Anonymous
07/18/2025 10:00
Subject: Missed Level IV Appeal, not sure what to do now - 2E rising 3rd grader, can anyone advise?
Hey OP, this whole situation sounds really challenging. I’m sorry.
I am friendly with one of the other moms on my kid’s soccer team. Not close enough that I can call and ask the details, but I know she had her son placed into AAP during the school year, at our center school. She had to work like hell to get it done though.
So it is possible, but it takes a lot to make it happen.
I am friendly with one of the other moms on my kid’s soccer team. Not close enough that I can call and ask the details, but I know she had her son placed into AAP during the school year, at our center school. She had to work like hell to get it done though.
So it is possible, but it takes a lot to make it happen.
Anonymous
07/18/2025 09:47
Subject: Missed Level IV Appeal, not sure what to do now - 2E rising 3rd grader, can anyone advise?
Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately nothing you have written here will be enough on its own to get your son into AAP. And as the deadlines have passed for this year, you really do not have any recourse until the application process next year. There is no formal structure for applying for principal placement, and some on this forum have found that asking for it directly can backfire. You can try it, but temper your expectations accordingly.
If you feel that the program is right for him, you will have your work cutout for you in crafting your application next year. I strongly encourage you to see if you can get an intelligence test score that contradicts the low scores he has on file. This might mean retaking the Cogat (GMU offers this) or trying to get a WISC score (though if that's the test he was taking when he tried to fool the examiner, he can't try again for at least 12 months regardless of the test being rendered invalid). iReady improvement is helpful, but not likely to be enough on its own.
Strong work samples will also be key. And you can try connecting with the AART in your school to see if she can do some pullouts with him to elicit some of his deep/creative thinking as well (for his teacher packet). Not all AARTs are created equal, though, and you may find yours to be unwilling or unable to help.
Getting the right IEP or 504 in place for him will be crucial regardless of AAP. And having that on file will help with your narrative that he is 2E. But without strong evidence of the second E, it won't be enough on it's own. Get an intelligence score that reflects his true abilities and build a cadre of student work samples that definitively demonstrate that he is gifted. And cross your fingers that either his HOPE score isn't a deal-breaker or that the 2E evidence counterbalances it enough to make the cut.
I would discourage you from trying to frame your application on the premise that he needs AAP *because of* his autism/PDA. The AAP program is not meant to be an accommodation in that way. You will need to prove that he is twice exceptional not just with an autism diagnosis but with strong evidence of advanced cognitive skills.
Good luck.
This is the only good advice in this thread. The gist is: treat the application like a serious thing (put work into it) and try to get the AART to understand why you care so much. Ideally loop in the classroom teacher as well!
Anonymous
07/18/2025 07:20
Subject: Missed Level IV Appeal, not sure what to do now - 2E rising 3rd grader, can anyone advise?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I'm not convinced aap is the right placement for this child. There is some level of needing to understand norms and conform that make the class run at an accelerated pace that he might not pick up on.
OP here: I totally agree with you on this and have the same concern. But he doesn't pick up on it in Gen Ed either, so I thought maybe if he's interested and gets to deep dive, that would get us somewhere.
My AAP child didn't get to deep dive into any thing they were interested in last year. The only difference we saw in the AAP class room was the availability of advanced math.
It is highly unlikely the school will do anything after the appeal deadline.
Anonymous
07/16/2025 11:28
Subject: Missed Level IV Appeal, not sure what to do now - 2E rising 3rd grader, can anyone advise?
Unfortunately nothing you have written here will be enough on its own to get your son into AAP. And as the deadlines have passed for this year, you really do not have any recourse until the application process next year. There is no formal structure for applying for principal placement, and some on this forum have found that asking for it directly can backfire. You can try it, but temper your expectations accordingly.
If you feel that the program is right for him, you will have your work cutout for you in crafting your application next year. I strongly encourage you to see if you can get an intelligence test score that contradicts the low scores he has on file. This might mean retaking the Cogat (GMU offers this) or trying to get a WISC score (though if that's the test he was taking when he tried to fool the examiner, he can't try again for at least 12 months regardless of the test being rendered invalid). iReady improvement is helpful, but not likely to be enough on its own.
Strong work samples will also be key. And you can try connecting with the AART in your school to see if she can do some pullouts with him to elicit some of his deep/creative thinking as well (for his teacher packet). Not all AARTs are created equal, though, and you may find yours to be unwilling or unable to help.
Getting the right IEP or 504 in place for him will be crucial regardless of AAP. And having that on file will help with your narrative that he is 2E. But without strong evidence of the second E, it won't be enough on it's own. Get an intelligence score that reflects his true abilities and build a cadre of student work samples that definitively demonstrate that he is gifted. And cross your fingers that either his HOPE score isn't a deal-breaker or that the 2E evidence counterbalances it enough to make the cut.
I would discourage you from trying to frame your application on the premise that he needs AAP *because of* his autism/PDA. The AAP program is not meant to be an accommodation in that way. You will need to prove that he is twice exceptional not just with an autism diagnosis but with strong evidence of advanced cognitive skills.
Good luck.
If you feel that the program is right for him, you will have your work cutout for you in crafting your application next year. I strongly encourage you to see if you can get an intelligence test score that contradicts the low scores he has on file. This might mean retaking the Cogat (GMU offers this) or trying to get a WISC score (though if that's the test he was taking when he tried to fool the examiner, he can't try again for at least 12 months regardless of the test being rendered invalid). iReady improvement is helpful, but not likely to be enough on its own.
Strong work samples will also be key. And you can try connecting with the AART in your school to see if she can do some pullouts with him to elicit some of his deep/creative thinking as well (for his teacher packet). Not all AARTs are created equal, though, and you may find yours to be unwilling or unable to help.
Getting the right IEP or 504 in place for him will be crucial regardless of AAP. And having that on file will help with your narrative that he is 2E. But without strong evidence of the second E, it won't be enough on it's own. Get an intelligence score that reflects his true abilities and build a cadre of student work samples that definitively demonstrate that he is gifted. And cross your fingers that either his HOPE score isn't a deal-breaker or that the 2E evidence counterbalances it enough to make the cut.
I would discourage you from trying to frame your application on the premise that he needs AAP *because of* his autism/PDA. The AAP program is not meant to be an accommodation in that way. You will need to prove that he is twice exceptional not just with an autism diagnosis but with strong evidence of advanced cognitive skills.
Good luck.
Anonymous
07/15/2025 16:29
Subject: Re:Missed Level IV Appeal, not sure what to do now - 2E rising 3rd grader, can anyone advise?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Other than the tester, has he been diagnosed by a clinician with anything beyond autism? What were the tests and score areas he scored as highly gifted?
My guess is the child has no official diagnosis other than autism (bc she responded to other posts after mine above but not this one) and she can’t simply claim he does to FCPS. She’s also refused to answer info about specific testing and results.
She seems to be looking for how to get a free pass because of a diagnosis.
She doesn't have a diagnosis other than autism unless she claims - and she seems to be doing so - that the tester is diagnosing her son.
Anonymous
07/15/2025 09:24
Subject: Missed Level IV Appeal, not sure what to do now - 2E rising 3rd grader, can anyone advise?
She disappeared because she knows she doesn't have anything to back up her AAP request. OP, if you want your child in AAP then get him tested - WISC - and include the scores in next year's application. It's too late for this year. They won't principal place a child just because his mom says he's 2E.
Anonymous
07/14/2025 21:29
Subject: Re:Missed Level IV Appeal, not sure what to do now - 2E rising 3rd grader, can anyone advise?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Other than the tester, has he been diagnosed by a clinician with anything beyond autism? What were the tests and score areas he scored as highly gifted?
My guess is the child has no official diagnosis other than autism (bc she responded to other posts after mine above but not this one) and she can’t simply claim he does to FCPS. She’s also refused to answer info about specific testing and results.
She seems to be looking for how to get a free pass because of a diagnosis.
Anonymous
07/14/2025 07:19
Subject: Re:Missed Level IV Appeal, not sure what to do now - 2E rising 3rd grader, can anyone advise?
Anonymous wrote:Other than the tester, has he been diagnosed by a clinician with anything beyond autism? What were the tests and score areas he scored as highly gifted?
My guess is the child has no official diagnosis other than autism (bc she responded to other posts after mine above but not this one) and she can’t simply claim he does to FCPS. She’s also refused to answer info about specific testing and results.
Anonymous
07/13/2025 13:27
Subject: Missed Level IV Appeal, not sure what to do now - 2E rising 3rd grader, can anyone advise?
It sounds like OP has a lot to figure out with her son, but there's clearly a ways to go. She asks what to do now-- Focus on getting the right diagnosis! Focus on communicating with him! Work with his teachers. Figure out what motivates him to comply with taking a test. LIV placement is not going to solve any of those things.
Then, read this forum! There are plenty of bright kids out there with high test scores across the board (NNAT, COGAT, and iREADY) who "would do better in AAP" but who didn't get in for some reason... HOPE, work samples. You have to put together a full package that clearly documents that his needs aren't met in general Ed.
Then, read this forum! There are plenty of bright kids out there with high test scores across the board (NNAT, COGAT, and iREADY) who "would do better in AAP" but who didn't get in for some reason... HOPE, work samples. You have to put together a full package that clearly documents that his needs aren't met in general Ed.
Anonymous
07/13/2025 00:43
Subject: Missed Level IV Appeal, not sure what to do now - 2E rising 3rd grader, can anyone advise?
Anonymous wrote:Did OP say what her child's COGAT, NNAT were? And if she ever got a WISC? I didn't see any of that here, I saw that he did well on an iReady.
Nope. The only score OP mentioned was 98% on 1 iready (but had previously not done well on iready) and 13% on some section of testing, unclear if that was cogat or wisc or something else.
Anonymous
07/12/2025 23:37
Subject: Missed Level IV Appeal, not sure what to do now - 2E rising 3rd grader, can anyone advise?
Did OP say what her child's COGAT, NNAT were? And if she ever got a WISC? I didn't see any of that here, I saw that he did well on an iReady.
Anonymous
07/12/2025 23:34
Subject: Missed Level IV Appeal, not sure what to do now - 2E rising 3rd grader, can anyone advise?
Anonymous wrote:14:57 - I think you missed that I now have test results from Fairfax County and his iReady from spring.
That said, I don't know that he "belongs" in AAP, but I do think he would do better in AAP than a general education classroom. I think that's his best option within the constraints that exist.
Where he actually belongs is the 2e center that doesn't exist yet.
What test results specifically do you have from Fairfax County? iReady is just a snapshot in time - plenty of kids (including mine) get in the high 90th percentiles on iReady and still don't get into AAP. Did you ask to see his HOPE rating?
Anonymous
07/11/2025 17:51
Subject: Missed Level IV Appeal, not sure what to do now - 2E rising 3rd grader, can anyone advise?
It sounds like you have a high IQ kid who doesn't want to do school work. That is, unfortunately, not a strange intellectual profile at all.
It may help to consider your "problem" as two distinguishable issues that overlap.
The first issues is school placement. Absolutely try for AAP, seeking out principal placement and applying for next year. Assignments and tests that are not challenging to your child will only exacerbate his unwillingness to complete them. More challenging work, on the other hand, may engage your child. He may be more likely to complete assignments/take tests seriously. It's, at least, worth a try.
As long as your child is keeping up academically in AAP, AAP is the correct placement for your child.
You may also need to consider enrichment opportunities that will help him to develop more academic grit, especially if AAP turns out not to be challenging enough for your child.
The second issue is the PDA. Even if school work is boring, he needs to do it. That's a life skill he needs to learn to be successful in the upper grades, and in his eventual career.
It's hard, OP. I'm in the thick of it right now too. So I don't have any tips on the latter, but I think approaching these as two separate issues may help you to outline a plan of action for him.
It may help to consider your "problem" as two distinguishable issues that overlap.
The first issues is school placement. Absolutely try for AAP, seeking out principal placement and applying for next year. Assignments and tests that are not challenging to your child will only exacerbate his unwillingness to complete them. More challenging work, on the other hand, may engage your child. He may be more likely to complete assignments/take tests seriously. It's, at least, worth a try.
As long as your child is keeping up academically in AAP, AAP is the correct placement for your child.
You may also need to consider enrichment opportunities that will help him to develop more academic grit, especially if AAP turns out not to be challenging enough for your child.
The second issue is the PDA. Even if school work is boring, he needs to do it. That's a life skill he needs to learn to be successful in the upper grades, and in his eventual career.
It's hard, OP. I'm in the thick of it right now too. So I don't have any tips on the latter, but I think approaching these as two separate issues may help you to outline a plan of action for him.
Anonymous
07/11/2025 16:51
Subject: Missed Level IV Appeal, not sure what to do now - 2E rising 3rd grader, can anyone advise?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Not the end of the world. Parent of TJ grad kid here. Kid was in AAP program since 3rd grade. Classmates who stayed in regular program excelled too. They got into excellent colleges. In the end it didn’t seem to make a big difference.
Or apply again next year. Good luck!
In the grand scheme of things, nothing matters.
In the meantime, AAP can be important for some children and really has nothing at all to do with high school or college. AAP has to do with 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th and 6th.
OP, you cannot ask for AAP in an IEP but you can talk to the principal about it. That would be the place to start. The principal, the AART, and counselor and school psychologist.
And 7th and 8th.