I just don't get HOW a kid with high test scores, mostly O's, positive comments from teacher and no behavioral issues could get low GBRS's. Is is a teacher/AART who doesn't know what the heck they are doing?

Sometimes I wonder if they just put the kids name in a hat and pulled them out.

All is fine and dandy if you have the funds for a WISC, but if you don't are your just plain out of luck?

Anonymous wrote:We are new to all this and do not understand many things. We met the school's gifted administrator. She is saying that the appeal is now between the FCPS and us and the school is not involved at all. In all our meetings with the classroom teacher throughout the year in the past, she indicated that my daughter has been one of the top performers in the class and is above her grade level in Math and Reading. However, she did not indicate so in her file. We are trying to meet with her if she can help my daughter's case some how but she does not want to meet with us. She is asking us to meet with the school's gifted administrator and we already did! I do not believe the school presented my daughter's case in a fair manner. My daughter is devastated with her rejection and with this mental state I am not sure how she would perform in WISC. Does any one know what can be done if we disagree with the GBRS and completeness/fairness of the school provided information? Thanks.

We have the same issue and he is in 3rd grade. My son`s GBRS score was a 7. His Cogat scores were a 136 composite. His DRA is 138 and also he has mostly O`s on his report. The school said that we need to deal with the appeals and I don`t want to pay for a WISC. The comments and the GBRS do not match at all.

Your DC sounds like a good reader but are his needs really not able to be met at the base school. I think that is a driver for the selction committee.

I also think the only thing that really works with the appeals committee is high IQ scores. Remember, to grant an appeal they basically have to say - the 6 committee members that previously looked at this application were wrong.

It is hard to say without more information.

A GBRS of 11 is not high enough to compensate for the test scores and 30 is not really a high DRA score for a 2nd grader seeking AAP admission. My daughter who was admitted last year was a 34 at the end of 1st grade.
You didn't mention the NNAT. How did he do on it?

I believe the issue is going to lie in the fact that without an IEP, they could not have provided accomodation for the test, and furthermore, without an IEP the committee would be led to believe that your son's true capabilities were shown on the test. If your son does not need accomodation to comprehend what the teacher is saying on a daily basis, it will be a bit tricky to prove that your son could not comprehend the test.

What was his FSIQ on the WISC? If it is noticably low, you might want to consider omitting the WISC scores from the appeal altogether. You wouldn't want it to work against you.

I would think the best you can do is some solid work samples from school and maybe a letter or two of recommendation.
Best of luck on your appeal!

I also posted this on another board, so sorry about the repeat, but I'm interested in anyone's thoughts. My son did not get in - we are probably going to appeal though his test scores are all over the place. Bottom line is DRA level is 30, GBRS is 11. Scores were average for the most part, but he did get a 134 on verbal comprehension portion of WISC. Did not do well on CoGAT, however I met today with AAP coordinator and found out that all of CoGAT for second graders is given orally - my son is partially deaf and has difficulty with processing information orally. School knows this, but she suggested that we appeal and put the information from the doctor/hospital in the file - apparently the school couldn't put this into his file because it is considered confidential information and so we have to do it (didn't realize that) so AAP committee did not have this information. WISC was already put in so I will put in the information about my son's hearing in on appeal along with his current grades, which were all outstanding.

I got a copy of what was submitted by the school today and the work submitted for my son was not his best. Apparently, the 2nd grade teachers at our school were all told to submit the same thing from each child, which wasn't necessarily the best representation for each child. I'm going to talk to my son's teacher about getting copies of work from his journal, where he excelled. I can't believe none of that work was submitted even though I specifically asked his teacher, who told me it would be submitted. Copies don't come home, or else I would have submitted it myself.

Interested in other people's thoughts on appeal. Is it a lost cause to appeal since my son only did well on one subtest of the WISC and basically was very average on all other test scores? Any other parents with kids who have disabilities have thoughts/comments on this process for those kids?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our daughter is in a similar situation as many in this forum and we are planning for WISC and an appeal. She got very good scores NNAT 145, COGAT 135 composite (V 109, Q 136, NV 137). But we found out that her GBRS was only 5 - quite surprised at that since she had several Os in the last 2 report cards & teacher was always giving very positive feedback on her. The principal assured that the appeal should get her in so we are going to try WISC, appeal and keep our fingers crossed.

I continue to be amazed at situations like yours, as ours was very similiar. Your DD has great scores except for the GRBS. After going through our own struggles with the Gen Ed teachers and AART teachers, I feel like the teachers are not trained to understand gifted behaviors. My DS was bored in general ed. Teachers complained that he rushed through his work, was always the first one done, and a bit sloppy. Any google search about gifted behavior will show that this too is considered gifted behavior. Also, teachers only identify "gifted" children about 20% of the time, so why FCPS puts so much weight on the GBRS, which is subjective in the first place, is beyond me. My DS is now in Level IV and it has been everything that he has needed. Now the teachers say that he is neat and organized - not rushing through work, etc. My advice, take the WISC!!!!

Yes, I have had a similar experience. The complaints about my child - rushing, messy, not finishing her work, etc - led me to get her tested at a center that specialized in ADHD/ADD. They found no ADD but a high IQ - she is BORED! That's the problem! And the teacher only gave her a 10 on the GBRS. I think the GBRS is too subjective and it fails to take into consideration that not all gifted behaviors are "positive" ones. And also, it fails to factor in personality mismatches, which my child definitely has with her 2nd grade teacher (1st grade teacher loved her).

I think they should get GBRS from more than one teacher. Perhaps the prior year teacher and some of the subject area teachers they see during the week.

Anonymous wrote:Our daughter is in a similar situation as many in this forum and we are planning for WISC and an appeal. She got very good scores NNAT 145, COGAT 135 composite (V 109, Q 136, NV 137). But we found out that her GBRS was only 5 - quite surprised at that since she had several Os in the last 2 report cards & teacher was always giving very positive feedback on her. The principal assured that the appeal should get her in so we are going to try WISC, appeal and keep our fingers crossed.

I continue to be amazed at situations like yours, as ours was very similiar. Your DD has great scores except for the GRBS. After going through our own struggles with the Gen Ed teachers and AART teachers, I feel like the teachers are not trained to understand gifted behaviors. My DS was bored in general ed. Teachers complained that he rushed through his work, was always the first one done, and a bit sloppy. Any google search about gifted behavior will show that this too is considered gifted behavior. Also, teachers only identify "gifted" children about 20% of the time, so why FCPS puts so much weight on the GBRS, which is subjective in the first place, is beyond me. My DS is now in Level IV and it has been everything that he has needed. Now the teachers say that he is neat and organized - not rushing through work, etc. My advice, take the WISC!!!!

We told DC not to discuss. Of course Mon first thing, DC is asked.

Our daughter is in a similar situation as many in this forum and we are planning for WISC and an appeal. She got very good scores NNAT 145, COGAT 135 composite (V 109, Q 136, NV 137). But we found out that her GBRS was only 5 - quite surprised at that since she had several Os in the last 2 report cards & teacher was always giving very positive feedback on her. The principal assured that the appeal should get her in so we are going to try WISC, appeal and keep our fingers crossed.

Maybe it was just us, but we did not talk about who got in and who didn't. We found out about 1/2 during the open house. Some were not determined until the first day of school.

DD was asked by a classmate if she got in and she said "yes"....only to have that classmate make a face at her. She was confused by that, and we had a talk about it.

I've told DD not to lie if someone asks, but not to be a braggy pants. So far, no one else has asked, and she's been her normal self. I do know of some kids who got in, (the Mom Grapevine), so chances are good that dd will know someone in her class next year.

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, I forgot to mention. I do not know what DRA is. The Cogat and NNAT were administered by the school. I guess these tests are the same for every child.

DRA is your child's reading level. The teachers tested children regularly in first grade, but could only to up to DRA level 28. The children are tested for reading in second grade, but again, are more concerned with the children who are not making grade level than the ones that are way beyond. We just do our own thing at home based on dd's interests.

1:29 - you and your child will see most of who got in at the open house next week. It won't be long.

The reality seems to be (i) GBRS is subjective and the standards can vary from school to school, and (ii) the lower the GBRS, the higher the NNAT/CogAT test scores needed to balance the GBRS.

If NNAT/CogAT aren't sufficiently high to balance the GBRS, then WISC seems to be needed to do so. In all these threads, letters of recommendation don't seem to have made much difference, if any.

PS - Surprised to hear kids are talking about who's been accepted. My DD would love to know, but so far kids (including her) are keeping quiet, which I agree with the PPs is a good thing.