Anonymous
Post 04/08/2026 16:03     Subject: How did you tell your child about the AAP result?
I didn't say anything. She will go to the class assigned to her. Didn't know we applied.
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2026 12:34     Subject: How did you tell your child about the AAP result?
Anonymous wrote:We are having an AAP party next week with all of her friends who got in, they are SO excited!!

Haha! That actually sounds fun. Congrats to your daughter and her friends!
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2026 10:50     Subject: How did you tell your child about the AAP result?
Anonymous wrote:We are having an AAP party next week with all of her friends who got in, they are SO excited!!


Pretty sure this is sarcasm.
Anonymous
Post 04/06/2026 19:16     Subject: How did you tell your child about the AAP result?
That's what it should be - special ed.
Anonymous
Post 04/06/2026 12:53     Subject: How did you tell your child about the AAP result?
“In Kansas, gifted services are provided through Special Education and, therefore, follow Special Education eligibility processes and procedures.”
Anonymous
Post 04/06/2026 12:51     Subject: How did you tell your child about the AAP result?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I was concerned about this too, so here’s a paraphrased version of what I said:

The school looked at all the work you’ve been doing and realized your brain works differently and needs different kind of teaching. Some things come really easy for you, and you learn really fast, and some things are hard for you. So they’re going to make sure you have a teacher and a class that helps you learn the best way for you.

Of course, kids talk and know what AAP is. I’ve heard them talk about who’s in the smart group or whatever. So I also say something like:

This doesn’t mean that you’re smarter than other kids who aren’t in AAP. There’s lots of ways to be smart, and learning fast is just one way.

I also tell them I’m proud of all their hard work in school, and I’m glad they’re going to be in a class that fits them. I’m really careful not to say I’m proud they “got into AAP.”


You do understand that there are a good portion of in pool kids(top 10% of the grade) that don’t get in? So those kids don’t learn “fast”?

By saying “your brain works differently”, you are telling your kid that he/she is smart, what’s bad about this is when they realize they aren’t as smart as their parent told them, they either lose trust or start questioning themselves.


This above-mentioned method is modeled after discussing neurodivergence, which is technically what giftededness is. To get really technical, gifted education is a type of special education, and some states/districts used to use IEPs for giftedness.

Now, discussing how AAP and giftedness relate is a whole different conversation.
Legally, it isn't. FERPA doesn't cover giftedness.


You mean the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act? Which protects privacy of records?

If you’re saying it’s not federally recognized as such, you are correct. However, some educational philosophies consider it just as necessary for gifted students to have access to a curriculum that fits their needs as for those with learning disabilities.

Anonymous
Post 04/06/2026 11:03     Subject: How did you tell your child about the AAP result?
When my older child got in, the plan was to stay local … so I figured say nothing. Then that child came home from school (in 2nd) saying so and so got into AAP. So I told them they did as well, but don’t discuss bc it could hurt feelings, etc.

When my younger got in, I again didn’t say anything, and he didn’t bring it up. After attending the orientations and deciding the center was the right choice, I explained that he got into a program at X school, I believe these kids are also going, isn’t that cool, don’t be a jerk and brag about it.
Anonymous
Post 04/06/2026 02:32     Subject: How did you tell your child about the AAP result?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I was concerned about this too, so here’s a paraphrased version of what I said:

The school looked at all the work you’ve been doing and realized your brain works differently and needs different kind of teaching. Some things come really easy for you, and you learn really fast, and some things are hard for you. So they’re going to make sure you have a teacher and a class that helps you learn the best way for you.

Of course, kids talk and know what AAP is. I’ve heard them talk about who’s in the smart group or whatever. So I also say something like:

This doesn’t mean that you’re smarter than other kids who aren’t in AAP. There’s lots of ways to be smart, and learning fast is just one way.

I also tell them I’m proud of all their hard work in school, and I’m glad they’re going to be in a class that fits them. I’m really careful not to say I’m proud they “got into AAP.”


You do understand that there are a good portion of in pool kids(top 10% of the grade) that don’t get in? So those kids don’t learn “fast”?

By saying “your brain works differently”, you are telling your kid that he/she is smart, what’s bad about this is when they realize they aren’t as smart as their parent told them, they either lose trust or start questioning themselves.


This above-mentioned method is modeled after discussing neurodivergence, which is technically what giftededness is. To get really technical, gifted education is a type of special education, and some states/districts used to use IEPs for giftedness.

Now, discussing how AAP and giftedness relate is a whole different conversation.
Legally, it isn't. FERPA doesn't cover giftedness.
Anonymous
Post 04/05/2026 23:56     Subject: How did you tell your child about the AAP result?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We are having an AAP party next week with all of her friends who got in, they are SO excited!!


I hope you are joking. So you will leave out the friends who didn’t get in? NICE! FYI, my kid had gotten in and we didn’t go around having parties on it and excluding the kids who didn’t.


Well it would be really rude to invite the kids who didn't get in, they would feel really left out, don't you think? Plus, she and her 3 best friends all got in, so it's just like a little party that we'd be having anyway, this one is just themed!
Anonymous
Post 04/05/2026 23:06     Subject: How did you tell your child about the AAP result?
Anonymous wrote:We are having an AAP party next week with all of her friends who got in, they are SO excited!!


Congrats! You should definitely celebrate together!

Knowing that this will be the peak of your kid and her friends, have a blast!

Anonymous
Post 04/05/2026 19:25     Subject: How did you tell your child about the AAP result?
Anonymous wrote:We are having an AAP party next week with all of her friends who got in, they are SO excited!!


I hope you are joking. So you will leave out the friends who didn’t get in? NICE! FYI, my kid had gotten in and we didn’t go around having parties on it and excluding the kids who didn’t.
Anonymous
Post 04/05/2026 11:18     Subject: How did you tell your child about the AAP result?
We are having an AAP party next week with all of her friends who got in, they are SO excited!!
Anonymous
Post 04/02/2026 11:38     Subject: Re:How did you tell your child about the AAP result?
I said nothing until a few hours before orientation when I said we are going to the school (laes) tonight for a meeting about classes for next year. Kid attended laes from k onward and knew nothing about aap before then. In fact, the day before we ran into a friend who asked kid if kid was going to the aap orientation the next day and my kid said no.

Literally no purpose in making your kid feel superior to anyone, bc they are not.

Kid is now an adult graduating HS and heading to college soon.
Anonymous
Post 04/02/2026 10:53     Subject: How did you tell your child about the AAP result?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I was concerned about this too, so here’s a paraphrased version of what I said:

The school looked at all the work you’ve been doing and realized your brain works differently and needs different kind of teaching. Some things come really easy for you, and you learn really fast, and some things are hard for you. So they’re going to make sure you have a teacher and a class that helps you learn the best way for you.

Of course, kids talk and know what AAP is. I’ve heard them talk about who’s in the smart group or whatever. So I also say something like:

This doesn’t mean that you’re smarter than other kids who aren’t in AAP. There’s lots of ways to be smart, and learning fast is just one way.

I also tell them I’m proud of all their hard work in school, and I’m glad they’re going to be in a class that fits them. I’m really careful not to say I’m proud they “got into AAP.”


You do understand that there are a good portion of in pool kids(top 10% of the grade) that don’t get in? So those kids don’t learn “fast”?

By saying “your brain works differently”, you are telling your kid that he/she is smart, what’s bad about this is when they realize they aren’t as smart as their parent told them, they either lose trust or start questioning themselves.


This above-mentioned method is modeled after discussing neurodivergence, which is technically what giftededness is. To get really technical, gifted education is a type of special education, and some states/districts used to use IEPs for giftedness.

Now, discussing how AAP and giftedness relate is a whole different conversation.
Anonymous
Post 04/02/2026 09:49     Subject: How did you tell your child about the AAP result?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I didn't tell my kid she got in. She came home that day from school upset because all the kids who did were shouting it from the rooftops like they got into Harvard.

I suggest addressing it before school. Talking about not discussing it with others. We told her some kids might learn better in other locations in different ways.

I had 2 kids one center one not. Trust me, elementary parents, AAP kids do not outshine kids in HS. It won't matter at all. Go to the best fit. Honors in MS is the same.

it is a shame FCPS does this to 2nd graders. My kid had a fine experience in AAP, but she would have been fine at her base school with her sibling. It shouldn't be a choice you have to make in 2nd grade.


Agree with the sentiment, but I just wanted to point out that there are many school systems that do this from K and 1st grade. I think If it were to happen in 3rd or 4th grade it could be even more difficult for kids to process.


Some kids learned letters before K, some can read, some are just starting to learn English. It makes sense to teach those groups separately until it evens out, which it in most cases will. But it's strange to put any sort of labels at this point in my opinion.