PARCC results: how will they be communicated to families?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I view ITS’s policy of not adding kids after Count Day much differently than any school that simply does not allow new students after initial grades. I agree both are bad in a public school— and charters ARE publics, even though they sometimes like to pretend they aren’t. But this ITS policy isn’t nearly as egregious to me. I get the rationale (it really can be tough on classrooms to add new students after the kids have finally settled in, as I know well as a DCPS parent). It’s a reality of school, but it’s tough on everyone.

But schools like BASIS or Latin refusing to backfill in subsequent years is really craven. Even private schools take kids mid-MS or mid-HS! A good school would not struggle to incorporate them. It really looks like an obvious grab for higher test scores. It’s gross. The ITS thing is annoying but doesn’t offend me in the same way.

We have been through this before, people. BASIS is unique in DC because it does not do social promotion. Kids don't have to leave, but they will be required to repeat a grade if they do not pass the comprehensive exam. No exceptions. BASIS wanted to accept kids after 5th. They do at other BASIS schools. But DCPCSB won't allow them to administer a test to put the kids in the proper grade level (without regard to age). It would make no sense to have a school that tells kids that are not meeting the standard they have to repeat a grade but let new kids enter into that higher grade even if they can't show mastery of the material.

You can disagree with whether BASIS should socially promote. But that's the argument/policy disagreement. "Backfilling" is a red herring to avoid talking about BASIS's social promotion policy.

Neighborhood schools have to take kids who are below grade. Even those who speak literally no English at all. They have to suck it up and deal with it as best they can. But wah, BASIS couldn't possibly cope without an entrance test. Even though other schools have to.

The idea with backfilling is that we don't want to create a system where if your 5th grade lottery number is bad, you have no hope for getting into a good school. What would the school system be like if every school allowed itself to do what BASIS is doing? Do we want to live like that? BASIS is free-riding on other schools' willingness to handle the tougher kids and do the hardest educational work. But feel free to pat yourself on the back for those great test scores!

Your response is all over the map and internally inconsistent. At one point you ask, what would it be like if every school stopped social promotion and required kids to actual master material before moving to the next grade - PERISH THE THOUGHT and clutching my pearls. You aren't even making the case you think you are. If BASIS was allowed to administer the test and put kids in appropriate grades they'd take backfills and then there would be hope of getting in after 5th - problem solved! Neighborhood schools have to take kids who enroll and are forced by DC policies to put them in their grade level by age, regardless of whet they actually know. And then DC makes it impossible to hold a kid back so they get moved along and graduate with a useless degree.

BASIS has higher standards than all other schools. I'm ok with that .

Because people don't want over-age kids in their classes! Do you want your 5th grader to be with 15 and 16 year olds who aren't doing well? Come on. Think about what you are saying. And because repeating grades doesn't actually solve anything. If the kid was going to learn the material in a regular classroom setting, they would have learned it the first time.

"Higher standards" my foot, they're just running off the kids who are harder to educate.

And because in a system without social promotion kids would simply drop out. They would grow up into uneducated adults. See, this is a school *system*. The goal isn't just to operate one school and pat yourself on the back for great test scores without any caring for the kids who start but don't finish. The idea is to educate the residents of the jurisdiction, thinking of *all of them* including those who drop out. And all schools should be good citizens of the school system and take a fair share of the more difficult educational work. If BASIS's attitude towards its strugging students is basically "f*ck'em", then yes, people are not going to think well of your school despite its cherry-picked test scores.

Bolded section is beyond ignorant of the educational outcomes in DC. Look at HS PARCC scores and tell me the system is educating those kids. How can you be so ignorant of what is happening outside of your Upper NW front door? My lord.

So what do you think happens to the kids who leave BASIS because they are trying to find an age-appropriate setting where their needs are actually met?

My hope is the find a school and environment that is better suited for them than the academic rigor and pressure filled environment on 8th street. It is not for everyone. Where we diverge is hat I don't think all schools have to be all things to all people. I think Montessori is a joke. That's ok. I chose not to send my kid there.

We have choice. You (and kids who wash out) should make the ones that work for who and what they are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I view ITS’s policy of not adding kids after Count Day much differently than any school that simply does not allow new students after initial grades. I agree both are bad in a public school— and charters ARE publics, even though they sometimes like to pretend they aren’t. But this ITS policy isn’t nearly as egregious to me. I get the rationale (it really can be tough on classrooms to add new students after the kids have finally settled in, as I know well as a DCPS parent). It’s a reality of school, but it’s tough on everyone.

But schools like BASIS or Latin refusing to backfill in subsequent years is really craven. Even private schools take kids mid-MS or mid-HS! A good school would not struggle to incorporate them. It really looks like an obvious grab for higher test scores. It’s gross. The ITS thing is annoying but doesn’t offend me in the same way.

We have been through this before, people. BASIS is unique in DC because it does not do social promotion. Kids don't have to leave, but they will be required to repeat a grade if they do not pass the comprehensive exam. No exceptions. BASIS wanted to accept kids after 5th. They do at other BASIS schools. But DCPCSB won't allow them to administer a test to put the kids in the proper grade level (without regard to age). It would make no sense to have a school that tells kids that are not meeting the standard they have to repeat a grade but let new kids enter into that higher grade even if they can't show mastery of the material.

You can disagree with whether BASIS should socially promote. But that's the argument/policy disagreement. "Backfilling" is a red herring to avoid talking about BASIS's social promotion policy.

Neighborhood schools have to take kids who are below grade. Even those who speak literally no English at all. They have to suck it up and deal with it as best they can. But wah, BASIS couldn't possibly cope without an entrance test. Even though other schools have to.

The idea with backfilling is that we don't want to create a system where if your 5th grade lottery number is bad, you have no hope for getting into a good school. What would the school system be like if every school allowed itself to do what BASIS is doing? Do we want to live like that? BASIS is free-riding on other schools' willingness to handle the tougher kids and do the hardest educational work. But feel free to pat yourself on the back for those great test scores!

Your response is all over the map and internally inconsistent. At one point you ask, what would it be like if every school stopped social promotion and required kids to actual master material before moving to the next grade - PERISH THE THOUGHT and clutching my pearls. You aren't even making the case you think you are. If BASIS was allowed to administer the test and put kids in appropriate grades they'd take backfills and then there would be hope of getting in after 5th - problem solved! Neighborhood schools have to take kids who enroll and are forced by DC policies to put them in their grade level by age, regardless of whet they actually know. And then DC makes it impossible to hold a kid back so they get moved along and graduate with a useless degree.

BASIS has higher standards than all other schools. I'm ok with that .

Because people don't want over-age kids in their classes! Do you want your 5th grader to be with 15 and 16 year olds who aren't doing well? Come on. Think about what you are saying. And because repeating grades doesn't actually solve anything. If the kid was going to learn the material in a regular classroom setting, they would have learned it the first time.

"Higher standards" my foot, they're just running off the kids who are harder to educate.

And because in a system without social promotion kids would simply drop out. They would grow up into uneducated adults. See, this is a school *system*. The goal isn't just to operate one school and pat yourself on the back for great test scores without any caring for the kids who start but don't finish. The idea is to educate the residents of the jurisdiction, thinking of *all of them* including those who drop out. And all schools should be good citizens of the school system and take a fair share of the more difficult educational work. If BASIS's attitude towards its strugging students is basically "f*ck'em", then yes, people are not going to think well of your school despite its cherry-picked test scores.

Two things:

1. The test scores aren't "cherry picked". We just have a ton of highly qualified kids who take the test. You seem not to understand what "cherry picked" means.
2. The vast majority of BASIS families don't care what you think. Too busy helping our kids with advanced work to worry about your jealousy.

The cherry picking is in creating a school that's poorly suited to serve any struggling student, and intentionally refusing social promotion because it's a way of getting rid of them. Yes, most of the kids do sit for the PARCC, the cherry picking happens before that.

I'm not at all jealous, my kids are doing great, thanks.

That's not "cherry picking" scores. Again, you don't understand what the term means. Everyone there takes the test and the published scores are for all kids. The kids who repeat also take the PARCC test and their scores count ,too.

A world gone mad where you speak about "intentionally refusing social promotion" like that's something to be embarrassed about.

If you are so happy and not at all jealous, why are you more interested and invested in what is happening at BASIS than most BASIS families? The lady doth protest too much, methinks.

Because I think it's selfish and poor citizenship to operate a school that shirks the harder work of educating the students of DC. It's in really poor taste to talk about how great your school is, how happy you are with it, when it comes at this kind of cost to others. I don't believe for a second that BASIS is actually against social promotion for principled reasons. I think they know perfectly well it's a way of getting rid of the kids who struggle.

Try to put yourself in the shoes of a parent of a child who struggled academically. Would you want them to repeat and repeat and repeat, growing older and more embarrassed and friendless? Or would you want them to have services and an age-appropriate setting? If BASIS didn't work out, would you want them to be shut out of other schools because it's 5th grade or never?

Try to think about the functioning of the school system as a whole, including for kids who aren't academically gifted or who don't speak good English yet. Try to think beyond your own family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I view ITS’s policy of not adding kids after Count Day much differently than any school that simply does not allow new students after initial grades. I agree both are bad in a public school— and charters ARE publics, even though they sometimes like to pretend they aren’t. But this ITS policy isn’t nearly as egregious to me. I get the rationale (it really can be tough on classrooms to add new students after the kids have finally settled in, as I know well as a DCPS parent). It’s a reality of school, but it’s tough on everyone.

But schools like BASIS or Latin refusing to backfill in subsequent years is really craven. Even private schools take kids mid-MS or mid-HS! A good school would not struggle to incorporate them. It really looks like an obvious grab for higher test scores. It’s gross. The ITS thing is annoying but doesn’t offend me in the same way.

We have been through this before, people. BASIS is unique in DC because it does not do social promotion. Kids don't have to leave, but they will be required to repeat a grade if they do not pass the comprehensive exam. No exceptions. BASIS wanted to accept kids after 5th. They do at other BASIS schools. But DCPCSB won't allow them to administer a test to put the kids in the proper grade level (without regard to age). It would make no sense to have a school that tells kids that are not meeting the standard they have to repeat a grade but let new kids enter into that higher grade even if they can't show mastery of the material.

You can disagree with whether BASIS should socially promote. But that's the argument/policy disagreement. "Backfilling" is a red herring to avoid talking about BASIS's social promotion policy.

Neighborhood schools have to take kids who are below grade. Even those who speak literally no English at all. They have to suck it up and deal with it as best they can. But wah, BASIS couldn't possibly cope without an entrance test. Even though other schools have to.

The idea with backfilling is that we don't want to create a system where if your 5th grade lottery number is bad, you have no hope for getting into a good school. What would the school system be like if every school allowed itself to do what BASIS is doing? Do we want to live like that? BASIS is free-riding on other schools' willingness to handle the tougher kids and do the hardest educational work. But feel free to pat yourself on the back for those great test scores!

Your response is all over the map and internally inconsistent. At one point you ask, what would it be like if every school stopped social promotion and required kids to actual master material before moving to the next grade - PERISH THE THOUGHT and clutching my pearls. You aren't even making the case you think you are. If BASIS was allowed to administer the test and put kids in appropriate grades they'd take backfills and then there would be hope of getting in after 5th - problem solved! Neighborhood schools have to take kids who enroll and are forced by DC policies to put them in their grade level by age, regardless of whet they actually know. And then DC makes it impossible to hold a kid back so they get moved along and graduate with a useless degree.

BASIS has higher standards than all other schools. I'm ok with that .

Because people don't want over-age kids in their classes! Do you want your 5th grader to be with 15 and 16 year olds who aren't doing well? Come on. Think about what you are saying. And because repeating grades doesn't actually solve anything. If the kid was going to learn the material in a regular classroom setting, they would have learned it the first time.

"Higher standards" my foot, they're just running off the kids who are harder to educate.

That's a red herring that frequently gets trotted out. And it is BS. First, it is unlikely that a kid would be 5 or 6 grade levels down. If they are there are serious issues that require heavy remediation that a traditional school cannot address is a traditional classroom setting. So if a 16 year old was at 5th grade level then for damn sure I hope we're not just putting kids in the same grade year after year.

Once a kid is 2 grades behind they have needs a traditional classroom cannot address.

So do tell, what does BASIS offer for such a student? Or is it just byeeeee, someone else's problem?

It is not byeeee. BASIS has a ton of supports in place. Every BASIS teacher has student hours once a week after school for 2 hours. Any kid can drop in and ask for help, supplements support or advice at will. The also do serious interventions. Your question tells me you know nothing about BASIS.

Also, if you repeat a grade and still can't hack it at BASIS then it is not a good fit for you. It needn't be. My kid has would bomb out of a technical HS. That's ok. Bad fit for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I view ITS’s policy of not adding kids after Count Day much differently than any school that simply does not allow new students after initial grades. I agree both are bad in a public school— and charters ARE publics, even though they sometimes like to pretend they aren’t. But this ITS policy isn’t nearly as egregious to me. I get the rationale (it really can be tough on classrooms to add new students after the kids have finally settled in, as I know well as a DCPS parent). It’s a reality of school, but it’s tough on everyone.

But schools like BASIS or Latin refusing to backfill in subsequent years is really craven. Even private schools take kids mid-MS or mid-HS! A good school would not struggle to incorporate them. It really looks like an obvious grab for higher test scores. It’s gross. The ITS thing is annoying but doesn’t offend me in the same way.

We have been through this before, people. BASIS is unique in DC because it does not do social promotion. Kids don't have to leave, but they will be required to repeat a grade if they do not pass the comprehensive exam. No exceptions. BASIS wanted to accept kids after 5th. They do at other BASIS schools. But DCPCSB won't allow them to administer a test to put the kids in the proper grade level (without regard to age). It would make no sense to have a school that tells kids that are not meeting the standard they have to repeat a grade but let new kids enter into that higher grade even if they can't show mastery of the material.

You can disagree with whether BASIS should socially promote. But that's the argument/policy disagreement. "Backfilling" is a red herring to avoid talking about BASIS's social promotion policy.

Neighborhood schools have to take kids who are below grade. Even those who speak literally no English at all. They have to suck it up and deal with it as best they can. But wah, BASIS couldn't possibly cope without an entrance test. Even though other schools have to.

The idea with backfilling is that we don't want to create a system where if your 5th grade lottery number is bad, you have no hope for getting into a good school. What would the school system be like if every school allowed itself to do what BASIS is doing? Do we want to live like that? BASIS is free-riding on other schools' willingness to handle the tougher kids and do the hardest educational work. But feel free to pat yourself on the back for those great test scores!

Your response is all over the map and internally inconsistent. At one point you ask, what would it be like if every school stopped social promotion and required kids to actual master material before moving to the next grade - PERISH THE THOUGHT and clutching my pearls. You aren't even making the case you think you are. If BASIS was allowed to administer the test and put kids in appropriate grades they'd take backfills and then there would be hope of getting in after 5th - problem solved! Neighborhood schools have to take kids who enroll and are forced by DC policies to put them in their grade level by age, regardless of whet they actually know. And then DC makes it impossible to hold a kid back so they get moved along and graduate with a useless degree.

BASIS has higher standards than all other schools. I'm ok with that .

Because people don't want over-age kids in their classes! Do you want your 5th grader to be with 15 and 16 year olds who aren't doing well? Come on. Think about what you are saying. And because repeating grades doesn't actually solve anything. If the kid was going to learn the material in a regular classroom setting, they would have learned it the first time.

"Higher standards" my foot, they're just running off the kids who are harder to educate.

And because in a system without social promotion kids would simply drop out. They would grow up into uneducated adults. See, this is a school *system*. The goal isn't just to operate one school and pat yourself on the back for great test scores without any caring for the kids who start but don't finish. The idea is to educate the residents of the jurisdiction, thinking of *all of them* including those who drop out. And all schools should be good citizens of the school system and take a fair share of the more difficult educational work. If BASIS's attitude towards its strugging students is basically "f*ck'em", then yes, people are not going to think well of your school despite its cherry-picked test scores.

Bolded section is beyond ignorant of the educational outcomes in DC. Look at HS PARCC scores and tell me the system is educating those kids. How can you be so ignorant of what is happening outside of your Upper NW front door? My lord.

So what do you think happens to the kids who leave BASIS because they are trying to find an age-appropriate setting where their needs are actually met?

My hope is the find a school and environment that is better suited for them than the academic rigor and pressure filled environment on 8th street. It is not for everyone. Where we diverge is hat I don't think all schools have to be all things to all people. I think Montessori is a joke. That's ok. I chose not to send my kid there.

We have choice. You (and kids who wash out) should make the ones that work for who and what they are.

But how could they, if all schools were like BASIS and took nobody after 5th? Oh, it's soooo hard to bring in new kids! So inappropriate! Sorry but they have to go somewhere, why should BASIS get to opt out of the hard work?

Is BASIS owned by a Chinese hedge fund?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I view ITS’s policy of not adding kids after Count Day much differently than any school that simply does not allow new students after initial grades. I agree both are bad in a public school— and charters ARE publics, even though they sometimes like to pretend they aren’t. But this ITS policy isn’t nearly as egregious to me. I get the rationale (it really can be tough on classrooms to add new students after the kids have finally settled in, as I know well as a DCPS parent). It’s a reality of school, but it’s tough on everyone.

But schools like BASIS or Latin refusing to backfill in subsequent years is really craven. Even private schools take kids mid-MS or mid-HS! A good school would not struggle to incorporate them. It really looks like an obvious grab for higher test scores. It’s gross. The ITS thing is annoying but doesn’t offend me in the same way.

We have been through this before, people. BASIS is unique in DC because it does not do social promotion. Kids don't have to leave, but they will be required to repeat a grade if they do not pass the comprehensive exam. No exceptions. BASIS wanted to accept kids after 5th. They do at other BASIS schools. But DCPCSB won't allow them to administer a test to put the kids in the proper grade level (without regard to age). It would make no sense to have a school that tells kids that are not meeting the standard they have to repeat a grade but let new kids enter into that higher grade even if they can't show mastery of the material.

You can disagree with whether BASIS should socially promote. But that's the argument/policy disagreement. "Backfilling" is a red herring to avoid talking about BASIS's social promotion policy.

Neighborhood schools have to take kids who are below grade. Even those who speak literally no English at all. They have to suck it up and deal with it as best they can. But wah, BASIS couldn't possibly cope without an entrance test. Even though other schools have to.

The idea with backfilling is that we don't want to create a system where if your 5th grade lottery number is bad, you have no hope for getting into a good school. What would the school system be like if every school allowed itself to do what BASIS is doing? Do we want to live like that? BASIS is free-riding on other schools' willingness to handle the tougher kids and do the hardest educational work. But feel free to pat yourself on the back for those great test scores!

Your response is all over the map and internally inconsistent. At one point you ask, what would it be like if every school stopped social promotion and required kids to actual master material before moving to the next grade - PERISH THE THOUGHT and clutching my pearls. You aren't even making the case you think you are. If BASIS was allowed to administer the test and put kids in appropriate grades they'd take backfills and then there would be hope of getting in after 5th - problem solved! Neighborhood schools have to take kids who enroll and are forced by DC policies to put them in their grade level by age, regardless of whet they actually know. And then DC makes it impossible to hold a kid back so they get moved along and graduate with a useless degree.

BASIS has higher standards than all other schools. I'm ok with that .

Because people don't want over-age kids in their classes! Do you want your 5th grader to be with 15 and 16 year olds who aren't doing well? Come on. Think about what you are saying. And because repeating grades doesn't actually solve anything. If the kid was going to learn the material in a regular classroom setting, they would have learned it the first time.

"Higher standards" my foot, they're just running off the kids who are harder to educate.

That's a red herring that frequently gets trotted out. And it is BS. First, it is unlikely that a kid would be 5 or 6 grade levels down. If they are there are serious issues that require heavy remediation that a traditional school cannot address is a traditional classroom setting. So if a 16 year old was at 5th grade level then for damn sure I hope we're not just putting kids in the same grade year after year.

Once a kid is 2 grades behind they have needs a traditional classroom cannot address.

So do tell, what does BASIS offer for such a student? Or is it just byeeeee, someone else's problem?

It is not byeeee. BASIS has a ton of supports in place. Every BASIS teacher has student hours once a week after school for 2 hours. Any kid can drop in and ask for help, supplements support or advice at will. The also do serious interventions. Your question tells me you know nothing about BASIS.

Also, if you repeat a grade and still can't hack it at BASIS then it is not a good fit for you. It needn't be. My kid has would bomb out of a technical HS. That's ok. Bad fit for them.

Maybe the supports aren't so great if kids are still failing out, hmmmmm? Sorry but a good school actually gets the job done for its more challenging students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I view ITS’s policy of not adding kids after Count Day much differently than any school that simply does not allow new students after initial grades. I agree both are bad in a public school— and charters ARE publics, even though they sometimes like to pretend they aren’t. But this ITS policy isn’t nearly as egregious to me. I get the rationale (it really can be tough on classrooms to add new students after the kids have finally settled in, as I know well as a DCPS parent). It’s a reality of school, but it’s tough on everyone.

But schools like BASIS or Latin refusing to backfill in subsequent years is really craven. Even private schools take kids mid-MS or mid-HS! A good school would not struggle to incorporate them. It really looks like an obvious grab for higher test scores. It’s gross. The ITS thing is annoying but doesn’t offend me in the same way.

We have been through this before, people. BASIS is unique in DC because it does not do social promotion. Kids don't have to leave, but they will be required to repeat a grade if they do not pass the comprehensive exam. No exceptions. BASIS wanted to accept kids after 5th. They do at other BASIS schools. But DCPCSB won't allow them to administer a test to put the kids in the proper grade level (without regard to age). It would make no sense to have a school that tells kids that are not meeting the standard they have to repeat a grade but let new kids enter into that higher grade even if they can't show mastery of the material.

You can disagree with whether BASIS should socially promote. But that's the argument/policy disagreement. "Backfilling" is a red herring to avoid talking about BASIS's social promotion policy.

Neighborhood schools have to take kids who are below grade. Even those who speak literally no English at all. They have to suck it up and deal with it as best they can. But wah, BASIS couldn't possibly cope without an entrance test. Even though other schools have to.

The idea with backfilling is that we don't want to create a system where if your 5th grade lottery number is bad, you have no hope for getting into a good school. What would the school system be like if every school allowed itself to do what BASIS is doing? Do we want to live like that? BASIS is free-riding on other schools' willingness to handle the tougher kids and do the hardest educational work. But feel free to pat yourself on the back for those great test scores!

Your response is all over the map and internally inconsistent. At one point you ask, what would it be like if every school stopped social promotion and required kids to actual master material before moving to the next grade - PERISH THE THOUGHT and clutching my pearls. You aren't even making the case you think you are. If BASIS was allowed to administer the test and put kids in appropriate grades they'd take backfills and then there would be hope of getting in after 5th - problem solved! Neighborhood schools have to take kids who enroll and are forced by DC policies to put them in their grade level by age, regardless of whet they actually know. And then DC makes it impossible to hold a kid back so they get moved along and graduate with a useless degree.

BASIS has higher standards than all other schools. I'm ok with that .

Because people don't want over-age kids in their classes! Do you want your 5th grader to be with 15 and 16 year olds who aren't doing well? Come on. Think about what you are saying. And because repeating grades doesn't actually solve anything. If the kid was going to learn the material in a regular classroom setting, they would have learned it the first time.

"Higher standards" my foot, they're just running off the kids who are harder to educate.

And because in a system without social promotion kids would simply drop out. They would grow up into uneducated adults. See, this is a school *system*. The goal isn't just to operate one school and pat yourself on the back for great test scores without any caring for the kids who start but don't finish. The idea is to educate the residents of the jurisdiction, thinking of *all of them* including those who drop out. And all schools should be good citizens of the school system and take a fair share of the more difficult educational work. If BASIS's attitude towards its strugging students is basically "f*ck'em", then yes, people are not going to think well of your school despite its cherry-picked test scores.

Two things:

1. The test scores aren't "cherry picked". We just have a ton of highly qualified kids who take the test. You seem not to understand what "cherry picked" means.
2. The vast majority of BASIS families don't care what you think. Too busy helping our kids with advanced work to worry about your jealousy.

The cherry picking is in creating a school that's poorly suited to serve any struggling student, and intentionally refusing social promotion because it's a way of getting rid of them. Yes, most of the kids do sit for the PARCC, the cherry picking happens before that.

I'm not at all jealous, my kids are doing great, thanks.

That's not "cherry picking" scores. Again, you don't understand what the term means. Everyone there takes the test and the published scores are for all kids. The kids who repeat also take the PARCC test and their scores count ,too.

A world gone mad where you speak about "intentionally refusing social promotion" like that's something to be embarrassed about.

If you are so happy and not at all jealous, why are you more interested and invested in what is happening at BASIS than most BASIS families? The lady doth protest too much, methinks.

Because I think it's selfish and poor citizenship to operate a school that shirks the harder work of educating the students of DC. It's in really poor taste to talk about how great your school is, how happy you are with it, when it comes at this kind of cost to others. I don't believe for a second that BASIS is actually against social promotion for principled reasons. I think they know perfectly well it's a way of getting rid of the kids who struggle.

Try to put yourself in the shoes of a parent of a child who struggled academically. Would you want them to repeat and repeat and repeat, growing older and more embarrassed and friendless? Or would you want them to have services and an age-appropriate setting? If BASIS didn't work out, would you want them to be shut out of other schools because it's 5th grade or never?

Try to think about the functioning of the school system as a whole, including for kids who aren't academically gifted or who don't speak good English yet. Try to think beyond your own family.

I think if we demanded excellence instead of allowing mediocrity to be the standard everyone would be better off. I think it is racist to assume black and brown and poor kids can't achieve when demands are made for achievement. I think your approach is condescending to those groups.

We have choice. Charters are their own LEAs. Plus, I call BS on your moral argument about a system. JKLM doesn't give a damn what happens in Ward 8. The noise from Deal and JR about ending OOB enrollment tells us a lot.

"One system". Puhleeze.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I view ITS’s policy of not adding kids after Count Day much differently than any school that simply does not allow new students after initial grades. I agree both are bad in a public school— and charters ARE publics, even though they sometimes like to pretend they aren’t. But this ITS policy isn’t nearly as egregious to me. I get the rationale (it really can be tough on classrooms to add new students after the kids have finally settled in, as I know well as a DCPS parent). It’s a reality of school, but it’s tough on everyone.

But schools like BASIS or Latin refusing to backfill in subsequent years is really craven. Even private schools take kids mid-MS or mid-HS! A good school would not struggle to incorporate them. It really looks like an obvious grab for higher test scores. It’s gross. The ITS thing is annoying but doesn’t offend me in the same way.

We have been through this before, people. BASIS is unique in DC because it does not do social promotion. Kids don't have to leave, but they will be required to repeat a grade if they do not pass the comprehensive exam. No exceptions. BASIS wanted to accept kids after 5th. They do at other BASIS schools. But DCPCSB won't allow them to administer a test to put the kids in the proper grade level (without regard to age). It would make no sense to have a school that tells kids that are not meeting the standard they have to repeat a grade but let new kids enter into that higher grade even if they can't show mastery of the material.

You can disagree with whether BASIS should socially promote. But that's the argument/policy disagreement. "Backfilling" is a red herring to avoid talking about BASIS's social promotion policy.

Neighborhood schools have to take kids who are below grade. Even those who speak literally no English at all. They have to suck it up and deal with it as best they can. But wah, BASIS couldn't possibly cope without an entrance test. Even though other schools have to.

The idea with backfilling is that we don't want to create a system where if your 5th grade lottery number is bad, you have no hope for getting into a good school. What would the school system be like if every school allowed itself to do what BASIS is doing? Do we want to live like that? BASIS is free-riding on other schools' willingness to handle the tougher kids and do the hardest educational work. But feel free to pat yourself on the back for those great test scores!

Your response is all over the map and internally inconsistent. At one point you ask, what would it be like if every school stopped social promotion and required kids to actual master material before moving to the next grade - PERISH THE THOUGHT and clutching my pearls. You aren't even making the case you think you are. If BASIS was allowed to administer the test and put kids in appropriate grades they'd take backfills and then there would be hope of getting in after 5th - problem solved! Neighborhood schools have to take kids who enroll and are forced by DC policies to put them in their grade level by age, regardless of whet they actually know. And then DC makes it impossible to hold a kid back so they get moved along and graduate with a useless degree.

BASIS has higher standards than all other schools. I'm ok with that .

Because people don't want over-age kids in their classes! Do you want your 5th grader to be with 15 and 16 year olds who aren't doing well? Come on. Think about what you are saying. And because repeating grades doesn't actually solve anything. If the kid was going to learn the material in a regular classroom setting, they would have learned it the first time.

"Higher standards" my foot, they're just running off the kids who are harder to educate.

And because in a system without social promotion kids would simply drop out. They would grow up into uneducated adults. See, this is a school *system*. The goal isn't just to operate one school and pat yourself on the back for great test scores without any caring for the kids who start but don't finish. The idea is to educate the residents of the jurisdiction, thinking of *all of them* including those who drop out. And all schools should be good citizens of the school system and take a fair share of the more difficult educational work. If BASIS's attitude towards its strugging students is basically "f*ck'em", then yes, people are not going to think well of your school despite its cherry-picked test scores.

Two things:

1. The test scores aren't "cherry picked". We just have a ton of highly qualified kids who take the test. You seem not to understand what "cherry picked" means.
2. The vast majority of BASIS families don't care what you think. Too busy helping our kids with advanced work to worry about your jealousy.

The cherry picking is in creating a school that's poorly suited to serve any struggling student, and intentionally refusing social promotion because it's a way of getting rid of them. Yes, most of the kids do sit for the PARCC, the cherry picking happens before that.

I'm not at all jealous, my kids are doing great, thanks.

That's not "cherry picking" scores. Again, you don't understand what the term means. Everyone there takes the test and the published scores are for all kids. The kids who repeat also take the PARCC test and their scores count ,too.

A world gone mad where you speak about "intentionally refusing social promotion" like that's something to be embarrassed about.

If you are so happy and not at all jealous, why are you more interested and invested in what is happening at BASIS than most BASIS families? The lady doth protest too much, methinks.

Because I think it's selfish and poor citizenship to operate a school that shirks the harder work of educating the students of DC. It's in really poor taste to talk about how great your school is, how happy you are with it, when it comes at this kind of cost to others. I don't believe for a second that BASIS is actually against social promotion for principled reasons. I think they know perfectly well it's a way of getting rid of the kids who struggle.

Try to put yourself in the shoes of a parent of a child who struggled academically. Would you want them to repeat and repeat and repeat, growing older and more embarrassed and friendless? Or would you want them to have services and an age-appropriate setting? If BASIS didn't work out, would you want them to be shut out of other schools because it's 5th grade or never?

Try to think about the functioning of the school system as a whole, including for kids who aren't academically gifted or who don't speak good English yet. Try to think beyond your own family.

I think if we demanded excellence instead of allowing mediocrity to be the standard everyone would be better off. I think it is racist to assume black and brown and poor kids can't achieve when demands are made for achievement. I think your approach is condescending to those groups.

We have choice. Charters are their own LEAs. Plus, I call BS on your moral argument about a system. JKLM doesn't give a damn what happens in Ward 8. The noise from Deal and JR about ending OOB enrollment tells us a lot.

"One system". Puhleeze.

Pushing kids out with socially inappropriate placements is not "demanding excellence"! It's just running people off FFS. If BASIS were particularly great at serving at-risk, SPED, and ELL kids then you might get more traction. But it isn't. And getting good results takes a lot more than demanding it.

Is BASIS owned by a Chinese hedge fund?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I view ITS’s policy of not adding kids after Count Day much differently than any school that simply does not allow new students after initial grades. I agree both are bad in a public school— and charters ARE publics, even though they sometimes like to pretend they aren’t. But this ITS policy isn’t nearly as egregious to me. I get the rationale (it really can be tough on classrooms to add new students after the kids have finally settled in, as I know well as a DCPS parent). It’s a reality of school, but it’s tough on everyone.

But schools like BASIS or Latin refusing to backfill in subsequent years is really craven. Even private schools take kids mid-MS or mid-HS! A good school would not struggle to incorporate them. It really looks like an obvious grab for higher test scores. It’s gross. The ITS thing is annoying but doesn’t offend me in the same way.

We have been through this before, people. BASIS is unique in DC because it does not do social promotion. Kids don't have to leave, but they will be required to repeat a grade if they do not pass the comprehensive exam. No exceptions. BASIS wanted to accept kids after 5th. They do at other BASIS schools. But DCPCSB won't allow them to administer a test to put the kids in the proper grade level (without regard to age). It would make no sense to have a school that tells kids that are not meeting the standard they have to repeat a grade but let new kids enter into that higher grade even if they can't show mastery of the material.

You can disagree with whether BASIS should socially promote. But that's the argument/policy disagreement. "Backfilling" is a red herring to avoid talking about BASIS's social promotion policy.

Neighborhood schools have to take kids who are below grade. Even those who speak literally no English at all. They have to suck it up and deal with it as best they can. But wah, BASIS couldn't possibly cope without an entrance test. Even though other schools have to.

The idea with backfilling is that we don't want to create a system where if your 5th grade lottery number is bad, you have no hope for getting into a good school. What would the school system be like if every school allowed itself to do what BASIS is doing? Do we want to live like that? BASIS is free-riding on other schools' willingness to handle the tougher kids and do the hardest educational work. But feel free to pat yourself on the back for those great test scores!

Your response is all over the map and internally inconsistent. At one point you ask, what would it be like if every school stopped social promotion and required kids to actual master material before moving to the next grade - PERISH THE THOUGHT and clutching my pearls. You aren't even making the case you think you are. If BASIS was allowed to administer the test and put kids in appropriate grades they'd take backfills and then there would be hope of getting in after 5th - problem solved! Neighborhood schools have to take kids who enroll and are forced by DC policies to put them in their grade level by age, regardless of whet they actually know. And then DC makes it impossible to hold a kid back so they get moved along and graduate with a useless degree.

BASIS has higher standards than all other schools. I'm ok with that .

Because people don't want over-age kids in their classes! Do you want your 5th grader to be with 15 and 16 year olds who aren't doing well? Come on. Think about what you are saying. And because repeating grades doesn't actually solve anything. If the kid was going to learn the material in a regular classroom setting, they would have learned it the first time.

"Higher standards" my foot, they're just running off the kids who are harder to educate.

That's a red herring that frequently gets trotted out. And it is BS. First, it is unlikely that a kid would be 5 or 6 grade levels down. If they are there are serious issues that require heavy remediation that a traditional school cannot address is a traditional classroom setting. So if a 16 year old was at 5th grade level then for damn sure I hope we're not just putting kids in the same grade year after year.

Once a kid is 2 grades behind they have needs a traditional classroom cannot address.

So do tell, what does BASIS offer for such a student? Or is it just byeeeee, someone else's problem?

It is not byeeee. BASIS has a ton of supports in place. Every BASIS teacher has student hours once a week after school for 2 hours. Any kid can drop in and ask for help, supplements support or advice at will. The also do serious interventions. Your question tells me you know nothing about BASIS.

Also, if you repeat a grade and still can't hack it at BASIS then it is not a good fit for you. It needn't be. My kid has would bomb out of a technical HS. That's ok. Bad fit for them.

Maybe the supports aren't so great if kids are still failing out, hmmmmm? Sorry but a good school actually gets the job done for its more challenging students.

Everyone does not get a trophy at BASIS. Some kids will fail out because the rigor is beyond their cpability. Not every kids is an academic rock star. You don't do a kid any favors by forcing them to operate above their capability. All the intervention in the world won't get some kids to the standard. There are better fits for them.

Life is like that, too. We do performance reviews at work. You could argue that people on PIPs have bad managers who failed to get them to where they need to be. But ultimately it is on them to perform to the standard or find a job that is a better fit for their skills. And that is OK. It doesn't make them bad people. Just bad fits for the the job.

You seem not to understand the concept here. I bet you love the idea of "honors for all" at JR. Newsflash, the parents who want true honors classes don't want kids behind their advanced kids in their class. Same concept. Get it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I view ITS’s policy of not adding kids after Count Day much differently than any school that simply does not allow new students after initial grades. I agree both are bad in a public school— and charters ARE publics, even though they sometimes like to pretend they aren’t. But this ITS policy isn’t nearly as egregious to me. I get the rationale (it really can be tough on classrooms to add new students after the kids have finally settled in, as I know well as a DCPS parent). It’s a reality of school, but it’s tough on everyone.

But schools like BASIS or Latin refusing to backfill in subsequent years is really craven. Even private schools take kids mid-MS or mid-HS! A good school would not struggle to incorporate them. It really looks like an obvious grab for higher test scores. It’s gross. The ITS thing is annoying but doesn’t offend me in the same way.

We have been through this before, people. BASIS is unique in DC because it does not do social promotion. Kids don't have to leave, but they will be required to repeat a grade if they do not pass the comprehensive exam. No exceptions. BASIS wanted to accept kids after 5th. They do at other BASIS schools. But DCPCSB won't allow them to administer a test to put the kids in the proper grade level (without regard to age). It would make no sense to have a school that tells kids that are not meeting the standard they have to repeat a grade but let new kids enter into that higher grade even if they can't show mastery of the material.

You can disagree with whether BASIS should socially promote. But that's the argument/policy disagreement. "Backfilling" is a red herring to avoid talking about BASIS's social promotion policy.

Neighborhood schools have to take kids who are below grade. Even those who speak literally no English at all. They have to suck it up and deal with it as best they can. But wah, BASIS couldn't possibly cope without an entrance test. Even though other schools have to.

The idea with backfilling is that we don't want to create a system where if your 5th grade lottery number is bad, you have no hope for getting into a good school. What would the school system be like if every school allowed itself to do what BASIS is doing? Do we want to live like that? BASIS is free-riding on other schools' willingness to handle the tougher kids and do the hardest educational work. But feel free to pat yourself on the back for those great test scores!

Your response is all over the map and internally inconsistent. At one point you ask, what would it be like if every school stopped social promotion and required kids to actual master material before moving to the next grade - PERISH THE THOUGHT and clutching my pearls. You aren't even making the case you think you are. If BASIS was allowed to administer the test and put kids in appropriate grades they'd take backfills and then there would be hope of getting in after 5th - problem solved! Neighborhood schools have to take kids who enroll and are forced by DC policies to put them in their grade level by age, regardless of whet they actually know. And then DC makes it impossible to hold a kid back so they get moved along and graduate with a useless degree.

BASIS has higher standards than all other schools. I'm ok with that .

Because people don't want over-age kids in their classes! Do you want your 5th grader to be with 15 and 16 year olds who aren't doing well? Come on. Think about what you are saying. And because repeating grades doesn't actually solve anything. If the kid was going to learn the material in a regular classroom setting, they would have learned it the first time.

"Higher standards" my foot, they're just running off the kids who are harder to educate.

And because in a system without social promotion kids would simply drop out. They would grow up into uneducated adults. See, this is a school *system*. The goal isn't just to operate one school and pat yourself on the back for great test scores without any caring for the kids who start but don't finish. The idea is to educate the residents of the jurisdiction, thinking of *all of them* including those who drop out. And all schools should be good citizens of the school system and take a fair share of the more difficult educational work. If BASIS's attitude towards its strugging students is basically "f*ck'em", then yes, people are not going to think well of your school despite its cherry-picked test scores.

Two things:

1. The test scores aren't "cherry picked". We just have a ton of highly qualified kids who take the test. You seem not to understand what "cherry picked" means.
2. The vast majority of BASIS families don't care what you think. Too busy helping our kids with advanced work to worry about your jealousy.

The cherry picking is in creating a school that's poorly suited to serve any struggling student, and intentionally refusing social promotion because it's a way of getting rid of them. Yes, most of the kids do sit for the PARCC, the cherry picking happens before that.

I'm not at all jealous, my kids are doing great, thanks.

That's not "cherry picking" scores. Again, you don't understand what the term means. Everyone there takes the test and the published scores are for all kids. The kids who repeat also take the PARCC test and their scores count ,too.

A world gone mad where you speak about "intentionally refusing social promotion" like that's something to be embarrassed about.

If you are so happy and not at all jealous, why are you more interested and invested in what is happening at BASIS than most BASIS families? The lady doth protest too much, methinks.

Because I think it's selfish and poor citizenship to operate a school that shirks the harder work of educating the students of DC. It's in really poor taste to talk about how great your school is, how happy you are with it, when it comes at this kind of cost to others. I don't believe for a second that BASIS is actually against social promotion for principled reasons. I think they know perfectly well it's a way of getting rid of the kids who struggle.

Try to put yourself in the shoes of a parent of a child who struggled academically. Would you want them to repeat and repeat and repeat, growing older and more embarrassed and friendless? Or would you want them to have services and an age-appropriate setting? If BASIS didn't work out, would you want them to be shut out of other schools because it's 5th grade or never?

Try to think about the functioning of the school system as a whole, including for kids who aren't academically gifted or who don't speak good English yet. Try to think beyond your own family.

I think if we demanded excellence instead of allowing mediocrity to be the standard everyone would be better off. I think it is racist to assume black and brown and poor kids can't achieve when demands are made for achievement. I think your approach is condescending to those groups.

We have choice. Charters are their own LEAs. Plus, I call BS on your moral argument about a system. JKLM doesn't give a damn what happens in Ward 8. The noise from Deal and JR about ending OOB enrollment tells us a lot.

"One system". Puhleeze.

Pushing kids out with socially inappropriate placements is not "demanding excellence"! It's just running people off FFS. If BASIS were particularly great at serving at-risk, SPED, and ELL kids then you might get more traction. But it isn't. And getting good results takes a lot more than demanding it.

Is BASIS owned by a Chinese hedge fund?

What? I guess you want to talk about that, totally different topic. BASIS doesn't do those things well. And...? Only you seem to think that's an issue. I just want a kick a** academic program.

Traction with what? Bleeding heart, performative white folks who think that black and brown kids should be held to a lower standard...and somehow think that's progressive? Yeah, not looking for validation from that population

BTW, what school does your kid go to? I assume Eastern? [giggles]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I view ITS’s policy of not adding kids after Count Day much differently than any school that simply does not allow new students after initial grades. I agree both are bad in a public school— and charters ARE publics, even though they sometimes like to pretend they aren’t. But this ITS policy isn’t nearly as egregious to me. I get the rationale (it really can be tough on classrooms to add new students after the kids have finally settled in, as I know well as a DCPS parent). It’s a reality of school, but it’s tough on everyone.

But schools like BASIS or Latin refusing to backfill in subsequent years is really craven. Even private schools take kids mid-MS or mid-HS! A good school would not struggle to incorporate them. It really looks like an obvious grab for higher test scores. It’s gross. The ITS thing is annoying but doesn’t offend me in the same way.

We have been through this before, people. BASIS is unique in DC because it does not do social promotion. Kids don't have to leave, but they will be required to repeat a grade if they do not pass the comprehensive exam. No exceptions. BASIS wanted to accept kids after 5th. They do at other BASIS schools. But DCPCSB won't allow them to administer a test to put the kids in the proper grade level (without regard to age). It would make no sense to have a school that tells kids that are not meeting the standard they have to repeat a grade but let new kids enter into that higher grade even if they can't show mastery of the material.

You can disagree with whether BASIS should socially promote. But that's the argument/policy disagreement. "Backfilling" is a red herring to avoid talking about BASIS's social promotion policy.

Neighborhood schools have to take kids who are below grade. Even those who speak literally no English at all. They have to suck it up and deal with it as best they can. But wah, BASIS couldn't possibly cope without an entrance test. Even though other schools have to.

The idea with backfilling is that we don't want to create a system where if your 5th grade lottery number is bad, you have no hope for getting into a good school. What would the school system be like if every school allowed itself to do what BASIS is doing? Do we want to live like that? BASIS is free-riding on other schools' willingness to handle the tougher kids and do the hardest educational work. But feel free to pat yourself on the back for those great test scores!

Your response is all over the map and internally inconsistent. At one point you ask, what would it be like if every school stopped social promotion and required kids to actual master material before moving to the next grade - PERISH THE THOUGHT and clutching my pearls. You aren't even making the case you think you are. If BASIS was allowed to administer the test and put kids in appropriate grades they'd take backfills and then there would be hope of getting in after 5th - problem solved! Neighborhood schools have to take kids who enroll and are forced by DC policies to put them in their grade level by age, regardless of whet they actually know. And then DC makes it impossible to hold a kid back so they get moved along and graduate with a useless degree.

BASIS has higher standards than all other schools. I'm ok with that .

Because people don't want over-age kids in their classes! Do you want your 5th grader to be with 15 and 16 year olds who aren't doing well? Come on. Think about what you are saying. And because repeating grades doesn't actually solve anything. If the kid was going to learn the material in a regular classroom setting, they would have learned it the first time.

"Higher standards" my foot, they're just running off the kids who are harder to educate.

That's a red herring that frequently gets trotted out. And it is BS. First, it is unlikely that a kid would be 5 or 6 grade levels down. If they are there are serious issues that require heavy remediation that a traditional school cannot address is a traditional classroom setting. So if a 16 year old was at 5th grade level then for damn sure I hope we're not just putting kids in the same grade year after year.

Once a kid is 2 grades behind they have needs a traditional classroom cannot address.

So do tell, what does BASIS offer for such a student? Or is it just byeeeee, someone else's problem?

It is not byeeee. BASIS has a ton of supports in place. Every BASIS teacher has student hours once a week after school for 2 hours. Any kid can drop in and ask for help, supplements support or advice at will. The also do serious interventions. Your question tells me you know nothing about BASIS.

Also, if you repeat a grade and still can't hack it at BASIS then it is not a good fit for you. It needn't be. My kid has would bomb out of a technical HS. That's ok. Bad fit for them.

Maybe the supports aren't so great if kids are still failing out, hmmmmm? Sorry but a good school actually gets the job done for its more challenging students.

Everyone does not get a trophy at BASIS. Some kids will fail out because the rigor is beyond their cpability. Not every kids is an academic rock star. You don't do a kid any favors by forcing them to operate above their capability. All the intervention in the world won't get some kids to the standard. There are better fits for them.

Life is like that, too. We do performance reviews at work. You could argue that people on PIPs have bad managers who failed to get them to where they need to be. But ultimately it is on them to perform to the standard or find a job that is a better fit for their skills. And that is OK. It doesn't make them bad people. Just bad fits for the the job.

You seem not to understand the concept here. I bet you love the idea of "honors for all" at JR. Newsflash, the parents who want true honors classes don't want kids behind their advanced kids in their class. Same concept. Get it?

It just seems like if BASIS' supports aren't good enough to get children to pass grade level, then maybe BASIS isn't such a great school after all. Or maybe it isn't IDEA compliant.

I do not love "honors for all", I think it's BS, and I'm not a JR parent anyway. But JR has to take kids by address, regardless of their ability or disabilities, and doesn't get to just wash its hands of them when they don't want the humiliation and ineffectiveness of a socially inappropriate retention. JR doesn't get to say "to each their own, we're the school for the really smart kids only!" and not care what happens to the kids who fail out. DCPS has to manage a whole system, not just a set of isolated schools, and has to care about all the kids, not just the smart ones. Try it, you might find it feels good.

Is BASIS owned by a Chinese hedge fund or not?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I view ITS’s policy of not adding kids after Count Day much differently than any school that simply does not allow new students after initial grades. I agree both are bad in a public school— and charters ARE publics, even though they sometimes like to pretend they aren’t. But this ITS policy isn’t nearly as egregious to me. I get the rationale (it really can be tough on classrooms to add new students after the kids have finally settled in, as I know well as a DCPS parent). It’s a reality of school, but it’s tough on everyone.

But schools like BASIS or Latin refusing to backfill in subsequent years is really craven. Even private schools take kids mid-MS or mid-HS! A good school would not struggle to incorporate them. It really looks like an obvious grab for higher test scores. It’s gross. The ITS thing is annoying but doesn’t offend me in the same way.

We have been through this before, people. BASIS is unique in DC because it does not do social promotion. Kids don't have to leave, but they will be required to repeat a grade if they do not pass the comprehensive exam. No exceptions. BASIS wanted to accept kids after 5th. They do at other BASIS schools. But DCPCSB won't allow them to administer a test to put the kids in the proper grade level (without regard to age). It would make no sense to have a school that tells kids that are not meeting the standard they have to repeat a grade but let new kids enter into that higher grade even if they can't show mastery of the material.

You can disagree with whether BASIS should socially promote. But that's the argument/policy disagreement. "Backfilling" is a red herring to avoid talking about BASIS's social promotion policy.

Neighborhood schools have to take kids who are below grade. Even those who speak literally no English at all. They have to suck it up and deal with it as best they can. But wah, BASIS couldn't possibly cope without an entrance test. Even though other schools have to.

The idea with backfilling is that we don't want to create a system where if your 5th grade lottery number is bad, you have no hope for getting into a good school. What would the school system be like if every school allowed itself to do what BASIS is doing? Do we want to live like that? BASIS is free-riding on other schools' willingness to handle the tougher kids and do the hardest educational work. But feel free to pat yourself on the back for those great test scores!

Your response is all over the map and internally inconsistent. At one point you ask, what would it be like if every school stopped social promotion and required kids to actual master material before moving to the next grade - PERISH THE THOUGHT and clutching my pearls. You aren't even making the case you think you are. If BASIS was allowed to administer the test and put kids in appropriate grades they'd take backfills and then there would be hope of getting in after 5th - problem solved! Neighborhood schools have to take kids who enroll and are forced by DC policies to put them in their grade level by age, regardless of whet they actually know. And then DC makes it impossible to hold a kid back so they get moved along and graduate with a useless degree.

BASIS has higher standards than all other schools. I'm ok with that .

Because people don't want over-age kids in their classes! Do you want your 5th grader to be with 15 and 16 year olds who aren't doing well? Come on. Think about what you are saying. And because repeating grades doesn't actually solve anything. If the kid was going to learn the material in a regular classroom setting, they would have learned it the first time.

"Higher standards" my foot, they're just running off the kids who are harder to educate.

And because in a system without social promotion kids would simply drop out. They would grow up into uneducated adults. See, this is a school *system*. The goal isn't just to operate one school and pat yourself on the back for great test scores without any caring for the kids who start but don't finish. The idea is to educate the residents of the jurisdiction, thinking of *all of them* including those who drop out. And all schools should be good citizens of the school system and take a fair share of the more difficult educational work. If BASIS's attitude towards its strugging students is basically "f*ck'em", then yes, people are not going to think well of your school despite its cherry-picked test scores.

Bolded section is beyond ignorant of the educational outcomes in DC. Look at HS PARCC scores and tell me the system is educating those kids. How can you be so ignorant of what is happening outside of your Upper NW front door? My lord.

So what do you think happens to the kids who leave BASIS because they are trying to find an age-appropriate setting where their needs are actually met?

My hope is the find a school and environment that is better suited for them than the academic rigor and pressure filled environment on 8th street. It is not for everyone. Where we diverge is hat I don't think all schools have to be all things to all people. I think Montessori is a joke. That's ok. I chose not to send my kid there.

We have choice. You (and kids who wash out) should make the ones that work for who and what they are.

But how could they, if all schools were like BASIS and took nobody after 5th? Oh, it's soooo hard to bring in new kids! So inappropriate! Sorry but they have to go somewhere, why should BASIS get to opt out of the hard work?

Is BASIS owned by a Chinese hedge fund?

Huh? Because that's relevant. Well played. You could not have made yourself look sillier if you tried. Well done!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I view ITS’s policy of not adding kids after Count Day much differently than any school that simply does not allow new students after initial grades. I agree both are bad in a public school— and charters ARE publics, even though they sometimes like to pretend they aren’t. But this ITS policy isn’t nearly as egregious to me. I get the rationale (it really can be tough on classrooms to add new students after the kids have finally settled in, as I know well as a DCPS parent). It’s a reality of school, but it’s tough on everyone.

But schools like BASIS or Latin refusing to backfill in subsequent years is really craven. Even private schools take kids mid-MS or mid-HS! A good school would not struggle to incorporate them. It really looks like an obvious grab for higher test scores. It’s gross. The ITS thing is annoying but doesn’t offend me in the same way.

We have been through this before, people. BASIS is unique in DC because it does not do social promotion. Kids don't have to leave, but they will be required to repeat a grade if they do not pass the comprehensive exam. No exceptions. BASIS wanted to accept kids after 5th. They do at other BASIS schools. But DCPCSB won't allow them to administer a test to put the kids in the proper grade level (without regard to age). It would make no sense to have a school that tells kids that are not meeting the standard they have to repeat a grade but let new kids enter into that higher grade even if they can't show mastery of the material.

You can disagree with whether BASIS should socially promote. But that's the argument/policy disagreement. "Backfilling" is a red herring to avoid talking about BASIS's social promotion policy.

Neighborhood schools have to take kids who are below grade. Even those who speak literally no English at all. They have to suck it up and deal with it as best they can. But wah, BASIS couldn't possibly cope without an entrance test. Even though other schools have to.

The idea with backfilling is that we don't want to create a system where if your 5th grade lottery number is bad, you have no hope for getting into a good school. What would the school system be like if every school allowed itself to do what BASIS is doing? Do we want to live like that? BASIS is free-riding on other schools' willingness to handle the tougher kids and do the hardest educational work. But feel free to pat yourself on the back for those great test scores!

Your response is all over the map and internally inconsistent. At one point you ask, what would it be like if every school stopped social promotion and required kids to actual master material before moving to the next grade - PERISH THE THOUGHT and clutching my pearls. You aren't even making the case you think you are. If BASIS was allowed to administer the test and put kids in appropriate grades they'd take backfills and then there would be hope of getting in after 5th - problem solved! Neighborhood schools have to take kids who enroll and are forced by DC policies to put them in their grade level by age, regardless of whet they actually know. And then DC makes it impossible to hold a kid back so they get moved along and graduate with a useless degree.

BASIS has higher standards than all other schools. I'm ok with that .

Because people don't want over-age kids in their classes! Do you want your 5th grader to be with 15 and 16 year olds who aren't doing well? Come on. Think about what you are saying. And because repeating grades doesn't actually solve anything. If the kid was going to learn the material in a regular classroom setting, they would have learned it the first time.

"Higher standards" my foot, they're just running off the kids who are harder to educate.

And because in a system without social promotion kids would simply drop out. They would grow up into uneducated adults. See, this is a school *system*. The goal isn't just to operate one school and pat yourself on the back for great test scores without any caring for the kids who start but don't finish. The idea is to educate the residents of the jurisdiction, thinking of *all of them* including those who drop out. And all schools should be good citizens of the school system and take a fair share of the more difficult educational work. If BASIS's attitude towards its strugging students is basically "f*ck'em", then yes, people are not going to think well of your school despite its cherry-picked test scores.

Two things:

1. The test scores aren't "cherry picked". We just have a ton of highly qualified kids who take the test. You seem not to understand what "cherry picked" means.
2. The vast majority of BASIS families don't care what you think. Too busy helping our kids with advanced work to worry about your jealousy.

The cherry picking is in creating a school that's poorly suited to serve any struggling student, and intentionally refusing social promotion because it's a way of getting rid of them. Yes, most of the kids do sit for the PARCC, the cherry picking happens before that.

I'm not at all jealous, my kids are doing great, thanks.

That's not "cherry picking" scores. Again, you don't understand what the term means. Everyone there takes the test and the published scores are for all kids. The kids who repeat also take the PARCC test and their scores count ,too.

A world gone mad where you speak about "intentionally refusing social promotion" like that's something to be embarrassed about.

If you are so happy and not at all jealous, why are you more interested and invested in what is happening at BASIS than most BASIS families? The lady doth protest too much, methinks.

Because I think it's selfish and poor citizenship to operate a school that shirks the harder work of educating the students of DC. It's in really poor taste to talk about how great your school is, how happy you are with it, when it comes at this kind of cost to others. I don't believe for a second that BASIS is actually against social promotion for principled reasons. I think they know perfectly well it's a way of getting rid of the kids who struggle.

Try to put yourself in the shoes of a parent of a child who struggled academically. Would you want them to repeat and repeat and repeat, growing older and more embarrassed and friendless? Or would you want them to have services and an age-appropriate setting? If BASIS didn't work out, would you want them to be shut out of other schools because it's 5th grade or never?

Try to think about the functioning of the school system as a whole, including for kids who aren't academically gifted or who don't speak good English yet. Try to think beyond your own family.

I think if we demanded excellence instead of allowing mediocrity to be the standard everyone would be better off. I think it is racist to assume black and brown and poor kids can't achieve when demands are made for achievement. I think your approach is condescending to those groups.

We have choice. Charters are their own LEAs. Plus, I call BS on your moral argument about a system. JKLM doesn't give a damn what happens in Ward 8. The noise from Deal and JR about ending OOB enrollment tells us a lot.

"One system". Puhleeze.

Pushing kids out with socially inappropriate placements is not "demanding excellence"! It's just running people off FFS. If BASIS were particularly great at serving at-risk, SPED, and ELL kids then you might get more traction. But it isn't. And getting good results takes a lot more than demanding it.

Is BASIS owned by a Chinese hedge fund?

What? I guess you want to talk about that, totally different topic. BASIS doesn't do those things well. And...? Only you seem to think that's an issue. I just want a kick a** academic program.

Traction with what? Bleeding heart, performative white folks who think that black and brown kids should be held to a lower standard...and somehow think that's progressive? Yeah, not looking for validation from that population

BTW, what school does your kid go to? I assume Eastern? [giggles]

None of your business where my kid goes, but it isn't a school owned by a Chinese hedge fund.

You can call me whatever you like. I consider myself a person who cares about the functioning of the school system as a whole, and who cares about children who aren't academically gifted equally as much as I care for those who are. Maybe some day you will see that BASIS' supposedly good results are due to avoiding the most difficult work, and that those choices are poor citizenship of the school system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I view ITS’s policy of not adding kids after Count Day much differently than any school that simply does not allow new students after initial grades. I agree both are bad in a public school— and charters ARE publics, even though they sometimes like to pretend they aren’t. But this ITS policy isn’t nearly as egregious to me. I get the rationale (it really can be tough on classrooms to add new students after the kids have finally settled in, as I know well as a DCPS parent). It’s a reality of school, but it’s tough on everyone.

But schools like BASIS or Latin refusing to backfill in subsequent years is really craven. Even private schools take kids mid-MS or mid-HS! A good school would not struggle to incorporate them. It really looks like an obvious grab for higher test scores. It’s gross. The ITS thing is annoying but doesn’t offend me in the same way.

We have been through this before, people. BASIS is unique in DC because it does not do social promotion. Kids don't have to leave, but they will be required to repeat a grade if they do not pass the comprehensive exam. No exceptions. BASIS wanted to accept kids after 5th. They do at other BASIS schools. But DCPCSB won't allow them to administer a test to put the kids in the proper grade level (without regard to age). It would make no sense to have a school that tells kids that are not meeting the standard they have to repeat a grade but let new kids enter into that higher grade even if they can't show mastery of the material.

You can disagree with whether BASIS should socially promote. But that's the argument/policy disagreement. "Backfilling" is a red herring to avoid talking about BASIS's social promotion policy.

Neighborhood schools have to take kids who are below grade. Even those who speak literally no English at all. They have to suck it up and deal with it as best they can. But wah, BASIS couldn't possibly cope without an entrance test. Even though other schools have to.

The idea with backfilling is that we don't want to create a system where if your 5th grade lottery number is bad, you have no hope for getting into a good school. What would the school system be like if every school allowed itself to do what BASIS is doing? Do we want to live like that? BASIS is free-riding on other schools' willingness to handle the tougher kids and do the hardest educational work. But feel free to pat yourself on the back for those great test scores!

Your response is all over the map and internally inconsistent. At one point you ask, what would it be like if every school stopped social promotion and required kids to actual master material before moving to the next grade - PERISH THE THOUGHT and clutching my pearls. You aren't even making the case you think you are. If BASIS was allowed to administer the test and put kids in appropriate grades they'd take backfills and then there would be hope of getting in after 5th - problem solved! Neighborhood schools have to take kids who enroll and are forced by DC policies to put them in their grade level by age, regardless of whet they actually know. And then DC makes it impossible to hold a kid back so they get moved along and graduate with a useless degree.

BASIS has higher standards than all other schools. I'm ok with that .

Because people don't want over-age kids in their classes! Do you want your 5th grader to be with 15 and 16 year olds who aren't doing well? Come on. Think about what you are saying. And because repeating grades doesn't actually solve anything. If the kid was going to learn the material in a regular classroom setting, they would have learned it the first time.

"Higher standards" my foot, they're just running off the kids who are harder to educate.

That's a red herring that frequently gets trotted out. And it is BS. First, it is unlikely that a kid would be 5 or 6 grade levels down. If they are there are serious issues that require heavy remediation that a traditional school cannot address is a traditional classroom setting. So if a 16 year old was at 5th grade level then for damn sure I hope we're not just putting kids in the same grade year after year.

Once a kid is 2 grades behind they have needs a traditional classroom cannot address.

So do tell, what does BASIS offer for such a student? Or is it just byeeeee, someone else's problem?

It is not byeeee. BASIS has a ton of supports in place. Every BASIS teacher has student hours once a week after school for 2 hours. Any kid can drop in and ask for help, supplements support or advice at will. The also do serious interventions. Your question tells me you know nothing about BASIS.

Also, if you repeat a grade and still can't hack it at BASIS then it is not a good fit for you. It needn't be. My kid has would bomb out of a technical HS. That's ok. Bad fit for them.

Maybe the supports aren't so great if kids are still failing out, hmmmmm? Sorry but a good school actually gets the job done for its more challenging students.

Everyone does not get a trophy at BASIS. Some kids will fail out because the rigor is beyond their cpability. Not every kids is an academic rock star. You don't do a kid any favors by forcing them to operate above their capability. All the intervention in the world won't get some kids to the standard. There are better fits for them.

Life is like that, too. We do performance reviews at work. You could argue that people on PIPs have bad managers who failed to get them to where they need to be. But ultimately it is on them to perform to the standard or find a job that is a better fit for their skills. And that is OK. It doesn't make them bad people. Just bad fits for the the job.

You seem not to understand the concept here. I bet you love the idea of "honors for all" at JR. Newsflash, the parents who want true honors classes don't want kids behind their advanced kids in their class. Same concept. Get it?

It just seems like if BASIS' supports aren't good enough to get children to pass grade level, then maybe BASIS isn't such a great school after all. Or maybe it isn't IDEA compliant.

I do not love "honors for all", I think it's BS, and I'm not a JR parent anyway. But JR has to take kids by address, regardless of their ability or disabilities, and doesn't get to just wash its hands of them when they don't want the humiliation and ineffectiveness of a socially inappropriate retention. JR doesn't get to say "to each their own, we're the school for the really smart kids only!" and not care what happens to the kids who fail out. DCPS has to manage a whole system, not just a set of isolated schools, and has to care about all the kids, not just the smart ones. Try it, you might find it feels good.

Is BASIS owned by a Chinese hedge fund or not?

Don't know, don't care. You are some sort of Socratic genius, huh?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I view ITS’s policy of not adding kids after Count Day much differently than any school that simply does not allow new students after initial grades. I agree both are bad in a public school— and charters ARE publics, even though they sometimes like to pretend they aren’t. But this ITS policy isn’t nearly as egregious to me. I get the rationale (it really can be tough on classrooms to add new students after the kids have finally settled in, as I know well as a DCPS parent). It’s a reality of school, but it’s tough on everyone.

But schools like BASIS or Latin refusing to backfill in subsequent years is really craven. Even private schools take kids mid-MS or mid-HS! A good school would not struggle to incorporate them. It really looks like an obvious grab for higher test scores. It’s gross. The ITS thing is annoying but doesn’t offend me in the same way.

We have been through this before, people. BASIS is unique in DC because it does not do social promotion. Kids don't have to leave, but they will be required to repeat a grade if they do not pass the comprehensive exam. No exceptions. BASIS wanted to accept kids after 5th. They do at other BASIS schools. But DCPCSB won't allow them to administer a test to put the kids in the proper grade level (without regard to age). It would make no sense to have a school that tells kids that are not meeting the standard they have to repeat a grade but let new kids enter into that higher grade even if they can't show mastery of the material.

You can disagree with whether BASIS should socially promote. But that's the argument/policy disagreement. "Backfilling" is a red herring to avoid talking about BASIS's social promotion policy.

Neighborhood schools have to take kids who are below grade. Even those who speak literally no English at all. They have to suck it up and deal with it as best they can. But wah, BASIS couldn't possibly cope without an entrance test. Even though other schools have to.

The idea with backfilling is that we don't want to create a system where if your 5th grade lottery number is bad, you have no hope for getting into a good school. What would the school system be like if every school allowed itself to do what BASIS is doing? Do we want to live like that? BASIS is free-riding on other schools' willingness to handle the tougher kids and do the hardest educational work. But feel free to pat yourself on the back for those great test scores!

Your response is all over the map and internally inconsistent. At one point you ask, what would it be like if every school stopped social promotion and required kids to actual master material before moving to the next grade - PERISH THE THOUGHT and clutching my pearls. You aren't even making the case you think you are. If BASIS was allowed to administer the test and put kids in appropriate grades they'd take backfills and then there would be hope of getting in after 5th - problem solved! Neighborhood schools have to take kids who enroll and are forced by DC policies to put them in their grade level by age, regardless of whet they actually know. And then DC makes it impossible to hold a kid back so they get moved along and graduate with a useless degree.

BASIS has higher standards than all other schools. I'm ok with that .

Because people don't want over-age kids in their classes! Do you want your 5th grader to be with 15 and 16 year olds who aren't doing well? Come on. Think about what you are saying. And because repeating grades doesn't actually solve anything. If the kid was going to learn the material in a regular classroom setting, they would have learned it the first time.

"Higher standards" my foot, they're just running off the kids who are harder to educate.

And because in a system without social promotion kids would simply drop out. They would grow up into uneducated adults. See, this is a school *system*. The goal isn't just to operate one school and pat yourself on the back for great test scores without any caring for the kids who start but don't finish. The idea is to educate the residents of the jurisdiction, thinking of *all of them* including those who drop out. And all schools should be good citizens of the school system and take a fair share of the more difficult educational work. If BASIS's attitude towards its strugging students is basically "f*ck'em", then yes, people are not going to think well of your school despite its cherry-picked test scores.

Two things:

1. The test scores aren't "cherry picked". We just have a ton of highly qualified kids who take the test. You seem not to understand what "cherry picked" means.
2. The vast majority of BASIS families don't care what you think. Too busy helping our kids with advanced work to worry about your jealousy.

The cherry picking is in creating a school that's poorly suited to serve any struggling student, and intentionally refusing social promotion because it's a way of getting rid of them. Yes, most of the kids do sit for the PARCC, the cherry picking happens before that.

I'm not at all jealous, my kids are doing great, thanks.

That's not "cherry picking" scores. Again, you don't understand what the term means. Everyone there takes the test and the published scores are for all kids. The kids who repeat also take the PARCC test and their scores count ,too.

A world gone mad where you speak about "intentionally refusing social promotion" like that's something to be embarrassed about.

If you are so happy and not at all jealous, why are you more interested and invested in what is happening at BASIS than most BASIS families? The lady doth protest too much, methinks.

Because I think it's selfish and poor citizenship to operate a school that shirks the harder work of educating the students of DC. It's in really poor taste to talk about how great your school is, how happy you are with it, when it comes at this kind of cost to others. I don't believe for a second that BASIS is actually against social promotion for principled reasons. I think they know perfectly well it's a way of getting rid of the kids who struggle.

Try to put yourself in the shoes of a parent of a child who struggled academically. Would you want them to repeat and repeat and repeat, growing older and more embarrassed and friendless? Or would you want them to have services and an age-appropriate setting? If BASIS didn't work out, would you want them to be shut out of other schools because it's 5th grade or never?

Try to think about the functioning of the school system as a whole, including for kids who aren't academically gifted or who don't speak good English yet. Try to think beyond your own family.

DCPS is hostile to the idea of providing an appropriate education to kids who are above grade level. There are many schools where if you are not academically gifted, you will have a peer group and a level of instruction which are appropriate for you. For advanced kids, it's bleak outside of a few schools where you have to be lucky or rich to get to attend. Having one charter that's committed to this group is a good thing. It would be better if they could test kids as part of the admissions process and suggest that the school won't be a good fit. But obviously they're not allowed to do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I view ITS’s policy of not adding kids after Count Day much differently than any school that simply does not allow new students after initial grades. I agree both are bad in a public school— and charters ARE publics, even though they sometimes like to pretend they aren’t. But this ITS policy isn’t nearly as egregious to me. I get the rationale (it really can be tough on classrooms to add new students after the kids have finally settled in, as I know well as a DCPS parent). It’s a reality of school, but it’s tough on everyone.

But schools like BASIS or Latin refusing to backfill in subsequent years is really craven. Even private schools take kids mid-MS or mid-HS! A good school would not struggle to incorporate them. It really looks like an obvious grab for higher test scores. It’s gross. The ITS thing is annoying but doesn’t offend me in the same way.

We have been through this before, people. BASIS is unique in DC because it does not do social promotion. Kids don't have to leave, but they will be required to repeat a grade if they do not pass the comprehensive exam. No exceptions. BASIS wanted to accept kids after 5th. They do at other BASIS schools. But DCPCSB won't allow them to administer a test to put the kids in the proper grade level (without regard to age). It would make no sense to have a school that tells kids that are not meeting the standard they have to repeat a grade but let new kids enter into that higher grade even if they can't show mastery of the material.

You can disagree with whether BASIS should socially promote. But that's the argument/policy disagreement. "Backfilling" is a red herring to avoid talking about BASIS's social promotion policy.

Neighborhood schools have to take kids who are below grade. Even those who speak literally no English at all. They have to suck it up and deal with it as best they can. But wah, BASIS couldn't possibly cope without an entrance test. Even though other schools have to.

The idea with backfilling is that we don't want to create a system where if your 5th grade lottery number is bad, you have no hope for getting into a good school. What would the school system be like if every school allowed itself to do what BASIS is doing? Do we want to live like that? BASIS is free-riding on other schools' willingness to handle the tougher kids and do the hardest educational work. But feel free to pat yourself on the back for those great test scores!

Your response is all over the map and internally inconsistent. At one point you ask, what would it be like if every school stopped social promotion and required kids to actual master material before moving to the next grade - PERISH THE THOUGHT and clutching my pearls. You aren't even making the case you think you are. If BASIS was allowed to administer the test and put kids in appropriate grades they'd take backfills and then there would be hope of getting in after 5th - problem solved! Neighborhood schools have to take kids who enroll and are forced by DC policies to put them in their grade level by age, regardless of whet they actually know. And then DC makes it impossible to hold a kid back so they get moved along and graduate with a useless degree.

BASIS has higher standards than all other schools. I'm ok with that .

Because people don't want over-age kids in their classes! Do you want your 5th grader to be with 15 and 16 year olds who aren't doing well? Come on. Think about what you are saying. And because repeating grades doesn't actually solve anything. If the kid was going to learn the material in a regular classroom setting, they would have learned it the first time.

"Higher standards" my foot, they're just running off the kids who are harder to educate.

That's a red herring that frequently gets trotted out. And it is BS. First, it is unlikely that a kid would be 5 or 6 grade levels down. If they are there are serious issues that require heavy remediation that a traditional school cannot address is a traditional classroom setting. So if a 16 year old was at 5th grade level then for damn sure I hope we're not just putting kids in the same grade year after year.

Once a kid is 2 grades behind they have needs a traditional classroom cannot address.

So do tell, what does BASIS offer for such a student? Or is it just byeeeee, someone else's problem?

It is not byeeee. BASIS has a ton of supports in place. Every BASIS teacher has student hours once a week after school for 2 hours. Any kid can drop in and ask for help, supplements support or advice at will. The also do serious interventions. Your question tells me you know nothing about BASIS.

Also, if you repeat a grade and still can't hack it at BASIS then it is not a good fit for you. It needn't be. My kid has would bomb out of a technical HS. That's ok. Bad fit for them.

Maybe the supports aren't so great if kids are still failing out, hmmmmm? Sorry but a good school actually gets the job done for its more challenging students.

Everyone does not get a trophy at BASIS. Some kids will fail out because the rigor is beyond their cpability. Not every kids is an academic rock star. You don't do a kid any favors by forcing them to operate above their capability. All the intervention in the world won't get some kids to the standard. There are better fits for them.

Life is like that, too. We do performance reviews at work. You could argue that people on PIPs have bad managers who failed to get them to where they need to be. But ultimately it is on them to perform to the standard or find a job that is a better fit for their skills. And that is OK. It doesn't make them bad people. Just bad fits for the the job.

You seem not to understand the concept here. I bet you love the idea of "honors for all" at JR. Newsflash, the parents who want true honors classes don't want kids behind their advanced kids in their class. Same concept. Get it?

It just seems like if BASIS' supports aren't good enough to get children to pass grade level, then maybe BASIS isn't such a great school after all. Or maybe it isn't IDEA compliant.

I do not love "honors for all", I think it's BS, and I'm not a JR parent anyway. But JR has to take kids by address, regardless of their ability or disabilities, and doesn't get to just wash its hands of them when they don't want the humiliation and ineffectiveness of a socially inappropriate retention. JR doesn't get to say "to each their own, we're the school for the really smart kids only!" and not care what happens to the kids who fail out. DCPS has to manage a whole system, not just a set of isolated schools, and has to care about all the kids, not just the smart ones. Try it, you might find it feels good.

Is BASIS owned by a Chinese hedge fund or not?

Don't know, don't care. You are some sort of Socratic genius, huh?

It's just kind of yucky to be asked to donate money to what's essentially a for-profit endeavor.