BASIS DC will seek to expand to include K to 4th grade

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:As the PP mentioned, students with special needs are indeed becoming a focus at BASIS because the school has recognized that it is this group of students which has the highest attrition (as opposed to a group based on race or low SES as people on DCUM seem to assume)

No, attrition of students with special needs is exactly what people assume is going on. Attrition on purpose.

Or attrition by choice. IDEA does not guarantee As in an accelerated curriculum. If a child’s SN makes it very hard for them to be successful in a rigorous environment then it’s normal that they would switch schools. Plenty of NT kids dislike the demands as well. Basis has to support the kids it has and implement the IEP, but does not have to water down the curriculm.

This is the money phrase. It is in the end what the argument is about. People who complain about high standards don't understand the difference between affording more time, and deciding that the material is too hard. Not the same thing.

No. It's because more time (which is a nice way of saying retention and forcing them into a classroom of younger kids even if not developmentally appropriate) doesn't necessarily solve anything, and it dramatically increases the long-term chances of the kid dropping out. The answer is more services, not more time.

You misunderstood. My reference to "more time" was to untimed testing vs watering down the material covered on the test. The former is a reasonable accommodation. The latter is how DCUM and lots of SJW misinterpret IDEA and other requirements.

You also keep using "developmentally appropriate" as if that's meaningful to anyone but you and your hardened opinion. Why do you care so much about the developmental appropriateness of the kids held back and not about them in classes 2-4 grades above their skills? I find that strange.

Because we're talking about an elementary school where the developmental and physical gaps can be really big. If a kid is held back more than once, that's a lot. If it were your kid, would you think this is a good plan? Or would you think the school is unwilling to meet their needs in a manner you consider appropriate? It's fine to say "BASIS isn't to everyone's taste" but to offer parents a choice of leaving or accepting an inappropriate class year placement is effectively pushing them out

I'll play. If my kid was to be held back 2x before 4th grade I would realize that the traditional school my kid was in was not going to prepare them to ever be independent or functioning members of society. I would want my kid in a school dedicated to getting them back on track.

But BASIS has an obligation to serve the needs of it's students in good faith. Public charters are not allowed to counsel out.

it’s not counseling out. it’s having standards and parents making a choice in light of them. this is no different from giving kids failing grades when they fail tests. what you really don’t like is the standards. (or you’re an ideological anti-charter person.)

No, I think a standard could be maintained by requiring summer school or after-school tutoring, by requiring a study skills elective, or by continuing to give low grades. What BASIS is doing is offering an alternative of you accept an age-inappropriate placement *which is inappropriate for basically nobody*, or you leave. Again, I ask that anyone describe the profile of a student for whom repeating two elementary grades is a *good* choice that effectively addresses their needs. Can anyone, anyone, describe a situation where this would be a good faith recommendation? Or is it more that they have to push one kid out of the lifeboat to save the rest?

Does it bother you that you don't have a clue what you are talking about and still have a hardened opinion? Kids who fail are given summer options to still advance. What they must do is more than "work hard". They have to master the material.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not everything is for everyone. I repeat. Not everything is for everyone. Some kids will be tremendous athletes and some will not make a school’s team. Some kids will be stars in a school play and others will be stuck doing set design. And some kids are capable of significant academic rigor and some are not going to do well in school. Not everyone belongs on the same sports team just like not everyone belongs in the same classroom. DC only takes issue with the latter and finds that academic differentiation would be inequitable. Academics must be the same for everyone even if other abilities are differentiated without controversy. It’s ridiculous. BASIS is equitable in the only way DC will allow it: treat everyone the same. The difference is that the level that everyone is going to be treated at BASIS is at a high level and not the lowest common denominator. Don’t like it? Enjoy your DCPS. Parents who have any academic standards at all would not consider most DCPS middle and high school options EOTP. Until that changes, BASIS is a godsend for families with academic kids and high educational standards. It’s okay to have a place for them, too.

This is it. All the PPs on here are mad because BASIS doesn't change requirements for special needs or academically behind or . . . ? The point is, the curriculum is what it is- very advanced as compared to DCPS curriculum. If you don't master it at each grade level you don't advance. Period. And I think that is as it should be/great! I want my future doctor to know biology; the engineer to know how to build a bridge that doesn't collapse - please.

If this particular advanced curriculum doesn't work for your kid - go to a DCPS - problem solved. (parent of a BASIS 8th grader).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Brent/Maury/LT/SWS parents are going to HATE this. All other CH parents are going to LOVE this. I have a kid at one of the schools that will hate this & I basically suspect all specious arguments on this thread are coming from those folks.

I doubt many others will care one way or another; perhaps some loud SN voices will try to shut it down on principled grounds.

Maury parent here. I’m fine with this - SH and EH are so close to being solid options. This can only help. Also the implication is that Basis will move locations no?

[Anonymous]

As a BASIS parent, I don’t like this because I’ve seen the chaos that results when DCPCSB takes a solid school and has it replicate/expand. Mundo Verde was an amazing, highly sought after school and then it opened a second campus (that current parents fought and delayed because they knew what would happen) and now it’s a total mess. Two Rivers - same thing - second campus. People are bailing because it’s too much to manage and it’s a chaotic disaster. LAMB: opened new campuses and realized it was a shitshow after the school basically fell apart - then consolidated.

There is no denying that this elementary school project is going to draw time and resources away from the current school. It seems wholly unnecessary given that we have a wealth of solid elementary DCPS and charter school options already in the city. BASIS really should not get cocky, given that much of their success is based on being able to draw kids who have the resources and support to keep up with the BASIS model, and those folks are unlikely to leave their elementary schools (but are willing to leave for middle).

I think this is a bad call, and it makes me second guess choosing BASIS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Um, new poster here. For all the people up in arms about SPED issues, in the same call announcing the school, the HOS also announced that they are rolling out a new partner teaching program next year for SPED kids. They are taking the issue seriously (as they should.)

What issue? Acc to PPs, the school is handling students with special needs just fine. What could the HOS be talking about? Why would they need to change anything?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a BASIS parent, I don’t like this because I’ve seen the chaos that results when DCPCSB takes a solid school and has it replicate/expand. Mundo Verde was an amazing, highly sought after school and then it opened a second campus (that current parents fought and delayed because they knew what would happen) and now it’s a total mess. Two Rivers - same thing - second campus. People are bailing because it’s too much to manage and it’s a chaotic disaster. LAMB: opened new campuses and realized it was a shitshow after the school basically fell apart - then consolidated.

There is no denying that this elementary school project is going to draw time and resources away from the current school. It seems wholly unnecessary given that we have a wealth of solid elementary DCPS and charter school options already in the city. BASIS really should not get cocky, given that much of their success is based on being able to draw kids who have the resources and support to keep up with the BASIS model, and those folks are unlikely to leave their elementary schools (but are willing to leave for middle).

I think this is a bad call, and it makes me second guess choosing BASIS.

+1.

BASIS appeared to be on an upward trajectory for retaining 8th graders for HS and I think they need to focus on this and teacher retention. I saw some great college acceptances but no Ivy acceptances this year, unlike other notable public and charter high schools (Walls, Latin, JR, DCI)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a BASIS parent, I don’t like this because I’ve seen the chaos that results when DCPCSB takes a solid school and has it replicate/expand. Mundo Verde was an amazing, highly sought after school and then it opened a second campus (that current parents fought and delayed because they knew what would happen) and now it’s a total mess. Two Rivers - same thing - second campus. People are bailing because it’s too much to manage and it’s a chaotic disaster. LAMB: opened new campuses and realized it was a shitshow after the school basically fell apart - then consolidated.

There is no denying that this elementary school project is going to draw time and resources away from the current school. It seems wholly unnecessary given that we have a wealth of solid elementary DCPS and charter school options already in the city. BASIS really should not get cocky, given that much of their success is based on being able to draw kids who have the resources and support to keep up with the BASIS model, and those folks are unlikely to leave their elementary schools (but are willing to leave for middle).

I think this is a bad call, and it makes me second guess choosing BASIS.

+1.

BASIS appeared to be on an upward trajectory for retaining 8th graders for HS and I think they need to focus on this and teacher retention. I saw some great college acceptances but no Ivy acceptances this year, unlike other notable public and charter high schools (Walls, Latin, JR, DCI)

+2. My kids were at another charter that replicated its elementary school and IMO was the start of that school’s descent. I think BASIS should focus on the current school— teacher retention, student retention and support, improving facilities. Do that for current kids and then think about expansion. Also think about whether another elementary school is needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Brent/Maury/LT/SWS parents are going to HATE this. All other CH parents are going to LOVE this. I have a kid at one of the schools that will hate this & I basically suspect all specious arguments on this thread are coming from those folks.

I doubt many others will care one way or another; perhaps some loud SN voices will try to shut it down on principled grounds.

Maury parent here. I’m fine with this - SH and EH are so close to being solid options. This can only help. Also the implication is that Basis will move locations no?

The lower school will be in a different location. They will keep the current location for upper school.

This is not unusual for an urban area--for example, the BASIS schools in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Silicon Valley all have separate locations for the lower and upper schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a BASIS parent, I don’t like this because I’ve seen the chaos that results when DCPCSB takes a solid school and has it replicate/expand. Mundo Verde was an amazing, highly sought after school and then it opened a second campus (that current parents fought and delayed because they knew what would happen) and now it’s a total mess. Two Rivers - same thing - second campus. People are bailing because it’s too much to manage and it’s a chaotic disaster. LAMB: opened new campuses and realized it was a shitshow after the school basically fell apart - then consolidated.

There is no denying that this elementary school project is going to draw time and resources away from the current school. It seems wholly unnecessary given that we have a wealth of solid elementary DCPS and charter school options already in the city. BASIS really should not get cocky, given that much of their success is based on being able to draw kids who have the resources and support to keep up with the BASIS model, and those folks are unlikely to leave their elementary schools (but are willing to leave for middle).

I think this is a bad call, and it makes me second guess choosing BASIS.

All the other BASIS schools have K-4 and BASIS planned to have it for DC in the original plan but was blocked by PCSB.

Not sure why you think it is a "bad call" to follow the original plan and make BASIS like the other 58 BASIS network schools in the world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a BASIS parent, I don’t like this because I’ve seen the chaos that results when DCPCSB takes a solid school and has it replicate/expand. Mundo Verde was an amazing, highly sought after school and then it opened a second campus (that current parents fought and delayed because they knew what would happen) and now it’s a total mess. Two Rivers - same thing - second campus. People are bailing because it’s too much to manage and it’s a chaotic disaster. LAMB: opened new campuses and realized it was a shitshow after the school basically fell apart - then consolidated.

There is no denying that this elementary school project is going to draw time and resources away from the current school. It seems wholly unnecessary given that we have a wealth of solid elementary DCPS and charter school options already in the city. BASIS really should not get cocky, given that much of their success is based on being able to draw kids who have the resources and support to keep up with the BASIS model, and those folks are unlikely to leave their elementary schools (but are willing to leave for middle).

I think this is a bad call, and it makes me second guess choosing BASIS.

+1.

BASIS appeared to be on an upward trajectory for retaining 8th graders for HS and I think they need to focus on this and teacher retention. I saw some great college acceptances but no Ivy acceptances this year, unlike other notable public and charter high schools (Walls, Latin, JR, DCI)

The senior class at BASIS is smaller than at all those schools--there are only 42 seniors. Hopkins, Caltech, Middlebury, Smith, Vassar, Haverford, UC Berkeley, NYU, etc. are all good. Correcting for class size, it seems comparable if not better overall than Walls, Latin, J-R, DCI, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t love this. BASIS for little kids sounds like an abusive military school.

-BASIS parent

But it’s OK for 10, 11, 12 year olds?

[Anonymous]

Where are they planning to house the new k-4? The current building cannot accommodate them, nor is it an adequate space for children that age (or in middle school for that matter). Will the current grades stay in the current building, or are there plans to consolidate and move to a new building?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where are they planning to house the new k-4? The current building cannot accommodate them, nor is it an adequate space for children that age (or in middle school for that matter). Will the current grades stay in the current building, or are there plans to consolidate and move to a new building?

They'll probably promise an EOTR location and then oopsie, oh no, couldn't find a building, too bad so sad. We've seen this movie before.

[Anonymous]

DCUM needs to slow down. The person who posted this did BASIS a disservice.

Allow the school to discuss their plans with the school community first.

We don’t know the details yet. Endless speculation without facts is unhelpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a BASIS parent, I don’t like this because I’ve seen the chaos that results when DCPCSB takes a solid school and has it replicate/expand. Mundo Verde was an amazing, highly sought after school and then it opened a second campus (that current parents fought and delayed because they knew what would happen) and now it’s a total mess. Two Rivers - same thing - second campus. People are bailing because it’s too much to manage and it’s a chaotic disaster. LAMB: opened new campuses and realized it was a shitshow after the school basically fell apart - then consolidated.

There is no denying that this elementary school project is going to draw time and resources away from the current school. It seems wholly unnecessary given that we have a wealth of solid elementary DCPS and charter school options already in the city. BASIS really should not get cocky, given that much of their success is based on being able to draw kids who have the resources and support to keep up with the BASIS model, and those folks are unlikely to leave their elementary schools (but are willing to leave for middle).

I think this is a bad call, and it makes me second guess choosing BASIS.

+1.

BASIS appeared to be on an upward trajectory for retaining 8th graders for HS and I think they need to focus on this and teacher retention. I saw some great college acceptances but no Ivy acceptances this year, unlike other notable public and charter high schools (Walls, Latin, JR, DCI)

The senior class at BASIS is smaller than at all those schools--there are only 42 seniors. Hopkins, Caltech, Middlebury, Smith, Vassar, Haverford, UC Berkeley, NYU, etc. are all good. Correcting for class size, it seems comparable if not better overall than Walls, Latin, J-R, DCI, etc.

NP but why is this site so obsessed with doing a comparison between college admissions at Walls, Basis, JR? One isn’t better than the other. There are many factors that go into admissions not the least of which what a student can afford. Please stop perpetuating this. Especially since Basis only has 42 seniors which makes them somewhat identifiable.