Can we all come together and agree to officially change the name AAP to a more accurate name- AAP Bloat.

Anonymous wrote: making AAP the Gen Ed curriculum or open to all, etc. etc.

The AAP curriculum is available to all students in some schools, based on a decision made by the school principal with the regional superintendent. If it is not at your school, you should raise the issue with your school principal.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS has advanced academic level 4, level 3, and level 2 advanced math groups and kids can be brought into any of these levels at any given year. How many more levels do people want for advanced academics?

People (aap haters) don't want to say that they're child receives some advanced services. It's not enough. They want to say "my child is in AAP" and if they can't, then they don't want anyone to be able to.

Waa!!! Waa!!

I'm a PP who wrote critically about AAP earlier and I had a son in the program -- it's not waah, waah, trust me. It's sensible people looking at a program that's driven a wedge into the FCPS community because of how it's been implemented and wondering how did we get here?

And what in particular do you find wrong with it and in your opinion can it be fixed? To me there are a couple of issues at certain schools, but I don't see an issue across the board within FCPS. I have yet to find a school system where advanced academics isn't an issue.

It is too inclusive. It is too exclusive. It is not really a highly challenging curriculum but a bunch of kids that are in it can't handle it. BUT, all or most of the kids in GE can handle it. The AAP program is busting the school budget (not sure how and don't really have any idea how much it costs, but it sounds good) It makes a lot of parents feel badly. .

This exactly is what makes me confused about all the complaining. Plus the whole GE kids can handle it speech while at the same time there are parents on this board all complaining about too much homework, tutoring needs, special ed needs, farm and esol students not keeping up, etc. At this point with all the contradictory arguments I just turn a deaf ear to all the complaining either pro or against AAP. If you have suggestions how to improve the situation while addressing the contradictory argument I'm all ears and I hope our school board would be too. But I'm not interested in listening to grips about this issue any longer.

No one is forcing you to read or post on this thread, or any other. You're free to exit at any time.

True, but why have a discussion for the 100th time about whether kids in the 120-140 IQ range should be in AAP or not when they already are, especially kids you only know about via an anonymous forum? What is it accomplishing? Nothing. I was hoping people might actually advocate for something that might get implemented. If you want the criteria to be higher for testing, advocate for the testing criteria to be higher. For instance, people could advocate that the cutoff for the pool be increased. If you're concerned about too many kids in one school in AAP or concerned about transportation costs, advocate for that school to send more AAP kids back to their base schools and make their base school the center for those kids like they just did for Greenbriar West. If you think the course material in AAP isn't good enough or the course material in general ed isn't good enough, then advocate for FCPS to provide better course material. If you think AAP and general ed don't mix enough, then advocate for more mixed classes like they do in certain FCPS schools already where they just break out for language arts and math and take all accelerated math students into their AAP math classes.

Maybe a new thread is needed -- how to IMPROVE AAP (based on how it is currently implemented).

Some known issues with some ideas:
* Ensure all elementary schools provide options for advanced mathematics to all qualified students
* Improve and standardize delivery of Level 3 services at all elementary schools.
* For schools with majority AAP populations -- investigate available options to redefine feeder schools by placing a new AAP Center to balance the AAP populations WHILE ALSO ensuring critical mass at both the existing and new AAP Center school

Now this sounds sensible.

And all of these things have been brought up, time and again. Nothing new under the sun.

And what has the response been? Are these recs not acceptable to Gen Ed parents? I have a sense nothing will be good enough for parents who just want to do away with AAP all together.

I think there have been a lot of counter arguments made, but not as many threads focussed solely on improving the program for all.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS has advanced academic level 4, level 3, and level 2 advanced math groups and kids can be brought into any of these levels at any given year. How many more levels do people want for advanced academics?

People (aap haters) don't want to say that they're child receives some advanced services. It's not enough. They want to say "my child is in AAP" and if they can't, then they don't want anyone to be able to.

Waa!!! Waa!!

I'm a PP who wrote critically about AAP earlier and I had a son in the program -- it's not waah, waah, trust me. It's sensible people looking at a program that's driven a wedge into the FCPS community because of how it's been implemented and wondering how did we get here?

And what in particular do you find wrong with it and in your opinion can it be fixed? To me there are a couple of issues at certain schools, but I don't see an issue across the board within FCPS. I have yet to find a school system where advanced academics isn't an issue.

It is too inclusive. It is too exclusive. It is not really a highly challenging curriculum but a bunch of kids that are in it can't handle it. BUT, all or most of the kids in GE can handle it. The AAP program is busting the school budget (not sure how and don't really have any idea how much it costs, but it sounds good) It makes a lot of parents feel badly. .

This exactly is what makes me confused about all the complaining. Plus the whole GE kids can handle it speech while at the same time there are parents on this board all complaining about too much homework, tutoring needs, special ed needs, farm and esol students not keeping up, etc. At this point with all the contradictory arguments I just turn a deaf ear to all the complaining either pro or against AAP. If you have suggestions how to improve the situation while addressing the contradictory argument I'm all ears and I hope our school board would be too. But I'm not interested in listening to grips about this issue any longer.

No one is forcing you to read or post on this thread, or any other. You're free to exit at any time.

True, but why have a discussion for the 100th time about whether kids in the 120-140 IQ range should be in AAP or not when they already are, especially kids you only know about via an anonymous forum? What is it accomplishing? Nothing. I was hoping people might actually advocate for something that might get implemented. If you want the criteria to be higher for testing, advocate for the testing criteria to be higher. For instance, people could advocate that the cutoff for the pool be increased. If you're concerned about too many kids in one school in AAP or concerned about transportation costs, advocate for that school to send more AAP kids back to their base schools and make their base school the center for those kids like they just did for Greenbriar West. If you think the course material in AAP isn't good enough or the course material in general ed isn't good enough, then advocate for FCPS to provide better course material. If you think AAP and general ed don't mix enough, then advocate for more mixed classes like they do in certain FCPS schools already where they just break out for language arts and math and take all accelerated math students into their AAP math classes.

Maybe you haven't been around DCUM long, but ALL of these things have been advocated for - multiple times, by many people. In addition, many of us have advocated for these changes through our schools and School Board reps.

When we bring up these issues on DCUM, we're shot down every single time because the AAP parents here don't want to even entertain the thought of raising the cutoff (their own kids wouldn't get in!), having too many AAP kids in one school, cutting off AAP busing, improving Gen Ed curriculum, making AAP the Gen Ed curriculum or open to all, etc. etc. ALL of these issues have been raised and every time they are, the AAP parents flat out refuse to hear it and insist AAP is "just fine" as is. And it clearly is not.

For those you asking to raise the score...you do realize that not every child who meets the in pool benchmark with their scores gets in, right? That is merely a starting point. It is casting a wide net for a pool of students to just be CONSIDERED. Not automatically in. And you would do away with parent referral I assume since you want the pool to be so much smaller?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS has advanced academic level 4, level 3, and level 2 advanced math groups and kids can be brought into any of these levels at any given year. How many more levels do people want for advanced academics?

People (aap haters) don't want to say that they're child receives some advanced services. It's not enough. They want to say "my child is in AAP" and if they can't, then they don't want anyone to be able to.

Waa!!! Waa!!

I'm a PP who wrote critically about AAP earlier and I had a son in the program -- it's not waah, waah, trust me. It's sensible people looking at a program that's driven a wedge into the FCPS community because of how it's been implemented and wondering how did we get here?

And what in particular do you find wrong with it and in your opinion can it be fixed? To me there are a couple of issues at certain schools, but I don't see an issue across the board within FCPS. I have yet to find a school system where advanced academics isn't an issue.

It is too inclusive. It is too exclusive. It is not really a highly challenging curriculum but a bunch of kids that are in it can't handle it. BUT, all or most of the kids in GE can handle it. The AAP program is busting the school budget (not sure how and don't really have any idea how much it costs, but it sounds good) It makes a lot of parents feel badly. .

This exactly is what makes me confused about all the complaining. Plus the whole GE kids can handle it speech while at the same time there are parents on this board all complaining about too much homework, tutoring needs, special ed needs, farm and esol students not keeping up, etc. At this point with all the contradictory arguments I just turn a deaf ear to all the complaining either pro or against AAP. If you have suggestions how to improve the situation while addressing the contradictory argument I'm all ears and I hope our school board would be too. But I'm not interested in listening to grips about this issue any longer.

No one is forcing you to read or post on this thread, or any other. You're free to exit at any time.

True, but why have a discussion for the 100th time about whether kids in the 120-140 IQ range should be in AAP or not when they already are, especially kids you only know about via an anonymous forum? What is it accomplishing? Nothing. I was hoping people might actually advocate for something that might get implemented. If you want the criteria to be higher for testing, advocate for the testing criteria to be higher. For instance, people could advocate that the cutoff for the pool be increased. If you're concerned about too many kids in one school in AAP or concerned about transportation costs, advocate for that school to send more AAP kids back to their base schools and make their base school the center for those kids like they just did for Greenbriar West. If you think the course material in AAP isn't good enough or the course material in general ed isn't good enough, then advocate for FCPS to provide better course material. If you think AAP and general ed don't mix enough, then advocate for more mixed classes like they do in certain FCPS schools already where they just break out for language arts and math and take all accelerated math students into their AAP math classes.

Maybe you haven't been around DCUM long, but ALL of these things have been advocated for - multiple times, by many people. In addition, many of us have advocated for these changes through our schools and School Board reps.

When we bring up these issues on DCUM, we're shot down every single time because the AAP parents here don't want to even entertain the thought of raising the cutoff (their own kids wouldn't get in!), having too many AAP kids in one school, cutting off AAP busing, improving Gen Ed curriculum, making AAP the Gen Ed curriculum or open to all, etc. etc. ALL of these issues have been raised and every time they are, the AAP parents flat out refuse to hear it and insist AAP is "just fine" as is. And it clearly is not.

And why is it clearly not? Because you don't like it? I still don't see how the existence of AAP is a detriment to anyone expect insecure parents. How does is lower the quality of education for children in Gen Ed?

There is a reason AAP is so bloated in the wealthy school districts.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Really? Somehow I just don't see low-income parents knowing anything about referrals, appeals, or private testing.

I imagine there is a lot you don't see.

+1. Low income means low income, not necessarily inability to read.

Low income often means working multiple jobs just to stay afloat. Of course it doesn't mean unable to read. But it does mean that anything outside the ordinary when it comes to school, is going to be low priority for families whose entire focus is on just surviving, not taking their child for a $400 WISC. You know, on their day off. You people need to get out of your bubbles of privilege and get real.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS has advanced academic level 4, level 3, and level 2 advanced math groups and kids can be brought into any of these levels at any given year. How many more levels do people want for advanced academics?

People (aap haters) don't want to say that they're child receives some advanced services. It's not enough. They want to say "my child is in AAP" and if they can't, then they don't want anyone to be able to.

Waa!!! Waa!!

I'm a PP who wrote critically about AAP earlier and I had a son in the program -- it's not waah, waah, trust me. It's sensible people looking at a program that's driven a wedge into the FCPS community because of how it's been implemented and wondering how did we get here?

And what in particular do you find wrong with it and in your opinion can it be fixed? To me there are a couple of issues at certain schools, but I don't see an issue across the board within FCPS. I have yet to find a school system where advanced academics isn't an issue.

It is too inclusive. It is too exclusive. It is not really a highly challenging curriculum but a bunch of kids that are in it can't handle it. BUT, all or most of the kids in GE can handle it. The AAP program is busting the school budget (not sure how and don't really have any idea how much it costs, but it sounds good) It makes a lot of parents feel badly. .

This exactly is what makes me confused about all the complaining. Plus the whole GE kids can handle it speech while at the same time there are parents on this board all complaining about too much homework, tutoring needs, special ed needs, farm and esol students not keeping up, etc. At this point with all the contradictory arguments I just turn a deaf ear to all the complaining either pro or against AAP. If you have suggestions how to improve the situation while addressing the contradictory argument I'm all ears and I hope our school board would be too. But I'm not interested in listening to grips about this issue any longer.

No one is forcing you to read or post on this thread, or any other. You're free to exit at any time.

True, but why have a discussion for the 100th time about whether kids in the 120-140 IQ range should be in AAP or not when they already are, especially kids you only know about via an anonymous forum? What is it accomplishing? Nothing. I was hoping people might actually advocate for something that might get implemented. If you want the criteria to be higher for testing, advocate for the testing criteria to be higher. For instance, people could advocate that the cutoff for the pool be increased. If you're concerned about too many kids in one school in AAP or concerned about transportation costs, advocate for that school to send more AAP kids back to their base schools and make their base school the center for those kids like they just did for Greenbriar West. If you think the course material in AAP isn't good enough or the course material in general ed isn't good enough, then advocate for FCPS to provide better course material. If you think AAP and general ed don't mix enough, then advocate for more mixed classes like they do in certain FCPS schools already where they just break out for language arts and math and take all accelerated math students into their AAP math classes.

Maybe a new thread is needed -- how to IMPROVE AAP (based on how it is currently implemented).

Some known issues with some ideas:
* Ensure all elementary schools provide options for advanced mathematics to all qualified students
* Improve and standardize delivery of Level 3 services at all elementary schools.
* For schools with majority AAP populations -- investigate available options to redefine feeder schools by placing a new AAP Center to balance the AAP populations WHILE ALSO ensuring critical mass at both the existing and new AAP Center school

Now this sounds sensible.

And all of these things have been brought up, time and again. Nothing new under the sun.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS has advanced academic level 4, level 3, and level 2 advanced math groups and kids can be brought into any of these levels at any given year. How many more levels do people want for advanced academics?

People (aap haters) don't want to say that they're child receives some advanced services. It's not enough. They want to say "my child is in AAP" and if they can't, then they don't want anyone to be able to.

Waa!!! Waa!!

I'm a PP who wrote critically about AAP earlier and I had a son in the program -- it's not waah, waah, trust me. It's sensible people looking at a program that's driven a wedge into the FCPS community because of how it's been implemented and wondering how did we get here?

And what in particular do you find wrong with it and in your opinion can it be fixed? To me there are a couple of issues at certain schools, but I don't see an issue across the board within FCPS. I have yet to find a school system where advanced academics isn't an issue.

It is too inclusive. It is too exclusive. It is not really a highly challenging curriculum but a bunch of kids that are in it can't handle it. BUT, all or most of the kids in GE can handle it. The AAP program is busting the school budget (not sure how and don't really have any idea how much it costs, but it sounds good) It makes a lot of parents feel badly. .

This exactly is what makes me confused about all the complaining. Plus the whole GE kids can handle it speech while at the same time there are parents on this board all complaining about too much homework, tutoring needs, special ed needs, farm and esol students not keeping up, etc. At this point with all the contradictory arguments I just turn a deaf ear to all the complaining either pro or against AAP. If you have suggestions how to improve the situation while addressing the contradictory argument I'm all ears and I hope our school board would be too. But I'm not interested in listening to grips about this issue any longer.

No one is forcing you to read or post on this thread, or any other. You're free to exit at any time.

True, but why have a discussion for the 100th time about whether kids in the 120-140 IQ range should be in AAP or not when they already are, especially kids you only know about via an anonymous forum? What is it accomplishing? Nothing. I was hoping people might actually advocate for something that might get implemented. If you want the criteria to be higher for testing, advocate for the testing criteria to be higher. For instance, people could advocate that the cutoff for the pool be increased. If you're concerned about too many kids in one school in AAP or concerned about transportation costs, advocate for that school to send more AAP kids back to their base schools and make their base school the center for those kids like they just did for Greenbriar West. If you think the course material in AAP isn't good enough or the course material in general ed isn't good enough, then advocate for FCPS to provide better course material. If you think AAP and general ed don't mix enough, then advocate for more mixed classes like they do in certain FCPS schools already where they just break out for language arts and math and take all accelerated math students into their AAP math classes.

Maybe you haven't been around DCUM long, but ALL of these things have been advocated for - multiple times, by many people. In addition, many of us have advocated for these changes through our schools and School Board reps.

When we bring up these issues on DCUM, we're shot down every single time because the AAP parents here don't want to even entertain the thought of raising the cutoff (their own kids wouldn't get in!), having too many AAP kids in one school, cutting off AAP busing, improving Gen Ed curriculum, making AAP the Gen Ed curriculum or open to all, etc. etc. ALL of these issues have been raised and every time they are, the AAP parents flat out refuse to hear it and insist AAP is "just fine" as is. And it clearly is not.

Anonymous wrote:

Really? Somehow I just don't see low-income parents knowing anything about referrals, appeals, or private testing.

I imagine there is a lot you don't see.

+1. Low income means low income, not necessarily inability to read.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS has advanced academic level 4, level 3, and level 2 advanced math groups and kids can be brought into any of these levels at any given year. How many more levels do people want for advanced academics?

People (aap haters) don't want to say that they're child receives some advanced services. It's not enough. They want to say "my child is in AAP" and if they can't, then they don't want anyone to be able to.

Waa!!! Waa!!

I'm a PP who wrote critically about AAP earlier and I had a son in the program -- it's not waah, waah, trust me. It's sensible people looking at a program that's driven a wedge into the FCPS community because of how it's been implemented and wondering how did we get here?

And what in particular do you find wrong with it and in your opinion can it be fixed? To me there are a couple of issues at certain schools, but I don't see an issue across the board within FCPS. I have yet to find a school system where advanced academics isn't an issue.

It is too inclusive. It is too exclusive. It is not really a highly challenging curriculum but a bunch of kids that are in it can't handle it. BUT, all or most of the kids in GE can handle it. The AAP program is busting the school budget (not sure how and don't really have any idea how much it costs, but it sounds good) It makes a lot of parents feel badly. .

This exactly is what makes me confused about all the complaining. Plus the whole GE kids can handle it speech while at the same time there are parents on this board all complaining about too much homework, tutoring needs, special ed needs, farm and esol students not keeping up, etc. At this point with all the contradictory arguments I just turn a deaf ear to all the complaining either pro or against AAP. If you have suggestions how to improve the situation while addressing the contradictory argument I'm all ears and I hope our school board would be too. But I'm not interested in listening to grips about this issue any longer.

No one is forcing you to read or post on this thread, or any other. You're free to exit at any time.

True, but why have a discussion for the 100th time about whether kids in the 120-140 IQ range should be in AAP or not when they already are, especially kids you only know about via an anonymous forum? What is it accomplishing? Nothing. I was hoping people might actually advocate for something that might get implemented. If you want the criteria to be higher for testing, advocate for the testing criteria to be higher. For instance, people could advocate that the cutoff for the pool be increased. If you're concerned about too many kids in one school in AAP or concerned about transportation costs, advocate for that school to send more AAP kids back to their base schools and make their base school the center for those kids like they just did for Greenbriar West. If you think the course material in AAP isn't good enough or the course material in general ed isn't good enough, then advocate for FCPS to provide better course material. If you think AAP and general ed don't mix enough, then advocate for more mixed classes like they do in certain FCPS schools already where they just break out for language arts and math and take all accelerated math students into their AAP math classes.

Maybe a new thread is needed -- how to IMPROVE AAP (based on how it is currently implemented).

Some known issues with some ideas:
* Ensure all elementary schools provide options for advanced mathematics to all qualified students
* Improve and standardize delivery of Level 3 services at all elementary schools.
* For schools with majority AAP populations -- investigate available options to redefine feeder schools by placing a new AAP Center to balance the AAP populations WHILE ALSO ensuring critical mass at both the existing and new AAP Center school

Now this sounds sensible.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS has advanced academic level 4, level 3, and level 2 advanced math groups and kids can be brought into any of these levels at any given year. How many more levels do people want for advanced academics?

People (aap haters) don't want to say that they're child receives some advanced services. It's not enough. They want to say "my child is in AAP" and if they can't, then they don't want anyone to be able to.

Waa!!! Waa!!

I'm a PP who wrote critically about AAP earlier and I had a son in the program -- it's not waah, waah, trust me. It's sensible people looking at a program that's driven a wedge into the FCPS community because of how it's been implemented and wondering how did we get here?

And what in particular do you find wrong with it and in your opinion can it be fixed? To me there are a couple of issues at certain schools, but I don't see an issue across the board within FCPS. I have yet to find a school system where advanced academics isn't an issue.

It is too inclusive. It is too exclusive. It is not really a highly challenging curriculum but a bunch of kids that are in it can't handle it. BUT, all or most of the kids in GE can handle it. The AAP program is busting the school budget (not sure how and don't really have any idea how much it costs, but it sounds good) It makes a lot of parents feel badly. .

This exactly is what makes me confused about all the complaining. Plus the whole GE kids can handle it speech while at the same time there are parents on this board all complaining about too much homework, tutoring needs, special ed needs, farm and esol students not keeping up, etc. At this point with all the contradictory arguments I just turn a deaf ear to all the complaining either pro or against AAP. If you have suggestions how to improve the situation while addressing the contradictory argument I'm all ears and I hope our school board would be too. But I'm not interested in listening to grips about this issue any longer.

No one is forcing you to read or post on this thread, or any other. You're free to exit at any time.

True, but why have a discussion for the 100th time about whether kids in the 120-140 IQ range should be in AAP or not when they already are, especially kids you only know about via an anonymous forum? What is it accomplishing? Nothing. I was hoping people might actually advocate for something that might get implemented. If you want the criteria to be higher for testing, advocate for the testing criteria to be higher. For instance, people could advocate that the cutoff for the pool be increased. If you're concerned about too many kids in one school in AAP or concerned about transportation costs, advocate for that school to send more AAP kids back to their base schools and make their base school the center for those kids like they just did for Greenbriar West. If you think the course material in AAP isn't good enough or the course material in general ed isn't good enough, then advocate for FCPS to provide better course material. If you think AAP and general ed don't mix enough, then advocate for more mixed classes like they do in certain FCPS schools already where they just break out for language arts and math and take all accelerated math students into their AAP math classes.

Maybe a new thread is needed -- how to IMPROVE AAP (based on how it is currently implemented).

Some known issues with some ideas:
* Ensure all elementary schools provide options for advanced mathematics to all qualified students
* Improve and standardize delivery of Level 3 services at all elementary schools.
* For schools with majority AAP populations -- investigate available options to redefine feeder schools by placing a new AAP Center to balance the AAP populations WHILE ALSO ensuring critical mass at both the existing and new AAP Center school

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS has advanced academic level 4, level 3, and level 2 advanced math groups and kids can be brought into any of these levels at any given year. How many more levels do people want for advanced academics?

People (aap haters) don't want to say that they're child receives some advanced services. It's not enough. They want to say "my child is in AAP" and if they can't, then they don't want anyone to be able to.

Waa!!! Waa!!

I'm a PP who wrote critically about AAP earlier and I had a son in the program -- it's not waah, waah, trust me. It's sensible people looking at a program that's driven a wedge into the FCPS community because of how it's been implemented and wondering how did we get here?

And what in particular do you find wrong with it and in your opinion can it be fixed? To me there are a couple of issues at certain schools, but I don't see an issue across the board within FCPS. I have yet to find a school system where advanced academics isn't an issue.

It is too inclusive. It is too exclusive. It is not really a highly challenging curriculum but a bunch of kids that are in it can't handle it. BUT, all or most of the kids in GE can handle it. The AAP program is busting the school budget (not sure how and don't really have any idea how much it costs, but it sounds good) It makes a lot of parents feel badly. .

This exactly is what makes me confused about all the complaining. Plus the whole GE kids can handle it speech while at the same time there are parents on this board all complaining about too much homework, tutoring needs, special ed needs, farm and esol students not keeping up, etc. At this point with all the contradictory arguments I just turn a deaf ear to all the complaining either pro or against AAP. If you have suggestions how to improve the situation while addressing the contradictory argument I'm all ears and I hope our school board would be too. But I'm not interested in listening to grips about this issue any longer.

No one is forcing you to read or post on this thread, or any other. You're free to exit at any time.

True, but why have a discussion for the 100th time about whether kids in the 120-140 IQ range should be in AAP or not when they already are, especially kids you only know about via an anonymous forum? What is it accomplishing? Nothing. I was hoping people might actually advocate for something that might get implemented. If you want the criteria to be higher for testing, advocate for the testing criteria to be higher. For instance, people could advocate that the cutoff for the pool be increased. If you're concerned about too many kids in one school in AAP or concerned about transportation costs, advocate for that school to send more AAP kids back to their base schools and make their base school the center for those kids like they just did for Greenbriar West. If you think the course material in AAP isn't good enough or the course material in general ed isn't good enough, then advocate for FCPS to provide better course material. If you think AAP and general ed don't mix enough, then advocate for more mixed classes like they do in certain FCPS schools already where they just break out for language arts and math and take all accelerated math students into their AAP math classes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's a question for those of you who are dead set against making AAP the general curriculum for most kids:

How, exactly, would it harm your child if AAP became an open program, used for any child capable of doing the work? Please explain to us why it matters so much that AAP remain a closed/admission only program and why it would affect you or your child in any way if AAP supplanted GE, and a new - far more challenging curriculum - was produced for highly gifted kids.

It'll be interesting to hear your responses, especially from those of you claiming that no one can know what the abilities of all kids are. That goes for you too, right? You certainly don't know the abilities of any child other than yours, right?

It would not affect my family in any way as long as a new - far more challenging curriculum - was produced for highly gifted kids. But I suspect, there is always a line and those on the outs will be upset so right now the line is 132 for in pool. Those who score 125-131 cry foul that they too should be included. Move the line and the same thing will happen. My child's IQ was a 148. If the line was 145, people who score 140-144 will cry foul. If the line was 150, I would. My child does not belong in a class with kids who's IQ is 128, sorry!

Oh my. You do realize that plenty of parents successfully appeal to get their kids in, with yes, 128 or even below? Because remember: as has been repeated ad nauseum, the scores are only "part of the picture." Your Larlo has probably been in class all along with tons of kids whose scores are in the mid-120s. You can't have it both ways - either scores are the biggest thing the committee bases their decision on, or they're not. Sorry about that!

It is a matter of fact, not opinion, that scores are only one piece of the overall file. The only part where scores matter the most is getting kids automatically in the pool to be considered. So if your kid doesn't make the cut off, you can parent refer - and then you can appeal - you can get private testing - you can appeal again. Every year. How anyone complains about not having access is beyond me.

Really? Somehow I just don't see low-income parents knowing anything about referrals, appeals, or private testing.

FCPC can't pay for WISCs for everyone and they can't prevent people who can afford it from taking it- but they do what they can, which is test EVERY student twice, one test being nonverbal. And they do outreach/informational meetings/post info online, send it home in newsletters,etc so parents have access to information about the process. There is also the Young Scholars Program used for outreach to underrepresented groups. Anyway - I highly doubt that it is the low income parents working 2 or 3 jobs on here whining - its the entitled that can't swallow their child not receiving what they perceive to be 'the best.'