how does BASIS work?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Appropriate placement, yes, push them down multiple grades, especially if they're URMs and at-risk, no way.

Yes, in Arizona, no in DC. Won't fly politically, non-starter. BASIS knows it so has taken the path of least resistance since its inception: no backfilling after 6th grade.

That doesn't happen in Arizona either. Few kids are enrolling even one grade level lower. None are doing more than that. There's a ton of self selection in entering the lottery for a grade higher than 5th. For the most part, if the kids don't pass the tests to move into their age appropriate grade level, they turn down the Basis spot.

OK, thanks for sharing. So why hasn't BASIS DC adopted the same system? Serious question.

They are barred by their charter and PCSB.

They are not barred by their charter nor are they barred by the PCSB from doing so. The charter agreement is available on line at the PCSB website and it spells out what they can and cannot do. They have strategically chosen not to do so and it's to the advantage of the pace that kids have to keep and the program being operated. Nothing wrong with that but unsure why it's not seen as a smart decision but instead this falsehood is being spread that "they are barred" is being spread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If BASIS backfilled with the aim of attracting top DC STEM students who could ace their math and science curriculum wouldn’t they come out ahead? Every math whiz who might be a great fit for the BASIS HS wasn’t around for the 5th grade lottery, or didn’t enroll in the middle school. Widening the gene pool in search of talent tends to pay off.

Come on, in theory BASIS DC could do exactly what the AZ campuses have done for decades. Those campuses permit open lottery backfilling prospective students to enroll and take subject placement tests. The next step would be to scare off the backfilling but poorly prepared by announcing appropriate cohort placements. Nothing in the BASIS charter would prevent this approach and the DCPSCB couldn’t stop it. But the political furor backfilling with transparent rigor would create would be epic, so it’s not done.

"Scaring off" poorly prepared students probably violates the federal law establishing DC charters:

b) CRITERIA FOR ADMISSION.—A public charter school may not limit enrollment on the basis of a student’s race, color, religion, national origin, language spoken, intellectual or athletic ability, measures of achievement or aptitude, or status as a student with special needs. A public charter school may limit enrollment to specific grade levels.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Appropriate placement, yes, push them down multiple grades, especially if they're URMs and at-risk, no way.

Yes, in Arizona, no in DC. Won't fly politically, non-starter. BASIS knows it so has taken the path of least resistance since its inception: no backfilling after 6th grade.

That doesn't happen in Arizona either. Few kids are enrolling even one grade level lower. None are doing more than that. There's a ton of self selection in entering the lottery for a grade higher than 5th. For the most part, if the kids don't pass the tests to move into their age appropriate grade level, they turn down the Basis spot.

OK, thanks for sharing. So why hasn't BASIS DC adopted the same system? Serious question.

They are barred by their charter and PCSB.

They are not barred by their charter nor are they barred by the PCSB from doing so. The charter agreement is available on line at the PCSB website and it spells out what they can and cannot do. They have strategically chosen not to do so and it's to the advantage of the pace that kids have to keep and the program being operated. Nothing wrong with that but unsure why it's not seen as a smart decision but instead this falsehood is being spread that "they are barred" is being spread.

Really? You seem certain of your beliefs but provide zero support for them.

You understand that Arizona has different charter laws, rules, regulations, and policies than DC, right?

Let's look at Basis' DC charter application that was approved by the PCSB and resulted in Basis being a charter school in DC:

"Registration and Enrollment Policies

All packets received before the deadline will be entered in the lottery (after the initial year of operation, students with
registration preferences will be registered before the lottery). If a student’s registration packet is selected in the lottery,
he or she will be automatically registered. Once the student is registered, his or her parent/guardian must respond to
future Registration Updates and Confirmations by designated deadlines in order to keep the student actively enrolled.
The student will be placed under “Non Active Forfeit” if responses are not received by deadline dates. If the student’s
registration packet is not selected in the lottery, he or she will be automatically placed on the Waiting List and his or
her parent/guardian is required to confirm interest to stay on the Waiting List. Registration packets received after the
open registration deadline are placed on the Waiting List and assigned a position based on the date the application
was received.

If, upon the open registration deadline, the school receives fewer registration packets than there are spaces available,
all students who turned in completed registration packets by the deadline will be registered and Extended Registration
will begin. Once the available spaces are filled, the Waiting List will open and student will be assigned positions on the
list based on the date their registration packets were received.

Whenever a registration spot opens due to a Registration Withdrawal or a student forfeit (missed confirmation
deadline), the student who is first on the Waiting List will receive a Registration Confirmation Form and the
parents/guardians are required to submit the form by the deadline. If the parents/guardians decline the registration or
miss the confirmation deadline, the vacant registration spot will go to the next student on the Waiting List. If multiple
students hold the same position on the Waiting List, a lottery will be performed to determine which student will receive
the open position.

An Explanation of Policies Regarding Enrollment Preferences

BASIS DC will be an open enrollment public charter school which does not charge tuition and does not administer
entrance examinations...."

In short, Basis is a 100% lottery school. If a parent gets a lottery slot for 5th grade (or whatever) and accepts, Basis must register the kid for that grade. Basis is not allowed to administer entrance exams.

Please quote the specific portions of Basis' charter, DC school lottery regulations/rules, and PCSB policies that allows Basis to administer an entrance/placement exam for, say, a kid who wins the lottery for 6th grade and--based on the results of this exam--tell the parent that the kid has to start Basis in 5th grade.