ok, i see that some of you are typing responses faster than the clock speed. so here is a request. whether you agree with GTA or not you are obviously very invested in the changes in GT education, so will you please go to http://www.gtamc.org/2012-gt-forum and provide your comment before 5pm today, even if you want to convey "GT in MCPS should only refer to magnet ready kids" or "GT is everyone above xyz %tile"... you can certainly qualify your statement with "I am not a member of GTA, but I care about GT" if you want.

Anonymous wrote:Trying to change the ID process is tilting at windmills. forget about it.

Instead, if we focus on asking them to comply with what they are already required to do -- magnets for those who need them and a clearly delineated progression of accelerated classes in the home school -- we will be immeasurably better off than we are now.

Agree with you and the PP before you. Despite our different personal beliefs we are better off united under one umbrella asking for both services be avilable and extended.

Anonymous wrote:
Don't get drawn into the nonsense by the GTA. They have been running around in circles on this forum and doing their usual sniping. Just ignore them.

Just make sure you advocate for your child.

You seem to believe GTA is nonsense. Can you suggest an alternative organization who is fighting for our kids who are highly able, left in local schools?

When is the last time anyone achieved an advocacy alone?

Trying to change the ID process is tilting at windmills. forget about it.

Instead, if we focus on asking them to comply with what they are already required to do -- magnets for those who need them and a clearly delineated progression of accelerated classes in the home school -- we will be immeasurably better off than we are now.

"Just make sure you advocate for your child. "

I'm not part of GTA (yet) but I have a hard time believing that a bunch of unorganized parents individually looking out for their own kid are going to be successful over the coming years in working against the very organized No Labels group. Parents concerned about GT issues - both those qualifying for HGC/magnets and those worried about ability grouping - need to band together to try to help provide counter balance to the No Labels crowd.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The standard used around the country is, I believe, the top 3rd to 5th percentile of scorers on a nationally normed test like the WISC.

So are you starting a movement to change the identification process in MCPS to match that standard?

No, I'm not. I'm going to advocate for what I believe is best for my kids -- more magnet space and the opportunity for accelerated learning in the home school. I don't see them as mutually exclusive. My kids both fall into that percentile range but I don't care if other kids get into accelerated learning based on different criteria.

Don't get drawn into the nonsense by the GTA. They have been running around in circles on this forum and doing their usual sniping. Just ignore them.

Just make sure you advocate for your child.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The standard used around the country is, I believe, the top 3rd to 5th percentile of scorers on a nationally normed test like the WISC.

So are you starting a movement to change the identification process in MCPS to match that standard?

No, I'm not. I'm going to advocate for what I believe is best for my kids -- more magnet space and the opportunity for accelerated learning in the home school. I don't see them as mutually exclusive. My kids both fall into that percentile range but I don't care if other kids get into accelerated learning based on different criteria.

I see that people are thoroughly confused about this GT forum MCPS (Superintendent) is conducting. So, I called their office. They confirmed that this meeting is about all kids identified by MCPS at 2nd grade as "GT". They also categorically stated it is not about the magnet programs or HGCs. It is about the students that need additional challenge beyond the on-grade level curriculum. If you want to clarify please call 301-279-3145 and learn for yourself. So, acceleration in local schools, homogeneous and ability grouping, not enough magnet programs, differentiations and any topic related to high ability students is fair game.

I think it's funny that a thread I started mostly to complain about posters cluttering other threads with GTA advertising is now 7 pages of reasonably substantive discussion.

Anonymous wrote:The standard used around the country is, I believe, the top 3rd to 5th percentile of scorers on a nationally normed test like the WISC.

So are you starting a movement to change the identification process in MCPS to match that standard?

The standard used around the country is, I believe, the top 3rd to 5th percentile of scorers on a nationally normed test like the WISC.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"What do you mean by "gifted children?" You say GTA is using the MCPS definition. So, what is the MCPS definition? Where can I find the cutoff scores??? "

I wonder if this PP is just trying to see how many times she can get the other poster to very patiently tell her yet again that GTA uses the MCPS definition of GT kids and that MCPS keeps this information very secretive!

to the last question - I haven' theard of any other group whose main focus is acceleration besides GTA. Not sure why you would want to reinvent the wheel when such a group already exists.

OMG. I asked on the other thread, but that's not me asking above. If somebody would provide a clear definition, neither of us would have to ask.

It should tell us that some folks don't want a clear definition so that they can use it to claim their kids are gifted.

Anonymous wrote:"What do you mean by "gifted children?" You say GTA is using the MCPS definition. So, what is the MCPS definition? Where can I find the cutoff scores??? "

I wonder if this PP is just trying to see how many times she can get the other poster to very patiently tell her yet again that GTA uses the MCPS definition of GT kids and that MCPS keeps this information very secretive!

to the last question - I haven' theard of any other group whose main focus is acceleration besides GTA. Not sure why you would want to reinvent the wheel when such a group already exists.

OMG. I asked on the other thread, but that's not me asking above. If somebody would provide a clear definition, neither of us would have to ask.

Anonymous wrote:The Examiner is a right-leaning newspaper with an agenda. Not saying you can't agree with it -- just be aware of the messenger.

That's true but I have also found that they do better local reporting than the WaPo.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I found two places that seem to have the details of MCPS GT identification:
http://www.examiner.com/gifted-education-in-washington-dc/details-of-the-secret-montgomery-county-gifted-and-talented-identification-process-part-i
and
http://www.examiner.com/gifted-education-in-washington-dc/how-to-improve-gifted-education-think-differently-part-ii

Are these MCPS approved or someone's opinion. The information needs to come from MCPS' site, don't you think?

According to the article the information is from the MCPS manual. The paper had got it through a Freedom of Information type request. I guess if you really care you can confirm with MCPS.