Advanced Academic Programs (a/k/a AAP, AAP Level 4 Center, Gifted and Talented, or GT) in Fairfax County Public Schools
Proposed AAP/GT Changes in FCPS
Quick Links to Related Documents
FCPS has repeatedly modified the structure of the Advanced Academic Program (AAP) Centers, formerly known as Gifted and Talented (GT) Centers, over the last dozen years.
In 1964, FCPS created a GT Center program for about 1% of the 3rd through 8th grade students. The Center program expanded fairly quickly to include about 5% of 3rd through 8th grade students, who were selected based on ability test scores. In 1993, FCPS began admitting students to the GT Center program based on a combination of test scores, a Gifted Behaviors Rating Scale form, and other information.
In 2001-02, FCPS started to substantially increase the percentage of students admitted to the GT Center program, and also substituted the Naglieri Non-Verbal Abilities Test (NNAT) for the OLSAT. In 2000, 6.7% of 3rd through 8th grade students attended Centers. That percentage increased to 18% in 2011-12. According to an FCPS Assistant Superintendent, the percentage jumped to 27% in 2012-13.
Between 2002 and 2004, FCPS began using new labels for its gifted education services. GT Centers were renamed AAP Centers. Middle school GT base classes were renamed honors classes. FCPS added a new label, "Level IV," and defined it to include students enrolled in AAP Centers and students taking four middle school honors courses.
Starting around 2005, FCPS began implementing Local Level IV classes in elementary schools without Centers. (See below for a description of the differences between elementary school Centers and elementary school Local Level IV classes.)
In 2010, FCPS staff revised its Regulation 3250, on instructional grouping, to be more consistent with the model of retaining students in their base schools and providing enrichment through flexible grouping based on a variety of factors.
As the percentage of FCPS students admitted to the Center program increased, FCPS repeatedly opened new elementary and middle school AAP Centers around the county and new Local Level IV programs in dozens of elementary schools. In general, larger AAP Centers offered more academic enrichment opportunities, such as MathCounts and Science Olympiad teams.
The decision to dramatically increase the number of students admitted to the AAP Centers in spring 2012 coincided with the decision to establish an FCPS staff task force to restructure the AAP Center program. Unlike the 2007 task force that included parents as well as FCPS staff, this task force was limited to FCPS employees plus an outside expert on gifted education, Dr. Joyce Van Tassel-Baska. Dr. Van Tassel-Baska summary of the research stated that gifted learners learn more if grouped together in self-contained classrooms.
Notwithstanding this research, the FCPS Level IV Task Force Recommendations were to require all middle school students to stay in their neighborhood middle schools, and to adjust the elementary school AAP program to further disperse highly gifted learners by: (1) creating more Local Level IV programs; and (2) creating six more optional elementary AAP Centers. Level IV Task force recommendations (received via Freedom of Information Act) may be viewed here.
Some information about the Task Force was provided to the School Board's Advanced Academic Programs Advisory Committee during its September 2012 meeting. That information included another version of the Task Force's Recommendations, plus back-up data with Level IV Center Enrollment by Cluster, and AAP Enrollment by Center and Feeder School.
After information from that AAPAC meeting was posted on the FCAG web site, concerned parents began submitting FOIA requests for additional information. One of those FCPS staff-written documents, entitled "Moving All Middle School Students to their Base School", described how middle schools would combine GT Center and honors students and curriculum.
After parents began contacting School Board members to ask about the staff's AAP Proposal, the School Board had a discussion during its November 7, 2012 forum. Superintendent Dale advocated for a rapid approval of the staff's proposal, so that it could be implemented in September 2013, by bypassing normal procedures for considering major program changes. During that School Board forum, a majority of the School Board members decided that they instead wanted to hold a work session to discuss the staff's proposal, and also asked FCPS to begin the process of soliciting parent input. Notes from the forum may be found here.
Shortly after that School Board forum, FCPS began posting more information about the staff proposal on the FCPS web site. This information has been repeatedly updated during November 2012. It includes another version of the Draft Proposal, staff's proposed elementary school changes, staff's proposed middle school changes, and FAQs. On December 8, FCPS staff posted new documents for presentation at the December 10 School Board work session, including revised AAP restructuring recommendations, staff's proposed readiness checklist for AAP Centers, and a new FCPS staff powerpoint for the December 10 work session.
The FCPS Department of Communications held three large community input meetings the week after Thanksgiving, where FCPS central staff presented information about the staff proposal. In response to parent questions about the proposal to combine Center and honors classes, FCPS staff revised its proposal and FCPS staff and the meetings stated that these classes would not be combined. A summary of the third community meeting is contained in a blog post by School Board member Ryan McElveen, and in this Patch article. FCPS staff's summary of parent comments was posted on December 8.
On November 6, 2012 a co-chair of the School Board's Advanced Academic Programs Advisory Committee (AAPAC) testified before the School Board. AAPAC recommended that the School Board delay action on the staff's AAP proposals, except to deal with the three overcrowded elementary schools. It also made specific recommendations about public engagement, and the need to obtain and evaluate accurate data. The recommendation may be found here.
Description of FCPS GT Program
(Not written for parents)
This description of the FCPS GT program is unusually straightforward, and shows where resources have been focused in recent years.
Details of the AAP Screening Process
As of September 2010, all first and second graders enrolled in FCPS will take the Naglieri NonVerbal Abilities Test (NNAT). All second grade students enrolled in FCPS take the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAt). If one or more of the test scores equal or exceed the cutoff being used that year for that test, these students are automatically evaluated for possible admission to the GT Center program starting in third grade.
In the last few years, about 13% of the second grade population has been automatically evaluated. Before then, this group was referred to as the "10% pool," and students were selected for the 10% pool based on aggregated scores on the Otis/Lennon and the CogAT. Now, students are selected for a larger automatic screening pool based on minimum scores with respect to each subtest within the CogAT or the Naglieri overall score. The specific tests and scores required on those tests changes regularly. The current schools of students in the 13% pool compile a screening file, which includes a summary sheet, the school's Gifted Behavior Rating Scale (usually done largely by the second grade teacher), test results, two years of report cards, and an optional parent questionnaire. In the last couple years, FCPS staff have said that about 60% to 70% of the students in this 13% pool were admitted to the GT Center program.
If a student's scores on the CogAT and Naglieri are not high enough for the student to be automatically screened, parents can refer the child for screening in second through seventh grades. The referral process for students in fourth through eighth grade requires at least one achievement score, in addition to the ability tests and other information described above. In recent years, about half the students referred for GT Center screening have been admitted to the GT Center program.
Any student who is screened for the GT Center and is rejected (i.e., "found ineligible") can appeal this decision, by submitting new information. Frequently, families who wish to appeal an adverse decision pay for their child to take an individual intelligence test, such as the WISC or Stanford-Binet.
Students who move into Fairfax County after second grade and/or lived in Fairfax County but attended a private school through second grade must be referred by their parents in order to be screened for admission to the GT Center program.
Detailed information about the deadlines for each of these processes, the tests allowed, and other relevant information, are contained on the FCPS website. The most comprehensive information is in the FCPS Parent Information Packet, which can be found here. Also helpful may be FCPS' frequently asked questions, which can be found here. FCPS Notice 2401 which lays out the timeline for 2010-2011 can be found here.
A student who is admitted to the GT Center program can opt to enroll in the GT Center, attend in a later year (up to eighth grade), or never attend a GT Center. Being admitted provides families with an option that can be exercised at any time until it expires — when the student is in eighth grade.
The typical elementary school GT Center includes students from at least four or five elementary schools and the typical middle school GT Center includes students from two or three middle schools. The GT Center boundaries have been repeatedly redrawn over the past several years. Some GT Centers have only one GT Center class per grade and others have three or more GT Center classes per grade. GT Center principals have different philosophies about educating gifted students, and these philosophies have a substantial impact on the programs at their schools. For example, some principals allow their GT Center teachers to register their students for academic competitions. Others do not.
Local Level IV Programs
Students admitted to the GT Center program (a/k/a AAP Level 4 Center program) who opt to stay in their base elementary schools normally participate in the GT base program (Levels 1-4; 4 is the highest). In about three dozen elementary schools, this program is known as "Local Level 4." Unlike Centers, there is no formal application process required to participate in a Local Level 4 program. The students usually include a mix of GT Center children who opt to stay in their base schools and students who were not admitted to the GT Center program but who are selected for the GT base program by their local school. Every principal decides how to structure his or her GT base program, and what standards will be used to determine which students are eligible for the GT base program. While the "intended" curriculum is the same for both "Local" Level 4 and GT/AAP Level 4 "Centers," the actual curriculum delivered to the students varies depending on how quickly the students in the class master the material. There are 24 GT elementary school centers, located at: Belvedere, Bull Run, Canterbury Woods, Churchill Road, Clearview, Colvin Run, Forest Edge, Greenbriar West, Haycock, Hunters Woods, Keene Mill, Lorton Station, Louise Archer, Mantua, McNair, Mosby Woods, Oak Hill, Riverside, Sangster, Springfield Estates, Stratford Landing, Sunrise Valley, White Oaks, Willow Springs.
As of September 2010, all middle schools have open enrollment for all honors classes. Any student can choose to take an honors course if they want to. There is no screening process except for certain math classes. Algebra I Honors in 7th Grade requires a minimum score of 91 on the Iowa Algebra Aptitude Test (IAAT or Iowa) and a "pass advanced" on the 8th grade math SOL. Students new to FCPS can take the Middle School Mathematics Content Test, which is similar in format to the 8th grade SOL (50 questions. In 2010, the cut off score was 42). Starting in September 2011, the requirement to take Algebra I Honors in 7th grade will be a minimum score of 91 on the Iowa Algebra Aptitude Test (IAAT or Iowa) and a "pass advanced" on the 7th grade math SOL.
High School Changes
FCPS no longer has GT classes in its high schools. Instead, FCPS offers " honors" or "pre-IB" classes, starting in 9th grade. FCPS also offers either Advanced Placement ("AP") or International Baccalureate ("IB") classes in all high schools. AP courses generally are taken starting in 10th or 11th grade. IB classes (either Higher Level or Standard Level) generally are taken starting in 11th grade. These classes are all open admission, unlike the GT Center classes in elementary and middle school.
In addition, approximately 480 students are admitted annually to Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology ("TJ"). TJ is a Virginia Governor's School, which also admits students from other counties in Northern Virginia. For more information about TJ's admissions process, click here.
Regulation 3250: "Instructional Grouping to Support Differentiation and Placement in Content Areas" provides guidance to the school board on a variety of AAP matters, but has no corresponding FCPS School Board policy.