CHARTERS MAY MERGE AT WALTER REED (The DC International School, IB Diploma Programme)

[Anonymous]

Am I the only one who doesn't think this is great? I wanted my DC at MV because it was small. Now they're going to be a 1k middle school? No thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Am I the only one who doesn't think this is great? I wanted my DC at MV because it was small. Now they're going to be a 1k middle school? No thanks.

When you have a young kid you want a small school. Most middle school kids/high school kids need a bigger environment.

[Anonymous]

The 1,000 students if for MS/HS, so about 150 students per grade level. That size gives a grade 6 - 8 sections -- you can have 3 different levels of math, for example.

Deal, some would say the most sought after MS is the city, has ~1100 students, 300 to 400 per grade

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The can amend their original charters but that doesn't matter unless the charter law is changed so that their amended charters can be approved.

There are many legal issues involved and there will be many challenges to this plan. It is far, far from a done deal.

We are at one of the named schools. I agree that this is complicated but there are smart lawyers examining this without necessarily changing the charter law. I was surprised that this got publicized in the Dupont Current, but it looks like DCI planning is farther along than I thought.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Am I the only one who doesn't think this is great? I wanted my DC at MV because it was small. Now they're going to be a 1k middle school? No thanks.

When you have a young kid you want a small school. Most middle school kids/high school kids need a bigger environment.

I agree. Definitely smaller = better for ES. However, in order to have rich math, science, and language offerings (and I expect these students to need far richer language offerings than the average MS or HS - even privates) there must be a critical mass. I like the built-in rigor: IB Program & bilingual students coming from bilingual programs. If it is really an extension of the existing schools, then no need to throw open the doors to everyone, right?

[Anonymous]

The idea is the schools are separate (like academies or schools within a school, in this case DCI) and act as a cooperative. Meaning they share resources, teachers for shared content or specialized classes (language, art, etc) and common space. LAMB and YY have the space and would be able to sublease to the other schools. This allows all the schools to reach critical mass to offer a richer program, better facilities, labs, etc.

[Anonymous]

Ok, so what about a child who isn't bilingual starting in 2014? How would that child be integrated into the school?

[Anonymous]

a model for how it might work is Washington International School WIS for 6th grade. You can apply as French fluent, French beginning, Spanish fluent, Spanish beginning, Chinese intermediate, etc. Depending on your language fluency, you take literature and social studies in either French / Spanish or if not that fluent in English. I believe at WIS all math & science is taught in English. Students not fluent in a second language start with Spanish 1, French 1, etc. Students can start a third language. Not saying this is how DCI will do it (I don't know) but saying WIS provides a model.

[Anonymous]

This is so freaking exciting - I hope it's true!!

[Anonymous]

"We are at one of the named schools. I agree that this is complicated but there are smart lawyers examining this without necessarily changing the charter law. I was surprised that this got publicized in the Dupont Current, but it looks like DCI planning is farther along than I thought. "

Not really. This is all talk, generating buzz in the hopes that it will be a sure solution.

The planning is in the very early stages and has not accounted for the intricacies of charter law or the legal challenges ahead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"We are at one of the named schools. I agree that this is complicated but there are smart lawyers examining this without necessarily changing the charter law. I was surprised that this got publicized in the Dupont Current, but it looks like DCI planning is farther along than I thought. "

Not really. This is all talk, generating buzz in the hopes that it will be a sure solution.

The planning is in the very early stages and has not accounted for the intricacies of charter law or the legal challenges ahead.

says you.....who knows very little.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"We are at one of the named schools. I agree that this is complicated but there are smart lawyers examining this without necessarily changing the charter law. I was surprised that this got publicized in the Dupont Current, but it looks like DCI planning is farther along than I thought. "

Not really. This is all talk, generating buzz in the hopes that it will be a sure solution.

The planning is in the very early stages and has not accounted for the intricacies of charter law or the legal challenges ahead.

Oh, it is definitely happening.

You understand that the charter authorities exist to assist charters (especially successful ones like all the language schools) and not to throw up barriers, right? Of course all the authorities and advocates will get on board. And, the Republican Congress (which has oversight over all things DC) is going to love it too. It's enough to make me love Republicans!

[Anonymous]

I agree--definitely happening but unclear when. Could take longer than currently planned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Isn't B---S promising a parallel Spanish program for extant bilinguals with more vigor than Middlebury?

I realize that you're being sarcastic, but I did hear statements early on from BASIS that seemed to intimate this. Later, I found out that the program for bilinguals or advanced language students will actually be an add-on early morning program, separate from the main curriculum. (And it costs $ to participate.) So I don't think of BASIS as being an ideal current option for kids whose parents want advanced-level second or third languages to be a full part of the curriculum. Maybe this will change later. (Why do we need 2 charter middle schools with a focus on Latin?)

Is SWW an option for bilingual/trilingual kids so that they can take college level language courses at GW?

Actually, the classes are for 5th and 6th graders, because they are required to take Latin. &th grade and up the students will be able to take Latin, Spanish, French, Mandarin, and German. The morning classes are for bilingual children, and children that are coming from immersion schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:a model for how it might work is Washington International School WIS for 6th grade. You can apply as French fluent, French beginning, Spanish fluent, Spanish beginning, Chinese intermediate, etc. Depending on your language fluency, you take literature and social studies in either French / Spanish or if not that fluent in English. I believe at WIS all math & science is taught in English. Students not fluent in a second language start with Spanish 1, French 1, etc. Students can start a third language. Not saying this is how DCI will do it (I don't know) but saying WIS provides a model.

. Technically, but WIS is one, private, IB diploma, selective school.

DCI would not and under current law could not be any of these things except IB (at some point and with outside funding). It's competition would be all DCPS selective high schools, private schools (they could all use some diversity) and Tier 1 charter high schools. (Jay Mathews would include CHEC. ) That narrows the pool of bilingual and bi-literate, AP-ready, no special needs or below proficient students. Some of those pre-Kers who chatter in Mandarin or read (already!) in Spanish may have tired of the extra effort and motivation (and possibly lack of sports) needed to stick with language intensive programs.

There are a number of co-location, coordinated charters. On that level, YY and LAMB feeding to a co-located, but separately run, secondary school kind of makes sense.
Stokes and MV don't seem to have much to gain from the effort it would take to "cooperate". They are probably sustainable (no pun meant) as stand alones. Stokes has scale. MV has focus.

But that 1,000 number sounds really, really optimistic.