Hi, NP here. My viewpoint/knowledge is as a parent with a kid in TAG. Part of the issue with the curriculum is that the redid the curriculum for the entire ACPS, THEN then they redid the honors curriculum. The introduction of these curriculums has had bumps. I can't really say if these bumps are the inevitable ones that always happen with any change, or if it was "bumpier" than it could have been, but the idea is that the year the curriculum is introduced always includes adjustments as they put theory to the "real world" test and find out what works and what doesn't.
This year is the first year of the new 5 year Local Plan for Talented and Gifted Services. (Every school district in VA is required to redo their plan every 5 years, and last year ACPS was due.)
You can read the Local Plan here:
http://www.acps.k12.va.us/curriculum/tag/
which will probably be more helpful than having folks trying to explain individual portions of it.
I've been very happy with the TAG services my child has received so far.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

If you went through to private schools and then found ACPS to be a good fit, then the problem was not the private schools but the adademic rigor was too much for your child.

What a hideous thing to say to someone. Whatever you think of ACPS, why would you feel the need to suggest that someone's child that you don't even know is unintelligent? Perhaps the rigor of learning to spell the word "academic" correctly is too much for you.

I never suggested the child was not intelligent. I suggested that he wasn't able to keep up with a rigourous academic program. Not every single child is going to be able to do so. It doesn't mean that they are not intelligent but yes, it might mean that they are average or slightly below average academically. The poster says they removed their child from two Alexandria private school for academic issues.

I'm the PP, and that's a fanciful interpretation. The private school curricula were weak. In fact, much weaker than the ACPS curriculum. And the ACPS TAG and honors programs (which are not the same) simply blow the private school curricula away. We pulled from private, in part for academic reasons -- because the privates we saw are simply so weak.

I attended a public meeting held last year by the school system where representatives from school system admitted the TAG program and honors programs were both problematic. That the honors courses had no curriculum (so I find it weird you would say these calsses "blow the private school curricula" since none actually existed.) The TAG program was being revamped and would actually have tests and require students to do the standard tests like FCPS administer.

I am guessing the "special art program" is the art class that is TAG designated.
Students could previously be indentifed for a single subject TAG class and no other TAG courses. Starting this year, that was supposed to end as well as an end to putting new students into TAG Art.

Anonymous wrote:

The teachers advised us that they had been working with the new curriculum extensively, and the within-year deliveries were basically just implementing details.



Wow, someone from central office is trying to pass themselves off as a parent. Only they would believe that teachers are working with the new curriculum extensively, and that within-year deliveries were basically implementing details!!

.

Well, I'm one of the PPs, and I don't work for ACPS in any fashion, nor does anyone in my family. I posted because it looked like misinformation was posted by someone with an axe to grind. Sure seems as if I was right. OP, disregard the scare stories.
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You are one of the PPs, but are you the PP that wrote the above: "The teachers advised us they had been working with the new curriculum extensively, and the within-year deliveries were basically just implementing details"...if not, you can't really tell the OP to disregard the inference that that person could be from central office; the wording just truly sounds that way. Some of the posters have nothing at all against ACPS, they are merely reporting what they know...from the back and forth I have read.

Anonymous wrote:

The teachers advised us that they had been working with the new curriculum extensively, and the within-year deliveries were basically just implementing details.

Wow, someone from central office is trying to pass themselves off as a parent. Only they would believe that teachers are working with the new curriculum extensively, and that within-year deliveries were basically implementing details!!

.

Well, I'm one of the PPs, and I don't work for ACPS in any fashion, nor does anyone in my family. I posted because it looked like misinformation was posted by someone with an axe to grind. Sure seems as if I was right. OP, disregard the scare stories.

In fact, I'd be curious whether the boosters' IP addresses match the personal addresses for Carla Branch (who, admittedly, no longer has the job)

Anonymous wrote:

The teachers advised us that they had been working with the new curriculum extensively, and the within-year deliveries were basically just implementing details.

Wow, someone from central office is trying to pass themselves off as a parent. Only they would believe that teachers are working with the new curriculum extensively, and that within-year deliveries were basically implementing details!!

+1. ACPS administration has already been caught out more than once doing unethical things to try to sway public opinion, rather than, you know, fixing its schools.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-state-of-nova/post/alexandria-reporter-carla-branch-covered-and-worked-for-alexandria-schools-is-that-kosher/2012/07/15/gJQAmaB8mW_blog.html

This is typical for Mort Sherman, BTW. To the boosters: In what way does this telegraph progress?

NP here,
I am a middle school honors teacher in ACPS. Its been interesting reading all of the comments here, both positive and negative. As the out-of-district teacher mentioned, there are pros and cons to each district and school. I would say that the curriculum is improved, but it is also still a work in progress.

ACPS has many problems IMO, but most really have to do with organizational structure and not so much with the classroom and the education students are receiving. Most of the teachers I know in my building are good, hardworking teachers.

The teachers advised us that they had been working with the new curriculum extensively, and the within-year deliveries were basically just implementing details.

Wow, someone from central office is trying to pass themselves off as a parent. Only they would believe that teachers are working with the new curriculum extensively, and that within-year deliveries were basically implementing details!!

Not sure when anything was posted on Blackboard. We typically ask the teacher first; they respond to email questions typically by the next day. The teachers advised us that they had been working with the new curriculum extensively, and the within-year deliveries were basically just implementing details. Based on the kids' performance, that seems to have been the case -- performance was generally good. I realize that the PP obviously has some animus towards the ACPS system but what's posted above relies on "my friend the teacher says that something was posted late to a web site that isn't this one.". Sorry, no thanks. I'm a parent in the system. I see it first-hand daily. The criticisms posted above aren't just unfair, they're misleading.

This is kind of funny. "They've been working with the new curriculum extensively, and within-year deliveries were basically implementing details." Seriously, a teacher responded in this fashion to you? What did you ask? And not sure how you can say that because your kids' performance was generally good, that means it "seems to have been the case"...are you referring to transfer task grades, or CRT results, or just what grades have anything to do with the timeliness of the curriculum being given to the teachers?

I am the pp, and I have no animus towards ACPS. I work in another district, and my friends work in ACPS. They get their curriculum updates on Blackboard. You know Blackboard, as your kids access it (and I assume you do too for grades and homework info). I never said "a website that isn't this one"..why would the curriculum be posted here???

Teachers who are friends do talk to each other about the pros and cons of their respective districts, just as you parents do (here, and I assume in person when with friends). My teacher friends in ACPS are dismayed by the curriculum, both its content and the fact that they didn't have time this summer to explore it, since it wasn't posted/given to them in a timely fashion.

I am glad that you feel all is fine, and that the curriculum is wonderful. It means the teachers are somehow pulling it all off, despite not being given updates in a timely manner. Just imagine how wonderful it would be if the district gave them a whole summer to prepare, for the next update.

Not sure when anything was posted on Blackboard. We typically ask the teacher first; they respond to email questions typically by the next day. The teachers advised us that they had been working with the new curriculum extensively, and the within-year deliveries were basically just implementing details. Based on the kids' performance, that seems to have been the case -- performance was generally good. I realize that the PP obviously has some animus towards the ACPS system but what's posted above relies on "my friend the teacher says that something was posted late to a web site that isn't this one.". Sorry, no thanks. I'm a parent in the system. I see it first-hand daily. The criticisms posted above aren't just unfair, they're misleading.

I posted the above, and to answer any questions on how I know, I am a teacher in another district, with a few friends in the ACPS system, who are teachers there.

First comment ("a day or so before school") is false; it was in place weeks before and was discussed in the parent welcome events more than a week before school. 3d quarter curriculum -- not true except for assignment schedules in math, which were received as the quarter started. "No kids being allowed to leave" -- doesn't seem to be true; we know of more than one.

Starting with the 3rd quarter statement: on March 5th, 3rd quarter language arts honors curriculum for 6th grade was posted on Blackboard for the teachers to use. 2nd quarter ended on Jan 25th. So..your statement that only math assignments were late is erroneous. And I know teachers in the system were told in March of last year, that they would have the curriculum by the end of the 2011-2012 school year. It wasn't until shortly before the 2012-213 school year started that they received it. How do you know it was "in place weeks before"? Did parents receive it prior to teachers receiving it? Odd if that is the case.

I know for a fact it wasn't in place weeks before, and that teachers were being called in as the summer was ending to help write it. The folks in charge of curriculum promised a lot, but failed to deliver, and then had to bring in teachers at the last minute, to assist.

I still can't fathom your statement (if this is the same person) that the curriculum is so much better than your private school experience. The curriculum has changed in each of the last four years, those in the central office that are in charge of curriculum can't get it done in a timely fashion. Teachers were brought in at the last minute, and often the cut and paste aspect of some of the curriculum guides has been terribly flawed.

Even if it was in place "weeks before" how much time do you think teachers should have to implement new curriculum effectively? A day? A week? A summer? After the quarter starts?

What makes this curriculum so much better? Stating that in certain subjects, "more is covered" doesn't explain too much. And (again, if this is the poster I am thinking it is) what special art program is your daughter in?

Thanks

Anonymous wrote:

I am not sure if I am using the quote feature correctly or not, but I am responding to the issue of open honors enrollment. There is an honors curriculum, but teachers received the first chunk of it a day or so before school started, and received the 3rd quarter honors curriculum a couple of weeks after 3rd quarter started. No sign of 4th quarter honors curriculum yet.

I know of no kids being allowed to leave honors courses; teachers, students and parents were told that could happen, but counselors keep telling kids to stick it out. This frustrates many students and teachers alike; unmotivated kids remain, as do kids who truly can't keep up and become perhaps disruptive, or merely keep things moving at a very slow pace.

Could the poster who stated they removed their child from private, and are now experiencing a better curriculum, including honors, please respond to this statement....(or anyone with experience at the middle school level, especially honors). Thanks.

First comment ("a day or so before school") is false; it was in place weeks before and was discussed in the parent welcome events more than a week before school. 3d quarter curriculum -- not true except for assignment schedules in math, which were received as the quarter started. "No kids being allowed to leave" -- doesn't seem to be true; we know of more than one.

Anonymous wrote:

I am not sure if I am using the quote feature correctly or not, but I am responding to the issue of open honors enrollment. There is an honors curriculum, but teachers received the first chunk of it a day or so before school started, and received the 3rd quarter honors curriculum a couple of weeks after 3rd quarter started. No sign of 4th quarter honors curriculum yet.

I know of no kids being allowed to leave honors courses; teachers, students and parents were told that could happen, but counselors keep telling kids to stick it out. This frustrates many students and teachers alike; unmotivated kids remain, as do kids who truly can't keep up and become perhaps disruptive, or merely keep things moving at a very slow pace.

Could the poster who stated they removed their child from private, and are now experiencing a better curriculum, including honors, please respond to this statement....(or anyone with experience at the middle school level, especially honors). Thanks.

I am not sure if I am using the quote feature correctly or not, but I am responding to the issue of open honors enrollment. There is an honors curriculum, but teachers received the first chunk of it a day or so before school started, and received the 3rd quarter honors curriculum a couple of weeks after 3rd quarter started. No sign of 4th quarter honors curriculum yet.

I know of no kids being allowed to leave honors courses; teachers, students and parents were told that could happen, but counselors keep telling kids to stick it out. This frustrates many students and teachers alike; unmotivated kids remain, as do kids who truly can't keep up and become perhaps disruptive, or merely keep things moving at a very slow pace.

Could the poster who stated they removed their child from private, and are now experiencing a better curriculum, including honors, please respond to this statement....(or anyone with experience at the middle school level, especially honors). Thanks.