BASIS under federal investigation

[Anonymous]

So in addition to the charter school board, now the Dept of Ed Office of Civil Rights is looking into whether students with special education needs were discriminated against.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/officials-scrutinize-special-education-services-at-basis-dc/2013/08/04/adb16fe2-f880-11e2-afc1-c850c6ee5af8_story.html?hpid=z2

[Anonymous]

Glad to see that they are being given no leeway as a new charter and being made to clean up their act ASAP.

[Anonymous]

Ouch. The parent quote is very sad. Months ago when there was a parent here saying how their child didn't even need their IEP within months of starting Basis I was concerned. I have one with an IEP in 7th grade. It is really hard at that age and he is NOT a candidate for Basis but they legally can't just not implement IEPs because it doesn't fit into their model.

I do think they are needed here in DC. I really hope they figure it out.

[Anonymous]

What about the other charters?
We transferred from another "well-regarded" charter.
My child had an IEP but nothing was implemented and two whole years were completely wasted.
How come no one investigated that?
At BASIS, he learned more in a few weeks than the past two years.
There were bumps and difficulties, and we had to change his English teacher, but overall it was a much better experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about the other charters?
We transferred from another "well-regarded" charter.
My child had an IEP but nothing was implemented and two whole years were completely wasted.
How come no one investigated that?
At BASIS, he learned more in a few weeks than the past two years.
There were bumps and difficulties, and we had to change his English teacher, but overall it was a much better experience.

Sadly, you are unique. Their chartering authority (who will typically have their back) and now the Feds have found a bigger problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ouch. The parent quote is very sad. Months ago when there was a parent here saying how their child didn't even need their IEP within months of starting Basis I was concerned. I have one with an IEP in 7th grade. It is really hard at that age and he is NOT a candidate for Basis but they legally can't just not implement IEPs because it doesn't fit into their model.

I do think they are needed here in DC. I really hope they figure it out.

I was one of the parents who chose not have IEP at BASIS with my child who needed one previously in another state. I as a parent made an informed decision prior to the school year about my kid based on consultation with my kid's doctors. My kid FYI soared at BASIS and made the honor roll and 90s club all year I know of others who chose the same and whose kids soared as well.

I am also sure that BASIS will do whatever it takes to make sure any issues are resolved. We are looking forward our second year at BASIS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Glad to see that they are being given no leeway as a new charter and being made to clean up their act ASAP.

Too bad DCPS is not being made to clean up their act as well. We all know how well DCPS serves special needs kids.

[Anonymous]

I was another parent who chose not have IEP at BASIS with my child who needed one previously (for many years). Like the previous parent, I made an informed decision prior to the school year about my kid and my kid soared at BASIS, We are looking forward our second year at BASIS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was another parent who chose not have IEP at BASIS with my child who needed one previously (for many years). Like the previous parent, I made an informed decision prior to the school year about my kid and my kid soared at BASIS, We are looking forward our second year at BASIS.

That's really swell. My guess, then, is that your child never really needed accommodations and modifications and services in the first place. Your comment says more about your kid and nothing about BASIS. Unfortunately, the kids who really did need services and accommodations at BASIS last year got the short end of the stick. They had an IEP and they actually needed it to be implemented.

[Anonymous]

Funny hoe DCPS has undeserved students to the level of being criminal and the Feds never came to "investigate". Business as usual.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Funny hoe DCPS has undeserved students to the level of being criminal and the Feds never came to "investigate". Business as usual.

DCPS has been the subject of a number of claas action suits and investigations. It has changed a lot aa a result, but still has a long way to go. It sounds like BASIS has violated student rights, the fact that DCPS does too is irrelevant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Funny hoe DCPS has undeserved students to the level of being criminal and the Feds never came to "investigate". Business as usual.

Maybe no one ever filed a complaint with the Feds.

[Anonymous]

I never trust anything Emma reports in WaPo on Charter Schools. She is anti-charter school 100% and her biasis is showing. Need better source before I believe this.

[Anonymous]

A federal investigation isn't a matter of belief, if the Feds say they are investigating, they are. Whether or not the charges have merit will be determined by the Feds. I would wait and see what happens.

BTW, several friends have been thrilled with DCPS services for their children who have needed testing and IEPs. Trying to get a test and results from our DC charter was entirely a pain, prolonged, difficult and a ton of work on our end. Friends in Arlington have to fight tooth and nail for their DC's IEP services and have heard mixed reports about MoCo PS's service. Just can't tell.

[Anonymous]

Funny - I am not a fan of the BASIS model since its focus on relentless accelerated curriculum emotionally damages too many of its students and its focus on standardized testing intellectually short-changes all its students. Nonetheless, I think as long as kids with IEPs can get their needs met somewhere within a public school system, I think it is silly and very counterproductive to expect an academically rigorous school like BASIS with slender funding to be a jack of all trades.