-SES families with gifted children. They are the ones getting the short end of the stick, getting left behind.

Why would the rule of "Free and Appropriate Public Education" (FAPE) only apply to special needs? Why is it that ALL children can't get free and appropriate public education?
Anonymous
Post 02/05/2014 21:02     Subject: IEP for a gifted child?
People with "gifted" children should be smart enough to figure out that if they hold their breath for DCPS to magically create a curriculum to satisfy them --they will be holding their breath for a very long time.
Anonymous
Post 02/05/2014 20:48     Subject: IEP for a gifted child?
Anonymous wrote:If children with special needs are required by law to have an IEP if they wish, would this also apply to academically gifted children who are not being served in mixed class that lacks challenging coursework?


It certainly should.

It certainly doesn't.

Anonymous
Post 02/05/2014 19:28     Subject: IEP for a gifted child?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:IEP=lawyer's delight


True for us b/c both parents are lawyers and we are delighted that our kid has an IEP.


Why are you saying that an IEP is a lawyer's delight?
Anonymous
Post 02/05/2014 19:26     Subject: IEP for a gifted child?
Anonymous wrote:Would severe depression and anxiety count as other health impairment or emotional disturbance?


Yes, if they impair the child's ability to learn. These would be considered emotional disabilities.
Anonymous
Post 02/05/2014 19:04     Subject: IEP for a gifted child?
Anonymous wrote:IEP=lawyer's delight


True for us b/c both parents are lawyers and we are delighted that our kid has an IEP.