Fwd: FAQ - MS Placement in AIM and Global Humanities

[Andrea Creel]

See below from the MCCPTA Gifted Education Committee 

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Gifted Education Committee MCCPTA <gifted...@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, Apr 30, 2022, 11:01 AM
Subject: FAQ - MS Placement in AIM and Global Humanities
To: <gecandgt...@googlegroups.com>, <gecparen...@googlegroups.com>

POsted on GEC FAcebook group by GEC - 4/29/22

QUICK FAQ REGARDING LOCAL PLACEMENT FOR GT COURSES -- AIM AND GLOBAL HUMANITIES/HIGH -- IN MIDDLE SCHOOL

Q: My child scored really high on MAP-R but was not placed in the magnet lottery pool because her local normed scores did not meet the cut off. Can my child be placed in AIM and/or HIGH in their local MS?

A: YES! Access to gifted education is based on needs of the child. If a child has been identified as gifted and demonstrates a need, that child has rights under COMAR and MCPS Policy IOA and should be given access to GT programming. Being placed in the lottery pool is not a requirement, nor should it be. Central office has made it clear to GEC that, while kids who are placed in the lottery pool are guaranteed a seat in the corresponding local option, principals can cast a wider net, and should include all children with a demonstrated need. Central office has also said that this guidance was given to all MS principals.

Q: How do I know if my child has been placed in AIM or HIGH?

A: All course placements should be available on ParentVue by now. Regrettably, not all MS are following this procedure, which is a failure of communication and undermines transparency. If you can't find your child's placement on ParentVue (under Course Requests), email the counselor listed for 6th grade on your MS' website, and ask to be provided with a list of all course placements for 6th grade, including Course IDs -- which is the info that should be available on ParentVue anyway. Some counselors have been referring to "advanced math" without identifying if AMP6+ or AIM -- unless you have the course name and ID, you won't know what "advanced math" means. So being provided the same list that should have been posted to ParentVue is important.

Q: The MS counselor has said that all placement decisions are done by central office, the school gets no say in it, and thus my child can only be placed in AIM/HIGH if placed in the magnet lottery pool by central office. How do I proceed?

A: MCPS Regulation JEB-RA states that: "Placement 1. The principal has final responsibility for grade and class placement of students. In determining placement, the principal consults appropriate staff for their recommendations." That means that, while the principal consults with staff in the local school, as well as in central office, the final responsibility rests with the principal.

If you believe your child's placement for 6th grade does not meet his/her needs, email the principal and make a request for change in placement (this is available for any course, and is not limited to GT). Explain your reasons— your child’s academic performance and needs, your child’s rights to gifted education under COMAR and MCPS Policy IOA (please see GEC’s “Know Your Rights” alert), and that placement in the magnet lottery pool is not a requirement to access GT courses in middle school, which should be based solely on your child’s needs and rights as a gifted student.

Remember to loop both AEI and DCCAPS in on your emails regarding placement issues. They can help facilitate the informal process and will be aware of inconsistencies across the district.

Q: What if I have already talked to my MS counselor, my principal, and my request for class placement was still denied? 

A: MPCS Regulation JEB-RA also states that : "Appeals In matters of disagreement with regard to placement, promotion, acceleration, and retention, the procedures specified in MCPS Regulation KLA-RA, Responding to Inquiries and Complaints from the Public will be followed."

That means that MCPS actually has a form that parents can use to appeal placement decisions -- Form 270-8, set forth by MCPS Regulation KLA-RA. These forms should be provided by the principals when denying a request for placement, though that seems to rarely happen. You fill out the form, attach a letter with your complaint, your reasons and your requests. The principal has 10 days to give you a decision. That decision can be appealed to the superintendent, and you are not satisfied, you can further appeal to the BOE. GEC can help you with your Form 270-8, so feel free to email us!

Regulation KLA-RA exists to help parents in the system when the informal process (emails, meetings, phone calls etc) have failed to provide a resolution, and can be used to appeal any decisions by a principal or MCPS supervisor. It's not very well known, unfortunately, though the regulation states that parents should always be provided this form when their requests are denied. This is an especially great tool to appeal placement decisions because Regulation JEB-RA specifically refers to this process, so parents should definitely make use of it if the guidance to "cast a wider net" is not being followed.

Q: When should I make a request for AIM/HIGH to my MS principal?

A: Now, before class articulation (happening really soon). Absolutely do not wait for the fall, do it this week.

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/.../policy/pdf/jebra.pdf

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