Here's a thought: Why can't we receive such letters (in-pool or scores) by e-mail? It's fast, can be automated, and saves the County a lot of time, money and effort. Yes, I know, not everyone has access to e-mail, but the majority of parents do, so maybe they can do it for them and use regular mail for the rest...

Has anyone received in-pool letters or cogat scores from Buzz aldrin herndon?

PP, did they say why you didn't get a pool letter? That's just weird!!

Was it always this rushed and crazy in the past, or did something really get messed up in the mailing system this year? Still no letter or scores for us yet.

Received CogAT scores yesterday for my 2nd grade daughter, but no in-pool letter for (97% CogAT and 143 NNAT in 1st Grade)....so I sent an email to our AART and got a quick response that, yes, she is in the pool. I recommend reaching out to your AART if you haven't received scores, letters, etc. Also, as a note -- I have two older sons (senior and sophomore) that both went through the program at Haycock, when it was still called GT. They both did well in the program but it was VERY challenging, so make sure you genuinely feel your child is ready for the extra work and pressure. The good news is that AAP will prep them well for AP classes in high school.

Received nothing. The school said that they put the scores and the pool letter in one envelope.

Nothing here either, although we are a near miss on NNAT so may not test in depending on CogAT. Still, I'd like to see the scores before Feb 8 deadline.

If NNAT was borderline and you have no pool letter, a delay in receiving CogAT scores puts you in a very awkward position in relation to requesting letters of recommendation. You don't know if the CogAT was 1 percentage point away from where it needed to be or 10 percentage points away. In this situation do you go ahead and request the letters, since you cannot wait until the last minute? By requesting you put it out there to several key people in your child's life that you are applying, when maybe you will find out in a few days' time that it is not very appropriate to apply, based on CogAT scores. Or you don't want to go all out and ask the piano teacher, etc., for letters. I would think letter writers will be asking later if DC got in. And it is extra work for them, apart from the embarrassment factor. I think deadline for receipt of application materials should be 2 weeks from receipt of scores.

Anonymous wrote:I thought they changed the name after they diluted the qualifications for entry from truly GT to merely "advanced".

Years have passed and the inaccuracies still get posted. Sheesh.

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/105/104443.page#1020399

http://www.fcps.edu/DIS/gt/pdfs/gtac/GTAC%202006-07%20Annual%20Report.pdf

During the course of the GTAC discussions this year, the question was raised about the name of the program itself. We know that the State of Virginia requires Fairfax County Public Schools to provide gifted services, but it does not designate the name of those services. Several choices were discussed and, while some members did not support a change, the majority of the Committee membership approved of a name change from Gifted and Talented Services to Advanced Academic Programs. It was felt by the Committee that this name change emphasizes efforts to put a label on the service being offered and recognizes the academic nature of the program.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nothing here either. Call me agitated.

Do you want to get the letter in a backpack, where anyone can open it before you, if it even gets home or a parent doesn't look (I know, not the parents here) or do you want to get it through the mail, which after the school prepares the letters for the mail they go in the pony to a central location to be posted and then mailed? It's not always a quick turn around. Patience.....

Look, I'm just expressing myself. I haven't pestered the school about scores or letters at all, not once, and haven't posted anything about any frustration until today. But when the school tells you you will get something early this week, and the center says you will receive by end of January, I would expect to receive by end of January. Not beginning of February.

I have been patient, but when someone says something in black and white, it's just that. Just let people have their opinion really! I'm not stepping on anyone's toes, or giving anyone a judgment or telling anyone what they should do or feel. Gees.

Whoaaaaa, I apologize for using you note to quote. Believe me, the comments I made were for more people than just you. Gees is right. Really, people, life goes on whether it is January 31 or February 1st, or even the 2nd, or gasp, the 4th. Schools can only do what they receive from the testing office and they also have the rest of school life to handle too. I am impressd that some schools have gotten them out, but if it was in a backpack I personally would rather wait for the mail than take the chance of it making it home. People have already said, if in doubt, start filling out the paper work for your own referral and collect your evidence. You can do that without scores. Now, if a school has not sent out pool letters, that is a real gripe as those have been there for quite a while.

Has anyone received in-pool letters from Centreville ES?

PP, you have a right to be peeved. Very little time to assemble the referral. I would assume all base schools got the scores around the same time, so it is most likely at the school. Under the law, and in the Fairfax County School guidelines, you are entitled to see your child's file and scores. Call the AAP rep or the teacher and ask him/her to give you the scores. Teacher's had them some time ago so they could work on the GBRS.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nothing here either. Call me agitated.

Do you want to get the letter in a backpack, where anyone can open it before you, if it even gets home or a parent doesn't look (I know, not the parents here) or do you want to get it through the mail, which after the school prepares the letters for the mail they go in the pony to a central location to be posted and then mailed? It's not always a quick turn around. Patience.....

Look, I'm just expressing myself. I haven't pestered the school about scores or letters at all, not once, and haven't posted anything about any frustration until today. But when the school tells you you will get something early this week, and the center says you will receive by end of January, I would expect to receive by end of January. Not beginning of February.

I have been patient, but when someone says something in black and white, it's just that. Just let people have their opinion really! I'm not stepping on anyone's toes, or giving anyone a judgment or telling anyone what they should do or feel. Gees.

I am completely annoyed. DC has NNAT of 129, so not quite in-pool. I wanted to see CogAT so I could make a determination whether to do a parent referral. I'm on the fence right now. I guess I should get the form and some work samples put together, but it's frustrating not to have more information on my DC and whether this is a good fit.

Not to mention that I consider myself pretty well-informed (as a visitor to this board, among other things), but what about the parents who don't realize this is an opportunity for their child? Who is guiding others who may have children with borderline test scores. Really unfortunate process that seems based on a complete lack of information and inconsistent processes across the district.

Received in-pool letter last week but no CogAT scores yet... Really frustrating!

I haven't gotten anything either and I should according to the info on this board [based on DS NNAT score (139)].

-King's Park