basis woes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm waiting to see who turns up for 6th grade. Are they letting kids in for 6th who didn't do 5th or what?

Yes, 6th is open to outside students but I don't think Basis has enrolled any so far. Sounds like they're really not sure who will stay and who will jump ship.
What bothers me more about high attrition - as a parent, not as a taxpayer - is that it really cuts into one's student's ability to build lasting relationships, which are so crucial at this age.

[Anonymous]

New poster who hasn't spent much time on BASIS threads yet. This one certainly isn't a great advertisement for the program. The DC school sounds like a lightening rod for controversy, and a headache for many bright and hard-working kids and parents alike.

[Anonymous]

Don't read too much into it, new poster. Those of us who have been around for a while all know it's all just sock puppeting and manufactured controversy from the same stale old tiny handful of over-the-top anti-BASIS posters.

The anti-BASIS folks keep tripping themselves up and revealing to anyone who knows anything that they don't actually have kids at BASIS, nor do they directly know anyone who does, nor do they actually know how BASIS operates, and basically, really have no clue whatsoever about BASIS. There have been a whole slew of completely wrong statements made here tonight, for example about DC-CAS prep, attrition, which grades they accept, and so on.

Best advice on ANY DCUM thread regardless of which school is to not rely on DCUM for accurate or reliable information - go and research the school for yourself, visit it, talk to actual parents, and so on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't read too much into it, new poster. Those of us who have been around for a while all know it's all just sock puppeting and manufactured controversy from the same stale old tiny handful of over-the-top anti-BASIS posters.

The anti-BASIS folks keep tripping themselves up and revealing to anyone who knows anything that they don't actually have kids at BASIS, nor do they directly know anyone who does, nor do they actually know how BASIS operates, and basically, really have no clue whatsoever about BASIS. There have been a whole slew of completely wrong statements made here tonight, for example about DC-CAS prep, attrition, which grades they accept, and so on.

Best advice on ANY DCUM thread regardless of which school is to not rely on DCUM for accurate or reliable information - go and research the school for yourself, visit it, talk to actual parents, and so on.

The thing is, you're starting to hear actual parents with kids at BASIS, and those who started and left, souring. I've got a hunch that fall enrollment will be a hard pill for the boosters to swallow. I expected a 5th grade waiting list and there is none. I also expected more competent sounding admins and more orderly hallways when I visited. It just can't be a very healthy arrangement for kids not to have any outdoor space, all that homework and test pressure so young, no gym or stage, more than a few classmates quitting, and little beyond academics in the curriculum. Certainly not the worst things, but not great. Some of us with no connection to the school, and first-rate engineering degrees, are increasingly skeptical because of what our research is turning up. I'd love for BASIS to emerge as a great option for my children - what interest could I, off the DC public middle school-less, have in tearing the place down?

[Anonymous]

PP, I have not heard any of the previous posts represented as "those who left and soured" - in fact, it's highly dubious that they ever were BASIS families given the large number of glaring mischaracterizations and inaccuracies posted here these last couple of days. I wouldn't put any credence into any of those posts being from anyone who ever actually had anyone at BASIS - they weren't even prospective families shadowing given the grossly incorrect statements about time spent on DC-CAS.

If anything, it's just more of the same desperate campaign by the same folks to try and trash BASIS that we saw this time last year. There are obviously some who feel deeply threatened by the prospect of charter school success.

[Anonymous]

There are of course some reasonable criticisms of Basis by actual parents, me being one. The school leadership seems cowed by the oversight of Basis corporate and are flagrantly uninspiring but it is the teachers that matter and they are super-sharp and dedicated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:16:10. Lets do the math together:

443 (students as of count day)
-43 (students that left AFTER count day)
+17 (students added AFTER count day)
______
417 (current number of total students)

Basis has currently been paid for 26 students which it is not educating at this time.

I think you should be directing your arithmetic lesson at the Post reporter and earlier BASIS bashers.

I already did the math and calculated that enrollment at BASIS is down only 26 (or 6%) since count day, not 43 (or 10%) as the Post reporter implies and the BASIS bashers claim.

BASIS has little control over who leaves. Students leave after count day for various reasons. Families move. They get off the wait list for their preferred charter. They realize that the commute to the charter is harder than they expected and transfer to their neighborhood school. They decide that the school requires more work than they are willing to do. (Heck, they might even be MD residents who were scared away by the threat of more aggressive enforcement of the residency requirement.)

Again, BASIS did not choose this silly method for funding charter schools in DC. The DC government or PCSB did. Because of the expectation of higher than average attrition at BASIS due to the mid-year pre-comps, this funding method creates bad PR for BASIS. I'm sure the folks at BASIS would rather be funded based on monthly enrollment to avoid the appearance of gaming the system.

You can't count the new enrollees in the attrition rate. The attrition rate is based only on the students who started the year and OF THOSE who left. 10% is the correct number.

[Anonymous]

Regarding attrition, I'd point out that attrition at DCPS schools is upwards of 40%.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP, I have not heard any of the previous posts represented as "those who left and soured" - in fact, it's highly dubious that they ever were BASIS families given the large number of glaring mischaracterizations and inaccuracies posted here these last couple of days. I wouldn't put any credence into any of those posts being from anyone who ever actually had anyone at BASIS - they weren't even prospective families shadowing given the grossly incorrect statements about time spent on DC-CAS.

If anything, it's just more of the same desperate campaign by the same folks to try and trash BASIS that we saw this time last year. There are obviously some who feel deeply threatened by the prospect of charter school success.

Since you brought it up, as an interested but not directly involved observer, to me the posts that reek most of desperation are those of BASIS boosters such as yourself dismissing any and all concerns as malicious scaremongering. I am in learning mode so its all good, and I understand people who post here will be opinionated almost by definition. Personally, however, I think it is simply way too risky to attend a new charter no matter who the boss is or what the brochure says. There are simply too many variables, too many unknowns. A school community and character can only be built over many years. The dust will settle in a year or two and our family will revisit the issue at that time.

[Anonymous]

^This! I have a child who was about to start MS last year and never gave BASIS a second glance because I didn't have the stomach for dealing with a start up school. That coupled with the fact that my bright student would never go to a school without organized, competitive sports teams.

I will say that I am watching with interest BASIS trying to navigate the charter school world of DC versus Arizonia. I am certain that they will work out the kinks in a few years. Then maybe it will be a viable option for my younger child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^This! I have a child who was about to start MS last year and never gave BASIS a second glance because I didn't have the stomach for dealing with a start up school. That coupled with the fact that my bright student would never go to a school without organized, competitive sports teams.

I will say that I am watching with interest BASIS trying to navigate the charter school world of DC versus Arizonia. I am certain that they will work out the kinks in a few years. Then maybe it will be a viable option for my younger child.

Very lazy approach to parent engagement in schools (and/or parenting). Charter schools (and traditional public schools) are made by family engagement. period. Nothing is more hysterical (though sad for the kids) than to watch lazy parents bitch and moan about not being able to get into, e.g., CM or MV, who had all of the opportunity to get in when the school opened - but their "hothouse flower" couldn't risk an environment with "variables." First, every school has variables, even private schools. Second, your child is not the boy in the bubble and will face variables his whole life. Third, if you actually did part of your job as a parent at the school where your child attends - engaging - supporting - questioning - etc. ---the kinks would be worked out sooner!

Smug MV parent who got in on the ground floor and has the battle scars to prove it....

[Anonymous]

Um, except I forgot to tell you that I have experience with a start up school.

For elementary school I would roll with a start up. For MS, I'll pass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm waiting to see who turns up for 6th grade. Are they letting kids in for 6th who didn't do 5th or what?

Yes, 6th is open to outside students but I don't think Basis has enrolled any so far. Sounds like they're really not sure who will stay and who will jump ship.
What bothers me more about high attrition - as a parent, not as a taxpayer - is that it really cuts into one's student's ability to build lasting relationships, which are so crucial at this age.

IIRC, BASIS accepted about 25 for next year's 6th grade via a lottery, and there is a waiting list for 6th.

As for who is staying and who is jumping ship, re-enrollment forms were due back in February. I imagine that's how BASIS knew it could accept 25 into next year's 6th grade. On the other hand, BASIS did not fill this year's 5th grade, so some of those 25 additional 6th graders might be taking spots that have been available for some time now.

I suppose that some current families re-enrolled even though they have a good idea that they are leaving, e.g., waiting to hear from a private school or waiting for the results of a lottery at another charter school, and it might take time for those families to withdraw their re-enrollment forms if they end up on a wait list. Because of the "September Shuffle", the true re-enrollment rate might not be known until October 5...

As for the attrition, that's part and parcel of an open-enrollment school with a rigorous curriculum. To lower the attrition rate, BASIS has to become more selective, become less rigorous, or provide a great deal of support to struggling students. The first and second options conflict with the BASIS philosophy, and the first option violates the DC School Reform Act.

Thus, BASIS has chosen to provide a great deal of support to struggling students, e.g., the STARS program last spring, the summer program, the remedial math and reading programs, the peer tutoring program, extensive teacher hours, etc.

As the parent of a BASIS student, I worry some about the effect attrition might have on DC's ability to maintain long-term friendships, but I am not overly concerned about it. DC is doing well there and tends to socialize with other kids who are doing well. Some of these kids might leave BASIS for various reasons, but probably not because they find the curriculum too challenging.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^This! I have a child who was about to start MS last year and never gave BASIS a second glance because I didn't have the stomach for dealing with a start up school. That coupled with the fact that my bright student would never go to a school without organized, competitive sports teams.

I will say that I am watching with interest BASIS trying to navigate the charter school world of DC versus Arizonia. I am certain that they will work out the kinks in a few years. Then maybe it will be a viable option for my younger child.

Very lazy approach to parent engagement in schools (and/or parenting). Charter schools (and traditional public schools) are made by family engagement. period. Nothing is more hysterical (though sad for the kids) than to watch lazy parents bitch and moan about not being able to get into, e.g., CM or MV, who had all of the opportunity to get in when the school opened - but their "hothouse flower" couldn't risk an environment with "variables." First, every school has variables, even private schools. Second, your child is not the boy in the bubble and will face variables his whole life. Third, if you actually did part of your job as a parent at the school where your child attends - engaging - supporting - questioning - etc. ---the kinks would be worked out sooner!

Smug MV parent who got in on the ground floor and has the battle scars to prove it....

Woah... you say lazy not to jump in with a starter, I say irresponsible to gamble with child's education BY jumping in with a starter. The point is not that every school has variables, but that a new school has completely unknown variables. Put another way, I wouldn't send my kid to a starter school for the same reason I wouldn't send my kids for sleepovers if I don't know the parents. But two things parenting has taught me: (1) anyone who claims to know what they are doing is automatically suspect; and (2) for every parenting decision there are infinite responses from one extreme to another. In the end all you can do is what you think is best.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Thus, BASIS has chosen to provide a great deal of support to struggling students, e.g., the STARS program last spring, the summer program, the remedial math and reading programs, the peer tutoring program, extensive teacher hours, etc.

I am a supporter of the school's concept and I want it to be successful for all students. However, I'm tired of hearing about the STARS program and current Basis parents should stop referring to it. I am the parent of an incoming 5th grader. I have asked the school about the STARS program every since lottery day which is when we received notice that we were in. I thought they may be starting it late but last month I was informed there is no STARS program at all this year, just the 2 week summer school option that doesn't seem to have aftercare or meet on Fridays. Because my DC is ahead and I can work my work schedule for 2 weeks around this limited summer program option, I am less concerned. I also am familiar with Saxon 7/8 which is considered the top text for that level of math, so I am less concerned about him being put in that level for math in 5th. The PP was incorrect when she said that Pre-Algebra was the lowest level of math for 5th graders.

However, the point of this post is to point out that for the kids whose math is not up to Basis standards, they will not have the opportunity to do STARS and at best will get 8 days of morning only math instuction in the summer program if they can swing the schedule. I would have been more comfortable with my DC in pre-algebra for 5th if we had access to STARS. As the daughter of a mathematician I believe certain fraction, decimal and percent calculations should be able to be done mentally and for that a lot of practice is needed.

BTW - Saxon's Pre-Algebra and Algebra 1 text are not rated as the best text although from memory I think they were considered in the B range which is still very good - most texts at that level don't rate that high. Saxon 7/8 was rated an A- and the only text to receive that designation from my research. My biggest concern is that by opting for a the lowest level math my DC may not receive the top level of instruction that others receive in his other courses since I was told that they determine classroom placement based on math level. But we'll cross that bridge wwhen we get to it.