BASIS proposal to expand to K-4--PCSB hearing today

[Anonymous]

BASIS has 35 public charter schools in the US plus a number of private schools in the US and around the world. All go from K-12 except BASIS DC, which is currently 5-12.

Of the top 100 USN&WR public schools in the US, 11 are BASIS schools including the #1 public high school in the country.

BASIS is seeking to join the rest of BASIS schools around the world and amend its charter to add K-4. Here is the application: https://dcpcsb.org/sites/default/files/media/file/2024-05-06%20BASIS%20DC%20Expansion%20Amendment%20Application.pdf

There was a public hearing before the PCSB today. If anyone went to the hearing, can he or she report on what happened?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:BASIS has 35 public charter schools in the US plus a number of private schools in the US and around the world. All go from K-12 except BASIS DC, which is currently 5-12.

Of the top 100 USN&WR public schools in the US, 11 are BASIS schools including the #1 public high school in the country.

BASIS is seeking to join the rest of BASIS schools around the world and amend its charter to add K-4. Here is the application: https://dcpcsb.org/sites/default/files/media/file/2024-05-06%20BASIS%20DC%20Expansion%20Amendment%20Application.pdf

There was a public hearing before the PCSB today. If anyone went to the hearing, can he or she report on what happened?

Hope it went well.

We need more options in DC.

[Anonymous]

Culturally a bad fit for DC. They are trying to jam their model into our city instead of adapt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Culturally a bad fit for DC. They are trying to jam their model into our city instead of adapt.

Or, and I'm just spitballing here, but maybe if something is culturally a good fit for DC's low educational standards, that's actually a bad thing and not a good thing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Culturally a bad fit for DC. They are trying to jam their model into our city instead of adapt.

Or, and I'm just spitballing here, but maybe if something is culturally a good fit for DC's low educational standards, that's actually a bad thing and not a good thing?

lol

[Anonymous]

You can watch it on YouTube in the Live section of their channel. It seems like there was some skepticism among the board about whether an additional elementary school is needed, at all, due to population trends. Also the meeting materials show skepticism of BASIS' expansion plan, budget, and low at-risk and SPED populations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Culturally a bad fit for DC. They are trying to jam their model into our city instead of adapt.

How about we add some cultural diversity then.

[Anonymous]

I read the most likely correlate to application to BASIS is parental post-collegiate degrees.

Also read that that they set aside 6 percent of their seats for at risk.

This is creamskimming at its most obvious.

[Anonymous]

I've never understood why BASIS wants this so badly. We have lots of good elementary schools and their current school is fine.

I do think the oversupply of seats is a reason to close some of the worst performing schools though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I read the most likely correlate to application to BASIS is parental post-collegiate degrees.

Also read that that they set aside 6 percent of their seats for at risk.

This is creamskimming at its most obvious.

The kids in my neighborhood overwhelmingly do not go to the IB MS or HS, just like for most schools in DC. There's variety in terms of what parents are looking for, but what's shared across socioeconomic group is that DCPS is not meeting their kids' needs. If any given charter school didn't exist, it's not like those kids would be going to their zoned school. And the equity lottery this year is probably going to wind up taking every kid who applied for 5th grade. They were already down to two kids on their waitlist as of June.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can watch it on YouTube in the Live section of their channel. It seems like there was some skepticism among the board about whether an additional elementary school is needed, at all, due to population trends. Also the meeting materials show skepticism of BASIS' expansion plan, budget, and low at-risk and SPED populations.

Starting earlier such as in K may improve the number of at risk students. Many leave the school during the middle school. If at risk students started in K preparation would be better for middle school. I do like the idea. I also agree that high performing options are sorely lacking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've never understood why BASIS wants this so badly. We have lots of good elementary schools and their current school is fine.

I do think the oversupply of seats is a reason to close some of the worst performing schools though.

Cash. That’s the only reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've never understood why BASIS wants this so badly. We have lots of good elementary schools and their current school is fine.

I do think the oversupply of seats is a reason to close some of the worst performing schools though.

Cash. That’s the only reason.

Do they really make money on an elementary school?

I think if they expanded middle and high school with a new building, in any configuration, it would fill up easily. Not sure why we need a BASIS elementary school when we have many adequate elementary schools but are so solely lacking in good middle and high schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've never understood why BASIS wants this so badly. We have lots of good elementary schools and their current school is fine.

I do think the oversupply of seats is a reason to close some of the worst performing schools though.

Because the math/science scores would be better if they could teach elementary students math, instead of having to deal with incoming students who struggle with the basics. While some of these students leave, a student only needs to get a 60% score to pass the final exam and stay at BASIS.

[Anonymous]

Are they going to make elementary students repeat grades if they fail the comps?