The truth about Basis School DC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder when this forum will have an honest conversation about Basis Charter School in DC. I’ve read through the threads, and I don’t see a lot of clear dialogue about exactly what’s happening over there. We have a 6th grader there who is drowning under the homework. Sometimes it takes him 3-4 hours a night. And he is not the only one. Anecdotally, other parents have expressed similar concerns.

The homework load is significantly heavier in 6th grade than it was in 5th. The school has not set clear parameters with the teachers around homework volume, and it seems they are not in conversation with one another. My opinion is that the teachers need better training on how to effectively teach this challenging curriculum. In theory, the school appealed to us since our son was academically unchallenged in his DCPS school. But now we are having second thoughts.

Any other Basis parents out there with concerns?

Former BASIS parent. You nailed it, PP. BASIS DC teachers come and go and teacher training is not the program's strong suit. The BASIS franchise is obviously putting far more time, effort and resources into training senior admins than teachers. Too much of the HW at BASIS is blah busy work. Curriculum wasn't sufficiently inspired or effectively implemented for us to justify the commute. We bailed for Deal, which isn't better overall but is a lot closer to home. Good luck.

We are no longer at the school but BASISDC has damaged and can still cause psychological and emotional damage to students. If you have a kid who does not have too many interests outside of the the school and absolutely needs to be in a very small setting, then stay at BASIS. However be careful and do not disregard the signs of abuse. Years ago, a former BASIS teacher said that one needs to have no scruples to be able to function at the school. He also correctly predicted terminations and promotions.

This pp appears to have suffered some kind of trauma somewhere.

US parent who knows students who have done the following extracurriculars while at BASIS: earned Eagle Scout, are on sailing team, rowed crew, performed with the Washington Opera, competed as a gymnast, played in a chamber group, won debates, won science awards, took ballet and modern dance, held outside after school jobs, competed on soccer and track teams, intern at the Smithsonian, synchronize skate, perform improv, sing with the DC Chorus and perform with DC Youth orchestra.

These great kids have LOTS of outside interests. There are many opportunities outside of school for a kid in Washington DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder when this forum will have an honest conversation about Basis Charter School in DC. I’ve read through the threads, and I don’t see a lot of clear dialogue about exactly what’s happening over there. We have a 6th grader there who is drowning under the homework. Sometimes it takes him 3-4 hours a night. And he is not the only one. Anecdotally, other parents have expressed similar concerns.

The homework load is significantly heavier in 6th grade than it was in 5th. The school has not set clear parameters with the teachers around homework volume, and it seems they are not in conversation with one another. My opinion is that the teachers need better training on how to effectively teach this challenging curriculum. In theory, the school appealed to us since our son was academically unchallenged in his DCPS school. But now we are having second thoughts.

Any other Basis parents out there with concerns?

Former BASIS parent. You nailed it, PP. BASIS DC teachers come and go and teacher training is not the program's strong suit. The BASIS franchise is obviously putting far more time, effort and resources into training senior admins than teachers. Too much of the HW at BASIS is blah busy work. Curriculum wasn't sufficiently inspired or effectively implemented for us to justify the commute. We bailed for Deal, which isn't better overall but is a lot closer to home. Good luck.

We are no longer at the school but BASISDC has damaged and can still cause psychological and emotional damage to students. If you have a kid who does not have too many interests outside of the the school and absolutely needs to be in a very small setting, then stay at BASIS. However be careful and do not disregard the signs of abuse. Years ago, a former BASIS teacher said that one needs to have no scruples to be able to function at the school. He also correctly predicted terminations and promotions.

This pp appears to have suffered some kind of trauma somewhere.

US parent who knows students who have done the following extracurriculars while at BASIS: earned Eagle Scout, are on sailing team, rowed crew, performed with the Washington Opera, competed as a gymnast, played in a chamber group, won debates, won science awards, took ballet and modern dance, held outside after school jobs, competed on soccer and track teams, intern at the Smithsonian, synchronize skate, perform improv, sing with the DC Chorus and perform with DC Youth orchestra.

These great kids have LOTS of outside interests. There are many opportunities outside of school for a kid in Washington DC.

That’s a little melodramatic. Basis isn’t right for every kid and doesn’t claim to be. Kids who respond well to organizational challenges and who are able to work quickly are likely to thrive there. Every Basis kid I know has extracurricular activities, including club sports.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do a little of my 7th grader's BASIS homework on a regular basis so they can do other things I'd much rather have him do, like chat with me about current events or watch the World Series. We "zoom review" his HW together over breakfast. If he's made a good faith effort to do all his work on a given evening but hasn't completed it by around 10 pm, I finish assignments for him so he can sleep. He's doing very well at BASIs without burning out.

I have a BA and BS from an elite college, and a PhD in a humanities subject. Maybe you need that background in a parent to polish off your BASIS HW all the time. The HW arrangement isn't good and needs reform.

I hope this is a troll, because otherwise you are simply ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Lots of homework =|= good school/curriculum

Lots of homework = lots of homework and crushing sadness

[Anonymous]

Yes, my son routinely had 3 hours of homework every night at BASIS the first few months of 6th, 7th and 8th grade. I think it is do to taking 9 classes. Teachers assign so much homework that he was barely studying for tests. It calmed down after November and then picked up again around pre-comps and comps. He’s very burned out and although there are aspects of the school he enjoys, it would be unhealthy to stay at this pace much longer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, my son routinely had 3 hours of homework every night at BASIS the first few months of 6th, 7th and 8th grade. I think it is do to taking 9 classes. Teachers assign so much homework that he was barely studying for tests. It calmed down after November and then picked up again around pre-comps and comps. He’s very burned out and although there are aspects of the school he enjoys, it would be unhealthy to stay at this pace much longer.

Please excuse the typos above

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, my son routinely had 3 hours of homework every night at BASIS the first few months of 6th, 7th and 8th grade. I think it is do to taking 9 classes. Teachers assign so much homework that he was barely studying for tests. It calmed down after November and then picked up again around pre-comps and comps. He’s very burned out and although there are aspects of the school he enjoys, it would be unhealthy to stay at this pace much longer.

No wonder the "troll" parent above does some of his kid's homework.

[Anonymous]

OP, I feel for you. As a veteran suburban middle school teacher and DCPS pre-k parent, quality is more. I’d have the group of concerned parents at BASIS advocate for the quality projects rather than a bunch of busy work. Here are some terms you can use: (1) You want project based learning that cuts across multiple disciplines from which multiple grades can be derived. (2) Socratic Seninar for English literature which allows for students to “dig deeper” and “closely read” to learn a set of skills such as critically thinking for shades of meaning, author’s purpose, context clues, etc.

In my experience many new teachers give more homework but the quality isn’t there. Many newer teachers also have kids teaching themselves the content with that much homework each night. Homework must not be considered "busy work" done at home but rather an essential learning pursuit that will increase in complexity as the student progresses through the grades.

Homework is tailored to students' needs and capacities and will not be unreasonable in amount. Parents can aid in their children's education by creating a positive homework environment, one that encourages the child to do his/her homework while maintaining a positive attitude. But you must advocate for your child if you find the school on the side of error.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder when this forum will have an honest conversation about Basis Charter School in DC. I’ve read through the threads, and I don’t see a lot of clear dialogue about exactly what’s happening over there. We have a 6th grader there who is drowning under the homework. Sometimes it takes him 3-4 hours a night. And he is not the only one. Anecdotally, other parents have expressed similar concerns.

The homework load is significantly heavier in 6th grade than it was in 5th. The school has not set clear parameters with the teachers around homework volume, and it seems they are not in conversation with one another. My opinion is that the teachers need better training on how to effectively teach this challenging curriculum. In theory, the school appealed to us since our son was academically unchallenged in his DCPS school. But now we are having second thoughts.

Any other Basis parents out there with concerns?

Former BASIS parent. You nailed it, PP. BASIS DC teachers come and go and teacher training is not the program's strong suit. The BASIS franchise is obviously putting far more time, effort and resources into training senior admins than teachers. Too much of the HW at BASIS is blah busy work. Curriculum wasn't sufficiently inspired or effectively implemented for us to justify the commute. We bailed for Deal, which isn't better overall but is a lot closer to home. Good luck.

Nice that you are trashing Deal, was the snarky comment necessary?

[Anonymous]

NP. That hardly connotes 'trashing' and the PP sounds pretty insufferable.

Why even engage?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP. That hardly connotes 'trashing' and the PP sounds pretty insufferable.

Why even engage?

Another NP. I actually found the reference to deal very helpful as a basis parent. Understanding why someone left and how green the pastures are is very relevant to perspective.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. That hardly connotes 'trashing' and the PP sounds pretty insufferable.

Why even engage?

Another NP. I actually found the reference to deal very helpful as a basis parent. Understanding why someone left and how green the pastures are is very relevant to perspective.

I know 2 in-boundary Deal families who bailed on BASIS for Deal over the summer, one after 6th grade the other after 7th. The parents reported that the commute to BASIS was no longer worth it. They talk about how their family life had gone too far downhill in the face of excessive homework and the hassle of arranging appealing extra curricular activities outside of school.

What they say they don't like about Deal is the crowding, an International Baccalaureate Middle Years curriculum that isn't supported at Wilson up the chain, and insufficient humanities challenge, because Deal only tracks for math. They complain about how at Deal, kids who can read at the high school level wind up in the same social studies and English classes as kids who read at an elementary school level. They miss the STEM challenge at BASIS, so find other avenues to pour it on, through school break camps, tutors etc.

These parents don't trash BASIS or Deal - they state the obvious, folks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP. That hardly connotes 'trashing' and the PP sounds pretty insufferable.

Why even engage?

Right, inveterate BASIS booster, everybody who points out BASIS' glaring flaws is pretty insufferable. You nailed it, hon.

[Anonymous]

8:14, that is very helpful. Thanks. And, about what I would have guessed. Deal would require a move for us, and Basis is a ten minute walk, so that factor is reversed for us. Thus leaving all the other issues to balance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. That hardly connotes 'trashing' and the PP sounds pretty insufferable.

Why even engage?

Another NP. I actually found the reference to deal very helpful as a basis parent. Understanding why someone left and how green the pastures are is very relevant to perspective.

I know 2 in-boundary Deal families who bailed on BASIS for Deal over the summer, one after 6th grade the other after 7th. The parents reported that the commute to BASIS was no longer worth it. They talk about how their family life had gone too far downhill in the face of excessive homework and the hassle of arranging appealing extra curricular activities outside of school.

What they say they don't like about Deal is the crowding, an International Baccalaureate Middle Years curriculum that isn't supported at Wilson up the chain, and insufficient humanities challenge, because Deal only tracks for math. They complain about how at Deal, kids who can read at the high school level wind up in the same social studies and English classes as kids who read at an elementary school level. They miss the STEM challenge at BASIS, so find other avenues to pour it on, through school break camps, tutors etc.

These parents don't trash BASIS or Deal - they state the obvious, folks.

This is so helpful for someone who is in-bounds for Deal but has a charter middle school option (not BASIS).