Charter schools have a strong attraction for middle class families...good read

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/10/28/schools-seeking-diversity-get-boost-from-urban-middle-class/1661557/

Tough budget times are coming for charters.

All DC charter operators and boards need to understand that they now operate with real political and financial risk from their creditors if they do not get our upper-middle class to believe that their schools might be a viable option for their own neighbors (if not their own children).

When charters are seen as something "for the poor", related to "social justice", "the civil rights struggle of today", "a way to give the teachers' unions a hard time", or as only Ward 7/8 KIPP-like programs they will eventually lose local support from the powerful, well-connected upper middle.

Any loss of upper-middle-class support would be devastating for all of DC's children. DCPS just can't fill in the gaps quickly enough. Sadly, DC will never have a high-quality school in every part of town. Charters must fill this void and need DC's upper-middle class to get and stay on board with the idea of charters as real options for all classes -- not just the poor.

^^ That was well said, and something I am hoping our DC's school will begin to understand. For years, the school treated its better educated, financially stable parents as people that needed to be tolerated. That attitude could be shifting now that the school has undergone a major expansion and has more and more capital demands.

At a lot of schools, parent involvement is given lip service rather than seen as an important and valuable asset.

[Anonymous]

DCPS gets more funding per student than most districts in the nation, and mismanages it to the point of the money not reaching the students.

Charters only get half of the funding allocation per student from public funds, yet most of them still manage to do a good job.

Charters typically have to put up money up front, secure buildings on their own, secure transportation on their own, everything is a fight and a struggle, and meanwhile, DCPS sits on dozens shuttered, unused buildings and facilities, and dozens of school buses sit in yards without drivers instead of being made available to charters who could put them to good use.

The whole DCPS funding and management situation is a sin and needs to be rethought from the ground up.

[Anonymous]

Please cite your source for the statement "Charters only get half of the funding allocation per student from public funds." I think that's is a bit of a stretch.

There are a lots of costs that charters don't deal with too. The number one cost in the school business is labor. Many charter schools are notorious for hiring younger, less experienced people who cost less.

You should also note that only a handful of charters in this town are performing above 50% proficiency.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DCPS gets more funding per student than most districts in the nation, and mismanages it to the point of the money not reaching the students.

Charters only get half of the funding allocation per student from public funds, yet most of them still manage to do a good job.

Charters typically have to put up money up front, secure buildings on their own, secure transportation on their own, everything is a fight and a struggle, and meanwhile, DCPS sits on dozens shuttered, unused buildings and facilities, and dozens of school buses sit in yards without drivers instead of being made available to charters who could put them to good use.

The whole DCPS funding and management situation is a sin and needs to be rethought from the ground up.

Charters have a multi-front struggle: 1) serve the poor; 2) keep the middle and upper-middle class believing in, and in some cases attending, charters; 3) secure more resources; and, most importantly 4) deliver far greater educational outcomes than DCPS ever will over the next decade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/10/28/schools-seeking-diversity-get-boost-from-urban-middle-class/1661557/

Tough budget times are coming for charters.

All DC charter operators and boards need to understand that they now operate with real political and financial risk from their creditors if they do not get our upper-middle class to believe that their schools might be a viable option for their own neighbors (if not their own children).

When charters are seen as something "for the poor", related to "social justice", "the civil rights struggle of today", "a way to give the teachers' unions a hard time", or as only Ward 7/8 KIPP-like programs they will eventually lose local support from the powerful, well-connected upper middle.

Any loss of upper-middle-class support would be devastating for all of DC's children. DCPS just can't fill in the gaps quickly enough. Sadly, DC will never have a high-quality school in every part of town. Charters must fill this void and need DC's upper-middle class to get and stay on board with the idea of charters as real options for all classes -- not just the poor.

^^ That was well said, and something I am hoping our DC's school will begin to understand. For years, the school treated its better educated, financially stable parents as people that needed to be tolerated. That attitude could be shifting now that the school has undergone a major expansion and has more and more capital demands.

At a lot of schools, parent involvement is given lip service rather than seen as an important and valuable asset.

I don't know if you are describing E.L. Haynes or Yu Ying but Latin and BASIS have figured out ways to meet needs of all classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know if you are describing E.L. Haynes or Yu Ying but Latin and BASIS have figured out ways to meet needs of all classes.

Not exactly. We've been disappointed to watch at least 2/3 of DC's high-SES peers at Latin hit the road somewhere between 6th and 9th. I'd be really surprised if BASIS avoids the same sort of attrition. One of BASIS' problems in DC will be that suburban schools upper-middle-class families can take advantage of by moving not only have equally high standards for advanced learners but offer gymns, playing fields, auditoriums/stages, greenhouses, pools etc. BASIS offers good teaching and organization, and tae kwan do on the Navy Memorial...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know if you are describing E.L. Haynes or Yu Ying but Latin and BASIS have figured out ways to meet needs of all classes.

Not exactly. We've been disappointed to watch at least 2/3 of DC's high-SES peers at Latin hit the road somewhere between 6th and 9th. I'd be really surprised if BASIS avoids the same sort of attrition. One of BASIS' problems in DC will be that suburban schools upper-middle-class families can take advantage of by moving not only have equally high standards for advanced learners but offer gymns, playing fields, auditoriums/stages, greenhouses, pools etc. BASIS offers good teaching and organization, and tae kwan do on the Navy Memorial...

Latin is building now on more than five acres. Library, gym, and modern finishes are in store. The future of Tier 1 DC charter schools rests in actual school buildings and on green playing fields. BASIS has a nice building and expansion plans. Both schools can do fine holding onto students and parents of all classes who want a classical education or the BASIS program if they make the right choices in the months and years ahead. Instructional quality is the most important thing of all. Get the best teachers, hold onto students, and the rest is easy once in nice facilities with dedicated outdoor spaces.

[Anonymous]

The question may be do these middle and upperclass parents follow the schools east. The available space is really only in upper northeast and not neccessarily in metro friendly options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please cite your source for the statement "Charters only get half of the funding allocation per student from public funds." I think that's is a bit of a stretch.

There are a lots of costs that charters don't deal with too. The number one cost in the school business is labor. Many charter schools are notorious for hiring younger, less experienced people who cost less.

You should also note that only a handful of charters in this town are performing above 50% proficiency.

It's no stretch at all that DC public charters get significantly less money per student than their DCPS counterparts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The question may be do these middle and upperclass parents follow the schools east. The available space is really only in upper northeast and not neccessarily in metro friendly options.

Latin will be right across the Park from Chevy Chase DC and will continue its hub bus system to several parts of DC. The District is changing and all development is headed East. Do most middle and upper-middle parents really send their children to school on the Metro today?

[Anonymous]

Gonzaga is an immensely popular parochial high school in the eastern end of the city. It becomes a chicken/egg proposition though---the school has to keep enough strong students to build a strong college admissions record. But if a school can build a strong reputation, and the alumni network that flows from that reputation, then the east side location will not be a huge deterrent.

[Anonymous]

12:10, what duh???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:12:10, what duh???

I am not the previous poster, but I guess you are confused by the term "eastern end." For some, any place east of 16th Street is uncharted territory.

The previous poster is correct though. If Latin can retain its best and brightest and develop a strong college placement reputation, it will draw the best and the brightest. Take a look at a school like St. Anselms Abbey. It is one the best schools in the region and is REALLY on the eastern end of town.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Asked whether it's frustrating for advanced students to work side-by-side with their struggling peers, he countered: "How do you possibly teach kids about the world without having students sit side-by-side, who don't look like each other and don't think very differently? Isn't that the more important skill?""

Sorry, it's not the more important skill, not when a kid gets to SATs, AP tests and college applicationsand can't measure up for lack of challenge all the way up. This shallow article white washes the gentrification issues, like DC Charter. Look at Latin's troubling high-SES attrition between 6tlh and 9th for evidence. I predict that Basis will have the same problem - the administration and white parents/boosters don't seem to see it coming.

Latin's attrition bridging to HS has dropped sharply in the past two years. Things change that quickly in charters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Asked whether it's frustrating for advanced students to work side-by-side with their struggling peers, he countered: "How do you possibly teach kids about the world without having students sit side-by-side, who don't look like each other and don't think very differently? Isn't that the more important skill?""

Sorry, it's not the more important skill, not when a kid gets to SATs, AP tests and college applicationsand can't measure up for lack of challenge all the way up. This shallow article white washes the gentrification issues, like DC Charter. Look at Latin's troubling high-SES attrition between 6tlh and 9th for evidence. I predict that Basis will have the same problem - the administration and white parents/boosters don't seem to see it coming.

Latin's attrition bridging to HS has dropped sharply in the past two years. Things change that quickly in charters.

True. Call the DCPCSB and ask which charter high school has the highest graduation rate with retention all 4 years. This retention will only improve in the new five-acre facility.