Anonymous wrote:I think that a lot of conflict, though, is stemming from your allusion to AAP as multiple levels across multiple grades.

http://www.fcps.edu/DIS/aap/continuumofservices.html

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Advanced Academic Programs provide challenging learning experiences that are designed to meet the unique learning profile of a broad range of advanced learners. Through a continuum of opportunities, students engage in complex subject matter, preparing them for more challenging and rigorous classes as they advance in grade level. Children identified for FCPS advanced academic services exhibit exceptional performance capability in academic, intellectual, and creative endeavors. In order to meet their needs and develop to their potential, these learners require a differentiated curriculum.

http://www.fcps.edu/DIS/aap/gradelevel.html

ADVANCED ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
GRADE LEVEL INFORMATION

Click on the grade level to see Available Services and Important Dates

Grade K

Grade 1

Grade 2

Grade 3-5

Grade 6

Grade 7

Grade 8

Grade 9

Grade 10

Grade 11

Grade 12

Anonymous wrote:http://www.fcps.edu/DIS/aap/localplan/Final%20Local%20Plan.pdf

Where?

It says on page 14:
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Gifted Behaviors Rating Scale(GBRS): Administered/Completed by Current classroom teacher and other professionals who work with the student.
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It actually contradicts your statement.
No mention of K and 1st grade teachers.

11:03 / 12:42 again here. I think we're talking past each other. Yesterday at 12:56, you agreed with a PP who said that "...only the specific [GBRS] for that year will be submitted for AAP consideration." I think that position is consistent with what I've been asserting.

Rereading your posts meticulously, I don't think you've said anything at all I'd factually disagree with. I think that a lot of conflict, though, is stemming from your allusion to AAP as multiple levels across multiple grades. As several folks have told you, we're talking Level IV appeals here, and your comments are being interpreted in the context of the thread. If you wish to talk AAP generally, I highly recommend the thread titled "GT/Selected kids."

12:06 -- thanks for your note. Sorry to hear of your experience. I'm rooting for you, best of luck with the appeal!!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:12:13 Please do not spread false information as facts.
Other people at least mention 'I think', 'In my opinion', I heard' distinguishing it from verified facts.

It is fact. Check with your AART or read the Local Plan for the Gifted.

Perhaps your school uses GBRS from K & 1st to identify pull-outs, or Local Level III. But you are saying that "it is fact" that GBRS from K & 1st are used for Level IV placement for all schools in FCPS?

It is fact that GBRS are compiled annually. GBRS are compiled annually to be used for AAP placement (Level II for K-2, and Level III for 3-6), among other things (including classroom placement), as well as Level IV. I am not speaking from "my school's" perspective, but as someone involved in the process.

You are mixing up "facts" here. K/1 GBRS used for Level 2, nobody disputes that. But you assert that GBRS data completed by K/1 teachers are included by the county for the full time Level IV committee. But the package submitted to that committee does not include GBRS data from K/1. Only 2nd grade, which is prepared by a school committee *that does not include K/1 teacher input* at every school.

So my specific question to you, is, what is the mechanism by which K/1 GBRS data are incorporated into the Level IV County committee? Because it isn't in DC's file...

11:03 I totally agree with your comment. I actually spoke to my DC's K and 1st grade teachers prior to appealing and they told me that they were not involved in the process at all. BTW, they were both surprised that my DC did not get in first round which tells me that GBRS is a very subjective scoring system since it is done by 2nd grade teacher’s comment and other local committee members that hardly knows the child. Think about it, 2nd grade teacher only has about 4 months get to know the kids and with about 25 kids in the classroom, I doubt that teacher can assess GBRS correctly. Like one previous poster said, some will be generous with the score and some will not be. In my situation, I e-mailed the teacher that my DC was in the pool and asked if there is anything I should do. Her reply was very “negative” saying that my DC does great in GE and did not think that AAP program was good for her. (DC’s scores were 99% with some of the subtest scores 99.99% and these scores are good enough for Davison’s) Also, this teacher does not believe in “GT” education. This is a teacher that did not even bother to take time to talk to my DC to get to know her. Also, she told me that my DC was the best reader in the classroom however, did not place her in the enrichment program for advanced readers. Those comments contradicted what K and 1st grade teachers told me last couple of years.
BTW, this came from very reliable source, the selection process is all about numbers game and you could have the best work samples/recommendation letters, etc…but the central committee does not have time to look through and they look at number- test scores and GBRS. Not sure what the magic numbers are but there must be a secret sauce that they are going by.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:12:13 Please do not spread false information as facts.
Other people at least mention 'I think', 'In my opinion', I heard' distinguishing it from verified facts.

It is fact. Check with your AART or read the Local Plan for the Gifted.

Perhaps your school uses GBRS from K & 1st to identify pull-outs, or Local Level III. But you are saying that "it is fact" that GBRS from K & 1st are used for Level IV placement for all schools in FCPS?

It is fact that GBRS are compiled annually. GBRS are compiled annually to be used for AAP placement (Level II for K-2, and Level III for 3-6), among other things (including classroom placement), as well as Level IV. I am not speaking from "my school's" perspective, but as someone involved in the process.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:12:13 Please do not spread false information as facts.
Other people at least mention 'I think', 'In my opinion', I heard' distinguishing it from verified facts.

It is fact. Check with your AART or read the Local Plan for the Gifted.

Perhaps your school uses GBRS from K & 1st to identify pull-outs, or Local Level III. But you are saying that "it is fact" that GBRS from K & 1st are used for Level IV placement for all schools in FCPS?

Well Level IV eligibility is decided by the County, not by the school. And our DC's package that went to the county (we saw it) does not include a single iota of GBRS-type data from K or 1st.

You also said to check the handbook. Well several people here have (including me), and it is not mentioned.

I agree with 13:49. Please do not spread false information as facts. You can state something is "fact" here all you want, but if you can't offer any supporting evidence, you must expect that people will question it here on this public forum. Where is your evidence to support what you cite as "fact" ?

And please don't tell me to "Check with [my] AART." What is she going to tell me--that the K/1st GBRS information somehow magically made its way into the process? It wasn't in the package that went to the selection committee! Again, evidence please, or at least preface with "it is my understanding that." Otherwise expect people here to challenge this "fact."

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:12:13 Please do not spread false information as facts.
Other people at least mention 'I think', 'In my opinion', I heard' distinguishing it from verified facts.

It is fact. Check with your AART or read the Local Plan for the Gifted.

This?
http://www.fcps.edu/DIS/aap/column/Local%20Plan%20for%20the%20Gifted.pdf
Doesn't say anything about it.

Anonymous wrote:
Both. It is annually compiled to be used for placement in classrooms AND for AAP.

Maybe it's used for selecting Level III locally.
The GBRS form submitteed to the Central Committee for my DC had comments only from the 2nd grade teacher. We are talking AAP Level IV here.

Anonymous wrote:I heard that at my niece's school, the teacher wasn't involved much. Mainly done by the AART and Principal?
Relatively very small number of students got accepted from that school.

Our is like this. The AART told me (when I asked point blank about the process) that it was done by a committee consisting of the AART, the principal and the counselor -- none of which could pick my child out of a line up. The AART admitted that she didn't know who my child was. She said that for each child, she talks to all of their teachers (K-2, specialists and regular) to get specific examples.

I think the process should have to be uniform throughout the county. The panel composition should be the same. And the people on the panel should actually have met the children before they decided if they are gifted or not. What's the point of having a panel if none of them actually know the children? My child had a 12, which the AART said was "high" yet many on here say is low, so I wonder if there is also inconsistency among the schools on that front (i.e. some schools are "easy graders" and others are "hard graders"). My child is already in from last year, s I don;t have a dog in this fight. I just think the GBRS process is remarkably subjective since it seems to be given so much weight.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not PP. Our AART said that GBRS is an annual thing for FCPS students. Guess only the specific one for that year will be submitted for AAP consideration.

12:13 here -- absolutely correct.

This is news to me. How do I get a copy of my DD's "GBRS" after K and 1st grade?

Check with the AART at your school for information.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So seems like some school use K and 1st information, but some school not?
Yup, there goes another inconsistency.

No -- it is used for placement in classrooms, as in planning for placement in classrooms for September 2011. Much of that placement occurs over the summer, with the final placements announced just before the start of school.

So it's used for placement in classrooms, but not in AAP? We are talking AAP here.

Both. It is annually compiled to be used for placement in classrooms AND for AAP.

Anonymous wrote:12:13 Please do not spread false information as facts.
Other people at least mention 'I think', 'In my opinion', I heard' distinguishing it from verified facts.

It is fact. Check with your AART or read the Local Plan for the Gifted.

so i read my son's gbrs comments. of course i was happy, as he got a 14. but funny, many of his comments came from the parent questionnaire. how else could they have known he was into roller coasters and science projects at home?

he was in pool, scores were consistent, but on the lower side. but his base school is not super high performing, and i "suspect" they wanted him in AAP.

now if i lived in a high performing school district, i would be happy with him in GE. (unless he was one of the few, rare, highly gifted) if he was not in, we were planning on moving.

we just want him with his peers--kids who like to read harry potter, build knex roller coasters, play chess, etc.