Could BASIS DC be closed for lower enrollment and higher academic demands?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Meant to add - Unless you went to KIPP, don't talk about it. Everyone I know that went there pulled their DC because the standards were "too low."

They probably would have been asked to leave if they hadn't left on their own b/c their kid couldn't handle the program. Same reason kids are leaving BASIS.

[Anonymous]

People have a wide variety of their own reasons why they choose Charter A vs. Charter B.

Charter school student populations are self-selected, whether by application or by moving to a charter that's the best fit.

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately BASIS was started as a charter school subject to current law which means that it accepts all children based upon lottery -- not test scores, motivation, behavior problems (or lack of behavioral problems), neighborhood or SES. Therefore it is up to BASIS to meet the needs of its current students. Not just the students who are high achieving or without behavioral problems, but all students who are enrolled. I think that is where there is frustration with Basis. If others have to meet the needs of their students then why not Basis?



It is deeply ironic to me that until BASIS came on the scene a lot of the accusations about "counseling kids out" including kids with behavioral problems, were directed at Washington Latin. Perhaps this is the hazing that every new good charter school has to go through for the first few years if they decide to set up camp in Washington DC?

[Anonymous]

Yes, par for the course. Any time there's an interesting new charter, all the haters come out of the woodwork. Not just Latin, but also Yu Ying and many many others have been trashed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Meant to add - Unless you went to KIPP, don't talk about it. Everyone I know that went there pulled their DC because the standards were "too low."

They probably would have been asked to leave if they hadn't left on their own b/c their kid couldn't handle the program. Same reason kids are leaving BASIS.

Wrong again. One was given a full scholarship to a prestigious North Eastern private boarding school. The other enrolled in a well regarded private school in DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Unfortunately BASIS was started as a charter school subject to current law which means that it accepts all children based upon lottery -- not test scores, motivation, behavior problems (or lack of behavioral problems), neighborhood or SES. Therefore it is up to BASIS to meet the needs of its current students. Not just the students who are high achieving or without behavioral problems, but all students who are enrolled. I think that is where there is frustration with Basis. If others have to meet the needs of their students then why not Basis?

It is deeply ironic to me that until BASIS came on the scene a lot of the accusations about "counseling kids out" including kids with behavioral problems, were directed at Washington Latin. Perhaps this is the hazing that every new good charter school has to go through for the first few years if they decide to set up camp in Washington DC?

PP you quoted here. I don't know if Latin counsels kids out. Plus I hope BASIS succeeds-- I don't hate them at all. I was responding to the previous posters who claim they are BASIS parents and think of it as a GT type of program. It isn't. It wasn't designed to be, but if that is the mentality of the parents sending their kids there, along with the other parents who have posted about BASIS dismissing their kids from services within months of starting plus the high attrition numbers noted by the PCSB (did Latin have that noticed too?), those will kill the school. Not the haters.

[Anonymous]

Listen -- I know Basis may not like the rules but the rules are in place so either abide by them or bece subject to problems. There are specialized charter schools (mentioned above) because they were approved to serve those populations. BASIS didnt apply to be a charter which only serves a certain population, they applied to be like Latin or Two Rivers or any of the other schools which have a more general enrollment goal with a different curriculum. Unlike the pp BASIS parent which thinks it is for GT type children, that isn't what their application was approved to serve. Yes, DC probably should have a GT program or two or three. That is a great idea. Too bad BASIS didnt try for that because they may have actually been able to get it done. But since they have to live up to their current charter they can't simply act like a GT program (not saying they are but clearly some BASIIs parents think they should) and try to "encourage" those who aren't GT to "find" a different program.

This.

Also, one of the most disturbing and insidious things about the extreme BASIS boosters is that they bully posters who raise any concerns about the school with suggestions they leave. BASIS isn't a private school and it isn't a GT substitute clubhouse. It is a public charter school that sought a charter in DC knowing full well the rules. If they fail to abide by the terms of their charter, they should be shut down. Although, I don't know anyone who wants to see that happen. What does need to happen is that BASIS needs to address the needs of its students and raise the achievement of all children in the school, just as they promised.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Listen -- I know Basis may not like the rules but the rules are in place so either abide by them or bece subject to problems. There are specialized charter schools (mentioned above) because they were approved to serve those populations. BASIS didnt apply to be a charter which only serves a certain population, they applied to be like Latin or Two Rivers or any of the other schools which have a more general enrollment goal with a different curriculum. Unlike the pp BASIS parent which thinks it is for GT type children, that isn't what their application was approved to serve. Yes, DC probably should have a GT program or two or three. That is a great idea. Too bad BASIS didnt try for that because they may have actually been able to get it done. But since they have to live up to their current charter they can't simply act like a GT program (not saying they are but clearly some BASIIs parents think they should) and try to "encourage" those who aren't GT to "find" a different program.

This.

Also, one of the most disturbing and insidious things about the extreme BASIS boosters is that they bully posters who raise any concerns about the school with suggestions they leave. BASIS isn't a private school and it isn't a GT substitute clubhouse. It is a public charter school that sought a charter in DC knowing full well the rules. If they fail to abide by the terms of their charter, they should be shut down. Although, I don't know anyone who wants to see that happen. What does need to happen is that BASIS needs to address the needs of its students and raise the achievement of all children in the school, just as they promised.

Incorrect assertions keep being made about the law, about specialization and who can or can't specialize. The fact is that virtually EVERY charter in DC is specialized, and is targeting a specific need and specific segment of the DC student populace. St. Colettas does special needs. Carlos Rosario does adult immigrant education. Roots does Afrocentrism. Mundo Verde does Spanish language and Environmentalism. Latin is college prep. Options does "hard cases". Yu Ying does Chinese Immersion, and on and on and on. Those missions and specializations were all presented to the Charter Board, and those schools with those stated missions and specializations were all approved by the Charter board with their full knowledge and consent and adherence to the law. As for being able to meet the needs of *every* child, frankly there is not one school in the entire District of Columbia that can do that, whether DCPS or charter, so that is one area where the law falls on its face - and you can't just decide you are going to single out one charter and selectively enforce it there while giving DCPS failings in that area a complete pass, as that is discriminatory practice.

As for the suggestion that BASIS is "trying to be a private" is complete nonsense. Likewise, BASIS isn't "trying to be a G&T school" either - they are not doing IQ tests, selective admission or any of the other standard pieces inherent to a G&T program. Anyone who wants to can apply for admission, it is not selective other than luck of the draw on a lottery. What BASIS *is* doing is providing a very robust and challenging curriculum, however that entails students and families making a serious investment of time and energy toward meeting that challenge. And, there's nothing whatsoever wrong with that. In fact, many families like ours find it to be a very refreshing and welcome addition.

[Anonymous]

You are confused on the law. What is the specific, unique curriculum which BASIS is providing?

I suggest you review the actual law. Then review BASIS approved chater. Then go ahead and review YY and St. C and then Latin. The differences/similarities should be evident.

[Anonymous]

What's unique about the BASIS curriculum? Several things. For example, they offer their LEAP program which is more accelerated than what is available at other schools in the district. They are the only school in the district where a student would have the opportunity to take Calculus in 8th grade, for example. They also offer more AP course opportunities than any other school in DC.

As far as what it is about the law that specifically relates to your concern about BASIS and only BASIS as opposed to Latin, YY, or any other charter, there isn't any area in the law where BASIS specifically stands out as distinct from the others.

Perhaps you could post some links and specifics to better make whatever point you are trying to make. And if you are citing the law, I should hope that I don't have to point out to you that while federal laws for public schools still apply to DC charters, regular DC public school law does not, charters are governed by laws separate from the laws that govern regular public schools in DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Meant to add - Unless you went to KIPP, don't talk about it. Everyone I know that went there pulled their DC because the standards were "too low."

They probably would have been asked to leave if they hadn't left on their own b/c their kid couldn't handle the program. Same reason kids are leaving BASIS.

Wrong again. One was given a full scholarship to a prestigious North Eastern private boarding school. The other enrolled in a well regarded private school in DC.

So these kids went from KIPP to elite prep schools - programs like Prep for Prep or whatever the program is called in DC that takes underrepresented minorities and send them to elite private schools. I would call that a BIG indication that KIPP does a great job in educating their students not an indication that their standards are too low.