BASIS language instruction

[Anonymous]

Is it true that they are no longer requiring APs in foreign language for graduation? And shrinking the language requirement to 3 years?

[Anonymous]

You have to take the 4th year of a language. Some kids take it as "level 4", more advanced kids take it as "AP".

[Anonymous]

How? They don’t have a full year of classes in 12th grade.

[Anonymous]

Yes, it is true that the new curriculum (which I believe kicks in for class of 2030? maybe 2029?) makes Level IV language, i.e. 11th grade, optional -- students can choose to take a language course, or an elective (but not both). So world language is required for 8th, 9th, and 10th grades only. This was announced late last school year and I think was handed down from Basis HQ, not specific to DC.

[Anonymous]

Language instruction at BASIS DC was never serious anyway. The 5th graders who’ve come out of DCPS and charter immersion programs have never been encouraged to maintain or build on their language skills within the program. No surprises that language instruction will be even less important at BASIS DC in the future. After all, the Blocks who started BASIS in AZ, Michael and Olga, have a long history of supporting MAGA candidates. Look it up. America first.

[Anonymous]

Basis DC is far from MAGA. I would call it sane, not woke or liberal, but most MAGA types would definitely object to the reading list (The Hate U Give, etc.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Basis DC is far from MAGA. I would call it sane, not woke or liberal, but most MAGA types would definitely object to the reading list (The Hate U Give, etc.)

Agree with this. The english teacher made a point of saying that all the books on the 5th grade curriculum had been "banned" somewhere (including things like A Wrinkle in Time, which feels really innocuous). There is no woke social justice vibe, but I would guess all the teachers vote for democrats. "Sane, not woke or liberal" feels exactly true.

[Anonymous]

The Blocks support hard right candidates. It is presumably because of their vision of school privatization replacing traditional public schools.

[Anonymous]

What's "sane" about letting the strong language skills of 5th graders who'd come up through immersion programs peter out as they wait until 8th grade to start beginning language instruction? What's sane about not offering language instruction before 8th grade when the science tells us that younger students pick up languages far more readily than older ones? These policies are dumb.

I know that former immersion parents have tried and failed to get support from BASIS for after-school language clubs on campus for years. No surprises that BASIS is downgrading their weak language instruction. The BASIS way or the highway, to hell with what makes good sense.

[Anonymous]

The DC boosters don't want to hear it. Whatever BASIS Arizona decides must be terrific.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's "sane" about letting the strong language skills of 5th graders who'd come up through immersion programs peter out as they wait until 8th grade to start beginning language instruction? What's sane about not offering language instruction before 8th grade when the science tells us that younger students pick up languages far more readily than older ones? These policies are dumb.

I know that former immersion parents have tried and failed to get support from BASIS for after-school language clubs on campus for years. No surprises that BASIS is downgrading their weak language instruction. The BASIS way or the highway, to hell with what makes good sense.

I don't have a kid at BASIS but different schools emphasize different things. If you strongly value foreign language skills, it's pretty obvious that BASIS would not be a good fit for your family because it's not emphasized in their curriculum.

But as a longtime DCPS family, I'd also tell you that foreign language is also not emphasized in DCPS outside of immersion schools.

If this is a central value for you, you should be looking at DCI or private school, or investigating non-school options for language immersion like summer camps and exchange programs.

Not sure why any of that is BASIS's problem, given that it's a charter and they can do what they want.

[Anonymous]

Lottery for DCI. There are some spots for non-feeders. Not a lot but someone gets to win the lottery.

Strong language

Strong math and science

In addition great facilities and lots of clubs, EC, and sports.

Done if you win the lottery.

[Anonymous]

Or move to burbs for superior neighborhood programs. We left DCPS for an Arlington MS with IB curriculum where all students take a language every year. The IBD high schools in the VA burbs all teach IB languages one or two years past AP, generally in 5 or 6 languages. Same with MoCo IB at BCC, RM and Thomas Edison. DCPS and BASIS don't get it. Their language curricula are stuck in the 80s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's "sane" about letting the strong language skills of 5th graders who'd come up through immersion programs peter out as they wait until 8th grade to start beginning language instruction? What's sane about not offering language instruction before 8th grade when the science tells us that younger students pick up languages far more readily than older ones? These policies are dumb.

I know that former immersion parents have tried and failed to get support from BASIS for after-school language clubs on campus for years. No surprises that BASIS is downgrading their weak language instruction. The BASIS way or the highway, to hell with what makes good sense.

I don't have a kid at BASIS but different schools emphasize different things. If you strongly value foreign language skills, it's pretty obvious that BASIS would not be a good fit for your family because it's not emphasized in their curriculum.

But as a longtime DCPS family, I'd also tell you that foreign language is also not emphasized in DCPS outside of immersion schools.

If this is a central value for you, you should be looking at DCI or private school, or investigating non-school options for language immersion like summer camps and exchange programs.

Not sure why any of that is BASIS's problem, given that it's a charter and they can do what they want.

Got it, something remotely resembling educational best practices here in the 21st century in a rich country, normal language offerings and requirements in top school systems all over the country and the world, not BASIS' problem. Definitely not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How? They don’t have a full year of classes in 12th grade.

You take it as a junior.