Startling Creative Minds Vacancies

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only thing I've heard about the CMI that raises red flags is that they're quick to place a child on an IEP. I have a friend who transferred her child out and the new school questioned why the kid was on one at all.

The school gets more $$$ if they have more children with IEPs

[Anonymous]

OTOH, perhaps the new school didn’t want to be bothered with another IEP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OTOH, perhaps the new school didn’t want to be bothered with another IEP.

Suuure.

[Anonymous]

Have you ever tried to get an IEP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only thing I've heard about the CMI that raises red flags is that they're quick to place a child on an IEP. I have a friend who transferred her child out and the new school questioned why the kid was on one at all.

The school gets more $$$ if they have more children with IEPs

Interesting - my child was at another charter and had an IEP. At 3 year re-evaluation through DCPS realized determined it was a misdiagnosis and not a SLD and should never have had the IEP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good memories what exactly? Why’d you leave?

Loved the community, did not like the program for our kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only thing I've heard about the CMI that raises red flags is that they're quick to place a child on an IEP. I have a friend who transferred her child out and the new school questioned why the kid was on one at all.

The school gets more $$$ if they have more children with IEPs

Interesting - my child was at another charter and had an IEP. At 3 year re-evaluation through DCPS realized determined it was a misdiagnosis and not a SLD and should never have had the IEP.

I don't know . . . most parents of kids with SN I know complain about DCPS being stingy with services. Definitely happened to us (and my child has level 2 ASD as per a well regarded developmental pediatrician). DCPS wanted to put my kid in a gen ed class with only 2 hours of pull out therapy per week. I imagine charters get some additional money to pay for services for kids with IEPs, but I'd be surprised if those payouts were particularly generous, as DCPS tends to be very budget conscious in providing services.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only thing I've heard about the CMI that raises red flags is that they're quick to place a child on an IEP. I have a friend who transferred her child out and the new school questioned why the kid was on one at all.

The school gets more $$$ if they have more children with IEPs

Interesting - my child was at another charter and had an IEP. At 3 year re-evaluation through DCPS realized determined it was a misdiagnosis and not a SLD and should never have had the IEP.

I don't know . . . most parents of kids with SN I know complain about DCPS being stingy with services. Definitely happened to us (and my child has level 2 ASD as per a well regarded developmental pediatrician). DCPS wanted to put my kid in a gen ed class with only 2 hours of pull out therapy per week. I imagine charters get some additional money to pay for services for kids with IEPs, but I'd be surprised if those payouts were particularly generous, as DCPS tends to be very budget conscious in providing services.

Earmarked funding by school for students with disabilities is the same in DCPS and charters. The amount of funding is driven by the number of service hours in the IEP (level 1 is low -- <3 hours a week and level 4 is the highest -- full self-contained classroom).

Some of the funding comes from the federal government (under IDEA funding) but that legislation has been underfunded since it was first established. It doesnt begin to cover what it costs to provide services. The city makes up the rest and OSSE sets the amounts.

[Anonymous]

Just noticing from the welcome packet that the Chief Academic Officer is not returning after one year in the job. Anyone know what happened there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good memories what exactly? Why’d you leave?

Loved the community, did not like the program for our kids.

Not to sound snarky, but it sounds like everyone is talking about loving the families. If that’s the only positive it doesn’t sound good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good memories what exactly? Why’d you leave?

It was very close knit with the same families.

The growth of the school was painful with brand new teachers, sometimes mid year and extra students, some with severe issues.

I believe the school will outgrow these pains but couldn't stay there without worrying and couldn't talk to anyone about it since it was a sensitive subject. The best option was to move to the suburbs and just say that we didn't have a choice. Our friends did the same.

Mostly good memories

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good memories what exactly? Why’d you leave?

Loved the community, did not like the program for our kids.

Not to sound snarky, but it sounds like everyone is talking about loving the families. If that’s the only positive it doesn’t sound good.

I made a lot of friends. But, choosing a school was not about me finding friends, it was the best education for my kids. CMI was not that. Other people may feel differently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good memories what exactly? Why’d you leave?

Loved the community, did not like the program for our kids.

Not to sound snarky, but it sounds like everyone is talking about loving the families. If that’s the only positive it doesn’t sound good.

I made a lot of friends. But, choosing a school was not about me finding friends, it was the best education for my kids. CMI was not that. Other people may feel differently.

I agree. Which is why i think you should talk about what made you leave rather than nice memories with friends. That would be more helpful for a family considering the school (that’s not looking to make friends).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good memories what exactly? Why’d you leave?

Loved the community, did not like the program for our kids.

Not to sound snarky, but it sounds like everyone is talking about loving the families. If that’s the only positive it doesn’t sound good.

I made a lot of friends. But, choosing a school was not about me finding friends, it was the best education for my kids. CMI was not that. Other people may feel differently.

I agree. Which is why i think you should talk about what made you leave rather than nice memories with friends. That would be more helpful for a family considering the school (that’s not looking to make friends).

When we first toured the school. We were very interested in the language and music component, but there was not as much of that as I had hoped. It was like a tacked on after thought.

Also, if your child does not have special needs, you are a second class citizen (my experience) as the teachers are so focused with all of the needs of the kids in the class. My child was bored, but because there wasn’t enough time for the teachers to give her the attention with Chinese, Spanish, music, IPC, and pull outs, my kid spent time reading during the school day.

It was actually a CMI teacher that recommended that we leave. That individual is still there, and a fantastic teacher.

[Anonymous]

Seems like they’d tried to be/do too many things at once—catering to special needs, Chinese, Spanish, IPC, arts, etc.—and in doing so, they didn’t do these individual things well and academics got short shrift.