The number of exceptionally gifted kids is likely to be small and they may need differentiated attention in any classroom, even honors class.

Anonymous wrote:OP, there are many parents in FCPS that share your frustration. Montgomery County handles "gifted" education differently. They do not have separate classes, separating kids from their friends and peers based on an arbitrary point or two of IQ points.

In Montgomery County an elementary school principal was asked, "what would change if a child gets a "gifted" designation?" Her answer was, "If I have been doing my job right, nothing." My teachers would have already identified students and would already have been enriching curriculum as needed for them. I would be overseeing that. By middle school and high school, there are so many students able to handle the gifted curriculum, but don't have the label, that the label is meaningless. Course placement is made based on most recent testing and student performance.

I also like the Principal embracing responsibility for how/what is being taught by "their" teachers in the classroom. I never got that sense from FCPS Principals.

Well, isn’t that lovely.

In 99% of cases, they aren’t doing their job to serve gifted students. Lack of resources, lack of appropriate training, and perhaps most importantly, no one cares or holds teachers accountable for the appropriate progress of gifted kids. They care only about high % of class being at grade level.

OP, there are many parents in FCPS that share your frustration. Montgomery County handles "gifted" education differently. They do not have separate classes, separating kids from their friends and peers based on an arbitrary point or two of IQ points.

In Montgomery County an elementary school principal was asked, "what would change if a child gets a "gifted" designation?" Her answer was, "If I have been doing my job right, nothing." My teachers would have already identified students and would already have been enriching curriculum as needed for them. I would be overseeing that. By middle school and high school, there are so many students able to handle the gifted curriculum, but don't have the label, that the label is meaningless. Course placement is made based on most recent testing and student performance.

I also like the Principal embracing responsibility for how/what is being taught by "their" teachers in the classroom. I never got that sense from FCPS Principals.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:what % of all FCPS classrooms are AAP classrooms?

Number of students in AAP 15-20%, IIRC, so roughly one in five.

If you include principal placements into LLIV, it's 26%. So one in four is a better approximation.

Anonymous wrote:what % of all FCPS classrooms are AAP classrooms?

Number of students in AAP 15-20%, IIRC, so roughly one in five.

what % of all FCPS classrooms are AAP classrooms?

2020 AAP referrals due tomorrow (Thursday Jan. 9th ‘20). If unsure or undecided, submit parent referral anyway - do not miss the deadline.

ie AAP parent referral and all other paperwork is due tomorrow. There is no change in the date due to the snow.

Anonymous wrote:+ 1

-1

It's Thursday, January 9th, not Friday.

+ 1

Parent referral deadline is this Friday, Jan 9th 2020 for all FCPS schools.

Anonymous wrote:Don't some FCPS schools have AAP in Gen Ed?

AAP is just an academic program. Is the selection process for kids needed? does it add any value?

Why not have AAP across all of FCPS and challenge truly exceptional kids with differentiation by their own school teachers (based on their specific needs)?

You should read the state law that mandates gifted education in the state. You'd have your answer.

Anonymous wrote:(OP - relatively new to FCPS)

Very simple answer: Not every kid can handle the load of AAP curriculum.

The AAP curriculum is used at our level IV school for everyone in science and social studies. I don’t have anything to compare it with since both my children go there. It’s fine and not terribly challenging, or at least the way they teach it. As for math and LA I have one child who receives AAP services and one who does not. I would not want AAP for everyone in these subjects. One of my children struggles with the gen ed curriculum and has made huge progress in math and writing but has worked hard with his grade level curriculum. He feels proud and successful because he is at the right level for him.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op, I get it. No student should be denied the opportunity to reach their potential.

Do not allow the proponents of "Gifted Education" to have you doubt what you know should be the right thing.

You must be new here. This isn't a forum for proponents of Gifted Education. It's mostly for people to attack AAP and AAP kids.

? ... just a post to better understand the academic program and appreciate any feedback/insight from teachers/parents that might benefit all kids - OP

[exceptional kids at either end of spectrum will need differentiation in any academic program to meet their needs but this will be a relatively small group, and a high(er) percentage of FCPS kids -but not all- seem to be active in AAP academic programs at various levels including level iv]