BASIS charter expansion is up for public comment

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If BASIS takes on new students at 5th grade, it’s better to make that year the first intro to middle school to get them acclimated. Students need that 5th grade bridge to be prepared for the higher rigors of true middle school at 6th grade, especially if they are new to BASIS and haven’t been attending the elementary school.

I don't think you need to disrupt all neighborhood schools on the Hill so 25 kids can get better acclimated. Sorry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am all for this, and if they do open I hope I can get my 3rd grader in from the lottery.

Genuine question to this group, especially those who oppose this. If I have an elementary-age kid who is very advanced, and is struggling with boredom at our DCPS school, where do you think I should send them?

I have asked around and don't get the sense that charter schools are any more advanced, so I haven't really bothered to go that route. It feels like maybe our only option is to move to a Wilson feeder, where it sounds like maybe the classes are a bit more advanced just due to the socio-economics of the students. But I'd love to not have to buy a $2 million house just to give my kid a little extra challenge in elementary school. A BASIS elementary feels like a great alternative, and it offers something new for EOTP families. Happy to be told I'm wrong though! Please do tell me what kind of options you'd recommend.

Honest response is to move to Fairfax. If you want to stay in DC and don't want to move to W3, then you need to supplement on your own.

Never happening. This is why I support a BASIS elementary school. I shouldn't have to move my entire family just to get a little extra challenge in upper elementary + middle schools. The city has great school options for early childhood through 2nd grade; and great high school options. There's a huge hole in the middle that needs to be filled. BASIS elementary would be just the start.

If your kid is legitimately advanced, it is not a trivial thing to provide them with an appropriate curriculum in a middle school where most kids are years behind grade level. And you could easily find yourself shut out of not just any middle school option with a significant group of at grade-level kids, but also shut out of the selective high schools because they're now a lottery among kids with good grades.

[Anonymous]

Something to note from the material. The current BASIS kids might get to enjoy the outdoor space, somehow!

"To effectively mitigate
challenges related to facilities, we are prioritizing locations that offer outdoor and
recreational spaces. This is important for K-4 students’ healthy development, but a
space that helps expand the overall offerings for current families doubles as resource
for the 5-12 campus."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Something to note from the material. The current BASIS kids might get to enjoy the outdoor space, somehow!

"To effectively mitigate
challenges related to facilities, we are prioritizing locations that offer outdoor and
recreational spaces. This is important for K-4 students’ healthy development, but a
space that helps expand the overall offerings for current families doubles as resource
for the 5-12 campus."

so weird that people are like, "oh maybe they'll allow children to have outdoor recess" and we still think this is a serious school to send our taxpayer dollars to

[Anonymous]

Many of our families raised concerns centered around our current facilities and its lack
of a gym, outdoor space, and classroom space for students. The concern was not just
centered in the current state of the building but their belief that our expansion efforts
would be better suited in finding a facility that is large enough for a K-12 or a location in
proximity for a shared recreational space.
This concern would be addressed with the expansion of the second location as we are
exploring facilities that can be used as a shared space between both campuses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am all for this, and if they do open I hope I can get my 3rd grader in from the lottery.

Genuine question to this group, especially those who oppose this. If I have an elementary-age kid who is very advanced, and is struggling with boredom at our DCPS school, where do you think I should send them?

I have asked around and don't get the sense that charter schools are any more advanced, so I haven't really bothered to go that route. It feels like maybe our only option is to move to a Wilson feeder, where it sounds like maybe the classes are a bit more advanced just due to the socio-economics of the students. But I'd love to not have to buy a $2 million house just to give my kid a little extra challenge in elementary school. A BASIS elementary feels like a great alternative, and it offers something new for EOTP families. Happy to be told I'm wrong though! Please do tell me what kind of options you'd recommend.

Honest response is to move to Fairfax. If you want to stay in DC and don't want to move to W3, then you need to supplement on your own.

Never happening. This is why I support a BASIS elementary school. I shouldn't have to move my entire family just to get a little extra challenge in upper elementary + middle schools. The city has great school options for early childhood through 2nd grade; and great high school options. There's a huge hole in the middle that needs to be filled. BASIS elementary would be just the start.

Do you hate your kid? If so, send them to BASIS elementary.

Signed,
Current BASIS parent

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Something to note from the material. The current BASIS kids might get to enjoy the outdoor space, somehow!

"To effectively mitigate
challenges related to facilities, we are prioritizing locations that offer outdoor and
recreational spaces. This is important for K-4 students’ healthy development, but a
space that helps expand the overall offerings for current families doubles as resource
for the 5-12 campus."

They are lying to try to get BASIS families to support this proposal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am all for this, and if they do open I hope I can get my 3rd grader in from the lottery.

Genuine question to this group, especially those who oppose this. If I have an elementary-age kid who is very advanced, and is struggling with boredom at our DCPS school, where do you think I should send them?

I have asked around and don't get the sense that charter schools are any more advanced, so I haven't really bothered to go that route. It feels like maybe our only option is to move to a Wilson feeder, where it sounds like maybe the classes are a bit more advanced just due to the socio-economics of the students. But I'd love to not have to buy a $2 million house just to give my kid a little extra challenge in elementary school. A BASIS elementary feels like a great alternative, and it offers something new for EOTP families. Happy to be told I'm wrong though! Please do tell me what kind of options you'd recommend.

Honest response is to move to Fairfax. If you want to stay in DC and don't want to move to W3, then you need to supplement on your own.

Never happening. This is why I support a BASIS elementary school. I shouldn't have to move my entire family just to get a little extra challenge in upper elementary + middle schools. The city has great school options for early childhood through 2nd grade; and great high school options. There's a huge hole in the middle that needs to be filled. BASIS elementary would be just the start.

Do you hate your kid? If so, send them to BASIS elementary.

Signed,
Current BASIS parent

Say more. are you looking for an out? Do you think it's fine for middle, but bad for elementary?

[Anonymous]

How do we submit comments on this proposal?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do we submit comments on this proposal?

Info is in the 5/9 document on the website linked in the OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am all for this, and if they do open I hope I can get my 3rd grader in from the lottery.

Genuine question to this group, especially those who oppose this. If I have an elementary-age kid who is very advanced, and is struggling with boredom at our DCPS school, where do you think I should send them?

I have asked around and don't get the sense that charter schools are any more advanced, so I haven't really bothered to go that route. It feels like maybe our only option is to move to a Wilson feeder, where it sounds like maybe the classes are a bit more advanced just due to the socio-economics of the students. But I'd love to not have to buy a $2 million house just to give my kid a little extra challenge in elementary school. A BASIS elementary feels like a great alternative, and it offers something new for EOTP families. Happy to be told I'm wrong though! Please do tell me what kind of options you'd recommend.

Honest response is to move to Fairfax. If you want to stay in DC and don't want to move to W3, then you need to supplement on your own.

Never happening. This is why I support a BASIS elementary school. I shouldn't have to move my entire family just to get a little extra challenge in upper elementary + middle schools. The city has great school options for early childhood through 2nd grade; and great high school options. There's a huge hole in the middle that needs to be filled. BASIS elementary would be just the start.

Do you hate your kid? If so, send them to BASIS elementary.

Signed,
Current BASIS parent

Say more. are you looking for an out? Do you think it's fine for middle, but bad for elementary?

BASIS hires extremely inexperienced teachers and doesn’t support them. There are a lot of classroom management problems, which leads to a lot of extreme forms of discipline and negativity. It’s absolutely developmentally inappropriate for the children they already have. I can’t imagine them in charge of younger children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am all for this, and if they do open I hope I can get my 3rd grader in from the lottery.

Genuine question to this group, especially those who oppose this. If I have an elementary-age kid who is very advanced, and is struggling with boredom at our DCPS school, where do you think I should send them?

I have asked around and don't get the sense that charter schools are any more advanced, so I haven't really bothered to go that route. It feels like maybe our only option is to move to a Wilson feeder, where it sounds like maybe the classes are a bit more advanced just due to the socio-economics of the students. But I'd love to not have to buy a $2 million house just to give my kid a little extra challenge in elementary school. A BASIS elementary feels like a great alternative, and it offers something new for EOTP families. Happy to be told I'm wrong though! Please do tell me what kind of options you'd recommend.

Honest response is to move to Fairfax. If you want to stay in DC and don't want to move to W3, then you need to supplement on your own.

Never happening. This is why I support a BASIS elementary school. I shouldn't have to move my entire family just to get a little extra challenge in upper elementary + middle schools. The city has great school options for early childhood through 2nd grade; and great high school options. There's a huge hole in the middle that needs to be filled. BASIS elementary would be just the start.

Do you hate your kid? If so, send them to BASIS elementary.

Signed,
Current BASIS parent

Say more. are you looking for an out? Do you think it's fine for middle, but bad for elementary?

BASIS hires extremely inexperienced teachers and doesn’t support them. There are a lot of classroom management problems, which leads to a lot of extreme forms of discipline and negativity. It’s absolutely developmentally inappropriate for the children they already have. I can’t imagine them in charge of younger children.

Are you pulling out your kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am all for this, and if they do open I hope I can get my 3rd grader in from the lottery.

Genuine question to this group, especially those who oppose this. If I have an elementary-age kid who is very advanced, and is struggling with boredom at our DCPS school, where do you think I should send them?

I have asked around and don't get the sense that charter schools are any more advanced, so I haven't really bothered to go that route. It feels like maybe our only option is to move to a Wilson feeder, where it sounds like maybe the classes are a bit more advanced just due to the socio-economics of the students. But I'd love to not have to buy a $2 million house just to give my kid a little extra challenge in elementary school. A BASIS elementary feels like a great alternative, and it offers something new for EOTP families. Happy to be told I'm wrong though! Please do tell me what kind of options you'd recommend.

Honest response is to move to Fairfax. If you want to stay in DC and don't want to move to W3, then you need to supplement on your own.

Never happening. This is why I support a BASIS elementary school. I shouldn't have to move my entire family just to get a little extra challenge in upper elementary + middle schools. The city has great school options for early childhood through 2nd grade; and great high school options. There's a huge hole in the middle that needs to be filled. BASIS elementary would be just the start.

Do you hate your kid? If so, send them to BASIS elementary.

Signed,
Current BASIS parent

Say more. are you looking for an out? Do you think it's fine for middle, but bad for elementary?

BASIS hires extremely inexperienced teachers and doesn’t support them. There are a lot of classroom management problems, which leads to a lot of extreme forms of discipline and negativity. It’s absolutely developmentally inappropriate for the children they already have. I can’t imagine them in charge of younger children.

This is the result of for-profit education. The ultimate goal is to make a profit—it requires maintaining a minimum level of educational standards to keep the charter status and keep those taxpayer dollars rolling, but that's a low bar to clear... and once cleared, anything goes -- no recess, teachers chosen for their ability to work for less (there are talented ones, but they leave quickly!)...

at the end of the day, the cost of educating your child must be lower than the taxpayer dollars they reap. What a weird way to educate your kids.

But BASIS isn't the only for-profit, but what they've done particularly skillfully is spin their dismal numbers and facilities... The kids don't need recess or sports or extracurriculars because they're so "challenged" and "engaged"! They brag about the insane levels of attrition—something like 2/3 of the kids who are there in sixth grade won't make it to graduation!!-- as some kind of badge of honor, like they're Navy Seals or something, proudly washing out the trash and keeping only the best, when, in fact, they are supposed to be a public education institution.

It's insane.

[Anonymous]

Wait so... they hired a consultant. Who figured out that their current population is wealthy and well-educated. Types include "Picture Perfect Families", "Kids and Cabernet", and "Couples With Clout". And therefore recommended a Dupont Circle location. Wow guys. Genius plan. So glad you spent your money on that advice. And I'm sure you didn't mean for people to laugh at you.

[Anonymous]

Another interesting fact:

Depending on facilities, there is
some chance of moving the 5 th
grade to the new facility, which
would allow us to INCREASE
seat offerings for the “5 –12”
campus as a whole