There's a large number of comments on this thread already from parents receiving test scores and wanting to discuss the scores and next steps with other parents. Let's convert this thread to be about that.
Please join in if you're interested in talking with others about the test scores or can help out some of the new parents who have questions.
224 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 224 of 224I heard Stephen Martin say that kids can not be disqualified from advanced learning programs based on one data point. Is the CogAT considered one data point? I ask out of curiosity because our K is at a school that does not administer the MAP until Spring. So if for whatever reason they did not meet the threshold of eligibility for the CogAT, and therefore are not given achievement testing they will not have any acheivement data to even consider. Without any MAP scores/achievement scores, seems to me the only one data point of disqualification is the cognitive ability. Seems like a flawed system. And an oversight in the system for families that may not be able (or willing) to pay for the private cognitive testing (unavoidable) AND private acheivement testing (avoidable -if- they were administered the MAP test). Any thoughts?
Maybe the three subtests of the Cogat are considered three different data points, as they are testing different cognitive areas?
Our Kindergarten son only took his achievement test this last week at his school (we assume this means he got over 98% on Cogat, please correct me if I'm wrong).... by reviewing the posts here it looks like the lead time for final eligibility letters after K achievement test to be ~3 weeks, which may put us after the appeal deadline (Does anyone know what that is?)
I know this sounds absurd, but should we preemptively file an appeal? We could do a private achievement test next week....
Read the website! There is not an appeal deadline. You must send AL an intent to appeal within 5 days of receiving your results.
Is cost pretty comparable with different providers on the private testing list? ie, Is $540 pretty typical for private cognitive testing for a K student?
There's some spread -- we went with the first tester to call me back (and paid $425) but another person quoted $540.
Anonymous at 9:12 pm -
I think it depends on how many sections need to be tested. If it is just reading on the achievement tests, then that should be cheaper than both sections of achievement and/or full Cogat screen.
We paid $350 for math and reading achievement testing.
Muircat
Wow, we paid $175 for both math and reading achievement to the first person who returned my call and was able to see our child the following day due to a cancellation.
@Kindermom
What!? At what point in the school year did that happen?
Last year, in 1st grade, we chose an option school and didn't go to either an ALO or Spectrum school. Then, a lot of his friends tested into Spectrum in 1st grade and transferred to Fairmount Park (our neighborhood school).
During open enrollment, we enquired of the Advanced Learning office whether our son would qualify to move with his friends to the Spectrum program at FP (he had a 99.9% WSPII, 99% math and 74% reading). We were told multiple times that he did not qualify for Spectrum because he had given up his designation to go to an option school. I had several conversations with Dr. Daniels during the extended open enrollment period, and he insisted he did not qualify because he gave up his designation
The letter we received a week ago is the first notice of our son's continuing Spectrum eligibility. We didn't transfer to FP and our son has been very sad this year without many of his friends in class.
Momofchattyboy
Anybody getting any more mail? Are they about done with initial results? We turned in an appeal 3 weeks ago now and are curious when they might start to get results out for those.
We were told that our initial (post-COGAT + achievement testing) result letter was "hopefully" going to be mailed last Friday, but we still haven't received it.
We're still waiting for initial achievement test results for k.
We sent in our appeal (using the WISC-IV results to trump the CogAT) on about March 9 or 10 and received an email confirmation yesterday (March 24) that it had been received and that a decision would be made "as soon as possible."
@Momofchattyboy
I don't know. Sometime last year to affect the students who tested in while your son was a first grader. SPS doesn't date their web site updates.
http://www.seattleschools.org/modules/cms/pages.phtml?pageid=230105
These families should still submit a School Choice Form on time, even if they haven’t yet been notified of Advanced Learning eligibility. Spectrum eligible students in grades 1-5 will be assigned on the basis of space availability and standard tiebreakers. Middle school Spectrum placement is guaranteed. HC eligible students are guaranteed a seat in the Highly Capable Cohort (self-contained classroom) at their pathway HCC school as long as the School Choice Form is submitted by September 30.
Retaining Eligibility
HIGHLY CAPABLE: Once a student has been identified as eligible for Highly Capable Services, eligibility continues through graduation and services will be provided.
ADVANCED LEARNERS (SPECTRUM and ALO): Once a student has been identified as eligible for Advanced Learning Programs he or she will retain eligibility year after year and will not need to re-test.
@Momofchattyboy,
If you want to research what used to be on the Advanced Learning Website, use the waybackmachine: http://archive.org/web/
The waybackmachine takes periodic snapshots of many websites, including the website for Seattle Public Schools. The interval for each snapshot varies, but you might find what you're looking for.
Question on Appeals process??
My child missed HCC due to Reading score (91) but CogAT and Math all exceeded requirements.
We conducted a new assessment and requirements met. But we suddenly got nervous on whether we did this right....1) Do we need to only get an additional Reading test assessment? Or did we need to get 2) a full/comprehensive test done again CogAT, Math AND Reading 3) or Reading and Math again?
thanks for any help!
@the system worked here....We received our HCC eligibility letter last week (Mar 25). We have a K student at WW who undertook the CogAT Jan 29 and the ITBS Mar 16. After reading so much about various testing environments, I'll confess I was surprised that she fared as well, if not a little better, in the 'group' test environment, compared to private testing. Best of all, she enjoyed both! Looking forward to exploring if Lincoln is right for her. Happiness and challenge, in that order, is the aim!
9:46, you need to include private test scores for only the area where your child did not meet the cut-off score with the SPS tests. The Advanced Learning Appeals website states: "Additional assessments must cover all areas needed for the desired eligibility category. Depending on the test scores in your eligibility letter, students may need cognitive tests and/or reading and math achievement tests."
So, if reading was the only score where your child did not qualify, it will be fine to submit a private reading score that qualifies and then reference the other qualifying scores on the Cogat and math test. You can do this by writing an appeal letter and attaching the letter you received from the district with those qualifying scores and also attaching the private reading score.
-Midnight
To Midnight at 9:56...
THANK YOU...
This has been such a helpful community!
Finally received scores for my fifth grader! That took forever...we accepted a place at private school in the meantime....oh well...
Has anyone heard back yet on an appeal? Are people still waiting on initial eligibility letters?
Anonymous at 9:35 am
Have not heard yet.
We received our receipt of appeal materials on March 26. I would expect/hope to have a decision mid-April?
Muircat
We received the decision to our appeal today in WS. It's been 2.5 weeks since we received an email saying that they had received all the documents.
The Cogat tests are taken in a group setting with questions read our loudand I believe all kids have to mark their answers on the sheet, even younger kids who probably have never taken a "fill in the circle" test. The private test is taken one on one in a quiet room and, for younger kids at least, the tester typically marks the answer. As one friend told me, the private testing shows your child on their best day.
So it's not surprising that private testing would end with higher scores - and this was very true with both our kids who have done well in APP. It is as much about the testing experience as the test itself. I agree with the poster who said it would be far better if the district used a pool of money to pay for private testing to even out the opportunity.
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