Anonymous wrote:I have a question based on the above comments. How is it possible that a child, who does very well in all tests (not only NNAT and FxAT but also WISC), plus has good grades (meaning that the child is not having any issues at school), doesn't have decent GBRS or strong work samples? What could be happening in the classroom to make this obviously very smart child not show any notable signs of intelligence, yet do well in grades and high-level tests? What could be a reasonable explanation for that?

They have a word for this. Its called "Prejudice".

Anonymous wrote:I have a question based on the above comments. How is it possible that a child, who does very well in all tests (not only NNAT and FxAT but also WISC), plus has good grades (meaning that the child is not having any issues at school), doesn't have decent GBRS or strong work samples? What could be happening in the classroom to make this obviously very smart child not show any notable signs of intelligence, yet do well in grades and high-level tests? What could be a reasonable explanation for that?

The GBRS is a lot more subjective than it ought to be.

I have a question based on the above comments. How is it possible that a child, who does very well in all tests (not only NNAT and FxAT but also WISC), plus has good grades (meaning that the child is not having any issues at school), doesn't have decent GBRS or strong work samples? What could be happening in the classroom to make this obviously very smart child not show any notable signs of intelligence, yet do well in grades and high-level tests? What could be a reasonable explanation for that?

Anonymous wrote:I have never understood the anger and pushiness until now. My first child was s model in school and got in without me even filling out the parents' questionnaire. Now my son passed both nnnat (99%) and FxAT (97%), but was rejected for very low GBRS and work samples. As their parents, I know they have similar IQs, but different styles. I know my son needs AAP more as he could not concentrate if there is not enough challenge. But my daughter could be an excellent student anywhere.
Now I am a pushy parent and will appeal. Please tell me if somebody can stay calm if their kids have strong testing scores but rejected! Why bother to test at the first place then? Isn't the testing suppose to catch the kids who would otherwise not be noticed?

because the tests alone aren't determinative. Maybe they're looking for kids whose GBRS and work samples tend to corroborate the high test scores.

Do you think a reasonable WISC will help? Is the woodcock Johnson test useful?
Based on the comparison between my two kids, my son's wisc may be 130-135, His nnat is 135. Do you feel that will be helpful to prove that the testing score is not artificial?
I thought they changed to fxat so there is no gaming of that part this year?

PP: That was the theory....then some people figured out how to game the tests. What they noticed was an increase in the number of kids with low GBRS & high test scores. Some, not all, are the result of prepping. Unfortunately, because of the prepping, the county profiles those kids, and assumes the high scores are artificial.

I have never understood the anger and pushiness until now. My first child was s model in school and got in without me even filling out the parents' questionnaire. Now my son passed both nnnat (99%) and FxAT (97%), but was rejected for very low GBRS and work samples. As their parents, I know they have similar IQs, but different styles. I know my son needs AAP more as he could not concentrate if there is not enough challenge. But my daughter could be an excellent student anywhere.
Now I am a pushy parent and will appeal. Please tell me if somebody can stay calm if their kids have strong testing scores but rejected! Why bother to test at the first place then? Isn't the testing suppose to catch the kids who would otherwise not be noticed?

OP: Do what you think is best for your child. Do not worry about others thinking you are "pushy" That is just a way to put you down. But, you may want to keep your efforts to yourself (Crazy that you have to!) But where I live there are many coming in from out of state --many get rejected, then let in on appeal. If those people had not told me that it was possible, I would have given up. We are out now, but it was terrific for my DS, and well worth the effort.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:so using thicker resume paper for the appeal is the ticket then? Oh my Buddha. I can't understand why some people call you folks "pushy parent."

Haven't you heard? There's no ticket. There is, however, an opportunity to present your child's strengths in as many ways as you can. If someone is going to the trouble of appealing, they might as well do that. If "letting the scores speak for themselves" wasn't enough the first time, try something else. You can call it pushy, I call it persistent. Threatening to sue, filing FOIA requests, calling congressmen? That's pushy in my book. At least wait and try again next year if this is the first time your child has been declared ineligible.

Mind you, my DC is AAP center-eligible. I'm just trying to hold the door open for the people coming up the sidewalk behind me.

I really think you should submit the appeal inside a leather-bound portfolio with the word "AAP Appeal" embossed in gold on the front cover.
Inside you may want to annotate your child's written work with your interpretation of what the child really means by this so the committee doesn't "miss it."

Anonymous wrote:so using thicker resume paper for the appeal is the ticket then? Oh my Buddha. I can't understand why some people call you folks "pushy parent."

PP did not suggest thicker paper for the appeal but rather submitting a number of materials that would keep reviewers' eyes on the file long enough for something to possibly resonate. I thought it was explained very clearly in the post.

Anonymous wrote:so using thicker resume paper for the appeal is the ticket then? Oh my Buddha. I can't understand why some people call you folks "pushy parent."

Haven't you heard? There's no ticket. There is, however, an opportunity to present your child's strengths in as many ways as you can. If someone is going to the trouble of appealing, they might as well do that. If "letting the scores speak for themselves" wasn't enough the first time, try something else. You can call it pushy, I call it persistent. Threatening to sue, filing FOIA requests, calling congressmen? That's pushy in my book. At least wait and try again next year if this is the first time your child has been declared ineligible.

Mind you, my DC is AAP center-eligible. I'm just trying to hold the door open for the people coming up the sidewalk behind me.

so using thicker resume paper for the appeal is the ticket then? Oh my Buddha. I can't understand why some people call you folks "pushy parent."

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Anonymous wrote:I submitted WISC in original file, FSIQ 133, GAI 144, but we did not get in.

That's very surprising. Get into local III, then try again next year.

Would you try another test and appeal? I don't know if new information is good enough with another recommendation and some work samples, or if I really need a test score.

Would recommendations and works samples really be considered "new information" for an appeal?

Are you asking for real or being facetious? I'm not sure if they would be considered "new". I did call the center and they said I could include additional work samples showing additional variety, so I'm thinking yes, but not sure... Any concrete advice appreciated!

Not being facetious. Hadn't looked at the instructions for the appeal form. Definitely appeal. Submit as many letters of recommendation and work samples as you can. They've seen the test scores. Now make them see the "whole child".

Also, when you submit work samples, write a sentence or two on the bottom about what behavior it shows (use the lists on the GBRS). That's what someone from DC's school did with her work samples. Don't assume the committee will look at a work sample and know what it's supposed to show. Same thing for certificates. If your DC has a piano certificate or sports certificate that shows she 's achieved a certain level, type a few sentences on it about any goals she's set for herself, how committed she is to practice, how far she's progressed, etc. You know your child, but the committee doesn't. Let them get to know her in as many ways as you can. Don't limit your explanations to the parent questionnaire. And if you haven't done the parent questionnaire, do it.

Back in the dark ages before online job hunting, we were advised to use thicker paper for resumes. The idea was that the different feel of it would get the reviewer's attention and draw their eye to the information on it. I don't know if that would work in this case, but what I'm trying to say is do as much as you can to keep the reviewer's eyes on your child's file. The more there is for them to see, the better chance that something will catch their eye and strike a chord with them. You don't have anything to lose by trying.

What about slipping the AART a couple hundred bucks? Wouldn't that help to make sure DC is placed where they belong, even with substandard scores? I heard of a couple AARTs who will take money to improve kids' chances of getting in to AAP program. Very entrepreneurial!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I submitted WISC in original file, FSIQ 133, GAI 144, but we did not get in.

That's very surprising. Get into local III, then try again next year.

Would you try another test and appeal? I don't know if new information is good enough with another recommendation and some work samples, or if I really need a test score.

Would recommendations and works samples really be considered "new information" for an appeal?

Are you asking for real or being facetious? I'm not sure if they would be considered "new". I did call the center and they said I could include additional work samples showing additional variety, so I'm thinking yes, but not sure... Any concrete advice appreciated!

Not being facetious. Hadn't looked at the instructions for the appeal form. Definitely appeal. Submit as many letters of recommendation and work samples as you can. They've seen the test scores. Now make them see the "whole child".