Truth about being three coughs above FARMS at a high performing Charter School

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's ironic, but the level of vitriol against the OP makes her claims more credible to me.

vitriol or skepticism?

I'm more just skeptical of OP but as some of the commentary seems to be a generalized and unfocused mischaracterization of "HRPCS" schools across the board I think it's unfair and that's why I push back on it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My gut feeling was right and I'm glad we turned down our spot at a HRCS. This post gave me a breath of fresh air!

And what was your alternative?

Most people who are three coughs above FARMS are not choosing between a HRCS and Sidwell. Or a HRCS and Janney.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's ironic, but the level of vitriol against the OP makes her claims more credible to me.

vitriol or skepticism?

I'm more just skeptical of OP but as some of the commentary seems to be a generalized and unfocused mischaracterization of "HRPCS" schools across the board I think it's unfair and that's why I push back on it.

I don't understand the skepticism. These were her impressions and her perspective. How can you negate what someone else is feeling? If you have a different perspective, then great and share it like others have. It gets very ugly when people put down others for perspective. I doubt most people think EVERY charter is the way OP describes. In fact, I would argue that most still don't think any is the way she described. But at a charter (where most people probably don't feel this way), she DID feel this way. Can we all at least acknowledge that?

I don't know OP nor intend to come to her defense, but I am a new charter parent who hopes my voice is heard if and/or when I have a concern. And if I felt that others would benefit from a different perspective that I have, I would want it to be welcomed.

Again, I'm just not seeing her agenda being to trash charters. I really thought it was to make folks aware of how one can feel at a charter who happens to have similar circumstances.

Agree or disagree, but please be more understand of new folks like me joining your charter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My gut feeling was right and I'm glad we turned down our spot at a HRCS. This post gave me a breath of fresh air!

And what was your alternative?

Most people who are three coughs above FARMS are not choosing between a HRCS and Sidwell. Or a HRCS and Janney.

Staying put at our up and coming DCPS.

[Anonymous]

OP please stop complaining. You should be thankful all those "wealthy" parents are paying for the extras that your child benefits from. extra after school programs, assitants, lap tops etc...all that is free for you and paid for by someone else. It astounds me that so many people want to complain about the "wealthy" in DC, as if they don't realize that without rich folks the schools would be in even worse shapes. How do you think the City pays for anything? Taxes. Are you paying your fair share?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's ironic, but the level of vitriol against the OP makes her claims more credible to me.

vitriol or skepticism?

I'm more just skeptical of OP but as some of the commentary seems to be a generalized and unfocused mischaracterization of "HRPCS" schools across the board I think it's unfair and that's why I push back on it.

I don't understand the skepticism. These were her impressions and her perspective. How can you negate what someone else is feeling? If you have a different perspective, then great and share it like others have. It gets very ugly when people put down others for perspective. I doubt most people think EVERY charter is the way OP describes. In fact, I would argue that most still don't think any is the way she described. But at a charter (where most people probably don't feel this way), she DID feel this way. Can we all at least acknowledge that?

I don't know OP nor intend to come to her defense, but I am a new charter parent who hopes my voice is heard if and/or when I have a concern. And if I felt that others would benefit from a different perspective that I have, I would want it to be welcomed.

Again, I'm just not seeing her agenda being to trash charters. I really thought it was to make folks aware of how one can feel at a charter who happens to have similar circumstances.

Agree or disagree, but please be more understand of new folks like me joining your charter.

Everyone is entitled to his or her own feelings.

Everyone is not, however, entitled to his or her own facts.

[Anonymous]

Much has been made about the fact that schools have no idea about which parents give money to the school, etc. In researching Mundo Verde, I found the following in their annual report:

44 volunteer Room Parents
An average of 50 attendees at monthly
meetings
$11,400 raised for Staff and
Teacher Appreciation
$29,110 donated to the parent
giving campaign
Participation rate of 69% of families
in the parent giving campaign
19% participation increase since
inaugural year
89% of families in attendance at
biannual Expo Nigh

You are not going to convince me that with this data the administration also does not know exactly which parents attended events, volunteered, and who composes the 69% that participated in the parent giving campaign and how much they gave. I am not saying that MV gives preferential treatment to the children of the donors, just noting that it is NOT the case that at least in this HRCS the administration is not aware of who the donors are.

[Anonymous]

^^they also list all of their supporters and donors by name

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^they also list all of their supporters and donors by name

All charters are required to list all donors over $500 by the PCSB. It's a part of their reporting system and all the charters have to list them in their annual report. Choosing a random charter that is almost never mentioned here, you can see the list on page 30:

http://www.dcpcsb.org/data/files/2014%20Annual%20Reports/2012-2013_Annual_ReportPerryStreetPrepPCS.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Much has been made about the fact that schools have no idea about which parents give money to the school, etc. In researching Mundo Verde, I found the following in their annual report:

44 volunteer Room Parents
An average of 50 attendees at monthly
meetings
$11,400 raised for Staff and
Teacher Appreciation
$29,110 donated to the parent
giving campaign
Participation rate of 69% of families
in the parent giving campaign
19% participation increase since
inaugural year
89% of families in attendance at
biannual Expo Nigh

You are not going to convince me that with this data the administration also does not know exactly which parents attended events, volunteered, and who composes the 69% that participated in the parent giving campaign and how much they gave. I am not saying that MV gives preferential treatment to the children of the donors, just noting that it is NOT the case that at least in this HRCS the administration is not aware of who the donors are.

This is no different from family donations at Lafayette or LAMB or Latin or Walls. Nobody expects special treatment, it's how families support their children's schools.

[Anonymous]

I posted this information merely to counter the posters who attempt to discredit OP by arguing that the schools have no idea who is donating what. This is simply not true. Now what the schools do with this information in the classroom is another story. I have no idea about that. One of the reasons we are switching from private to public is because a change in our family's income meant that we could no longer pay for private AND contribute to the fundraising. I figured we could switch to charter and have already budgeted an extra $1000 for donations (would be more if after care weren't sooo expensive), based on the theory that the more you donate and participate, the more favorably you will be looked at which results in benefits for your kids. I don't think that OP is off base although I have no proof, of course, having never been in a charter or DCPS school.

[Anonymous]

Rather than whining about who's giving what, if you want to level the playing field, maybe you should instead be lobbying for schools to get more funding across the board in the first place, so that there isn't as much of an issue with families donating.

[Anonymous]

^^Why can't you do both? Both whine and lobby?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rather than whining about who's giving what, if you want to level the playing field, maybe you should instead be lobbying for schools to get more funding across the board in the first place, so that there isn't as much of an issue with families donating.

+1. This thread, coupled with the ones about aftercare costs really highlight the need for more charter school funding. With 43 percent of DC kids in charter schools, it's too late to hope to starve the beast. Our best bet to to ensure parity so that all kids who wind up at charters reap the full benefits of the offerings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rather than whining about who's giving what, if you want to level the playing field, maybe you should instead be lobbying for schools to get more funding across the board in the first place, so that there isn't as much of an issue with families donating.

+1. This thread, coupled with the ones about aftercare costs really highlight the need for more charter school funding. With 43 percent of DC kids in charter schools, it's too late to hope to starve the beast. Our best bet to to ensure parity so that all kids who wind up at charters reap the full benefits of the offerings.

sorry, but why just charters? my kids are in a DCPS elementaruy school (not a title 1 school), and there is no free aftercare. there are two privately run aftercares that cost $$$. if you can't pay, you are welcome to pick up your kid at 3.15. the issue about aftercare cost concerns also DCPS, not just charter schools.