Yu Ying - Transferring to Yu Ying from another state

[Anonymous]

My son currently attends a 50/50 Mandarin immersion program in another state. My family is relocating to DC and we are interested in Yu Ying. I spoke with the school secretary as to the possibility of testing a current 2nd grade student to enter the 3rd grade in the fall of 2014, an was referred to the principal. I emailed the principal twice last week, but I have yet to receive a response.

Has anyone had any experience, positive or negative, earning a spot past 2nd grade?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son currently attends a 50/50 Mandarin immersion program in another state. My family is relocating to DC and we are interested in Yu Ying. I spoke with the school secretary as to the possibility of testing a current 2nd grade student to enter the 3rd grade in the fall of 2014, an was referred to the principal. I emailed the principal twice last week, but I have yet to receive a response.

Has anyone had any experience, positive or negative, earning a spot past 2nd grade?

What you describe is illegal under DC law.

If you're willing to live in the suburbs, I believe the Montgomery County Mandarin Immersion magnet allows student with proficiency to join the upper grades. I know families that have done this for other languages, so I'm guessing it's the same for Mandarin.

[Anonymous]

Yu Ying doesn't accept kids past 2nd grade because the law does not allow them to be selective in admissions and it would be too hard for kids to catch up after that point. All DC charters are bound by this law. Yu Ying's hands are tied. They can't admit anyone new in third grade or above. If they allowed it they would have to admit kids by strictly by lottery, so they don't.

I believe there are Mandarin immersion schools in both Potomoc (Montgomery County) and College Park (PG County).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son currently attends a 50/50 Mandarin immersion program in another state. My family is relocating to DC and we are interested in Yu Ying. I spoke with the school secretary as to the possibility of testing a current 2nd grade student to enter the 3rd grade in the fall of 2014, an was referred to the principal. I emailed the principal twice last week, but I have yet to receive a response.

Has anyone had any experience, positive or negative, earning a spot past 2nd grade?

What you describe is illegal under DC law.

If you're willing to live in the suburbs, I believe the Montgomery County Mandarin Immersion magnet allows student with proficiency to join the upper grades. I know families that have done this for other languages, so I'm guessing it's the same for Mandarin.

Thank you for your response. Do you know why this law was enacted?

[Anonymous]

Charters are all by lottery.

I believe Yu Yung only accepts children through 2nd grade so your child would not be eligible

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yu Ying doesn't accept kids past 2nd grade because the law does not allow them to be selective in admissions and it would be too hard for kids to catch up after that point. All DC charters are bound by this law. Yu Ying's hands are tied. They can't admit anyone new in third grade or above. If they allowed it they would have to admit kids by strictly by lottery, so they don't.

I believe there are Mandarin immersion schools in both Potomoc (Montgomery County) and College Park (PG County).

I contacted both Potomac and College Park, but I don't know if I want to commit to suburban living. I can understand that selective admissions are unlawful, but it should be possible to test for competency, then apply to the lottery for spaces that may come available due to attrition, if the student's level of learning is equal to or greater than that of grade level peers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son currently attends a 50/50 Mandarin immersion program in another state. My family is relocating to DC and we are interested in Yu Ying. I spoke with the school secretary as to the possibility of testing a current 2nd grade student to enter the 3rd grade in the fall of 2014, an was referred to the principal. I emailed the principal twice last week, but I have yet to receive a response.

Has anyone had any experience, positive or negative, earning a spot past 2nd grade?

What you describe is illegal under DC law.

If you're willing to live in the suburbs, I believe the Montgomery County Mandarin Immersion magnet allows student with proficiency to join the upper grades. I know families that have done this for other languages, so I'm guessing it's the same for Mandarin.

Thank you for your response. Do you know why this law was enacted?

Because one of the primary purposes of the DC charter system is to create opportunities for the most vulnerable kids, those who are least well served. Allowing schools to have admissions tests of any kind siphons off resources, and further concentrates underserved kids in the DCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yu Ying doesn't accept kids past 2nd grade because the law does not allow them to be selective in admissions and it would be too hard for kids to catch up after that point. All DC charters are bound by this law. Yu Ying's hands are tied. They can't admit anyone new in third grade or above. If they allowed it they would have to admit kids by strictly by lottery, so they don't.

I believe there are Mandarin immersion schools in both Potomoc (Montgomery County) and College Park (PG County).

I contacted both Potomac and College Park, but I don't know if I want to commit to suburban living. I can understand that selective admissions are unlawful, but it should be possible to test for competency, then apply to the lottery for spaces that may come available due to attrition, if the student's level of learning is equal to or greater than that of grade level peers.

How would that not be selective admission?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yu Ying doesn't accept kids past 2nd grade because the law does not allow them to be selective in admissions and it would be too hard for kids to catch up after that point. All DC charters are bound by this law. Yu Ying's hands are tied. They can't admit anyone new in third grade or above. If they allowed it they would have to admit kids by strictly by lottery, so they don't.

I believe there are Mandarin immersion schools in both Potomoc (Montgomery County) and College Park (PG County).

I contacted both Potomac and College Park, but I don't know if I want to commit to suburban living. I can understand that selective admissions are unlawful, but it should be possible to test for competency, then apply to the lottery for spaces that may come available due to attrition, if the student's level of learning is equal to or greater than that of grade level peers.

Federal law. Chinese or any language proficiency cannot be screened for public lottery admissions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yu Ying doesn't accept kids past 2nd grade because the law does not allow them to be selective in admissions and it would be too hard for kids to catch up after that point. All DC charters are bound by this law. Yu Ying's hands are tied. They can't admit anyone new in third grade or above. If they allowed it they would have to admit kids by strictly by lottery, so they don't.

I believe there are Mandarin immersion schools in both Potomoc (Montgomery County) and College Park (PG County).

I contacted both Potomac and College Park, but I don't know if I want to commit to suburban living. I can understand that selective admissions are unlawful, but it should be possible to test for competency, then apply to the lottery for spaces that may come available due to attrition, if the student's level of learning is equal to or greater than that of grade level peers.

How would that not be selective admission?

The Selective admissions process generally focuses on the best applicants. A lottery of on grade level students with a sufficient command of the target language is not selective. Filling spots that are loss due to attrition would prevent the schools from losing enrollment based funding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yu Ying doesn't accept kids past 2nd grade because the law does not allow them to be selective in admissions and it would be too hard for kids to catch up after that point. All DC charters are bound by this law. Yu Ying's hands are tied. They can't admit anyone new in third grade or above. If they allowed it they would have to admit kids by strictly by lottery, so they don't.

I believe there are Mandarin immersion schools in both Potomoc (Montgomery County) and College Park (PG County).

I contacted both Potomac and College Park, but I don't know if I want to commit to suburban living. I can understand that selective admissions are unlawful, but it should be possible to test for competency, then apply to the lottery for spaces that may come available due to attrition, if the student's level of learning is equal to or greater than that of grade level peers.

Federal law. Chinese or any language proficiency cannot be screened for public lottery admissions.

I don't think that the law is federal. Other public/magnet/ charter schools in the DC area and nationwide allow students with language proficiency to test into the program or to test into the lottery wait pool.

At least I now know that I can remove Yu Ying from our list of prospective schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yu Ying doesn't accept kids past 2nd grade because the law does not allow them to be selective in admissions and it would be too hard for kids to catch up after that point. All DC charters are bound by this law. Yu Ying's hands are tied. They can't admit anyone new in third grade or above. If they allowed it they would have to admit kids by strictly by lottery, so they don't.

I believe there are Mandarin immersion schools in both Potomoc (Montgomery County) and College Park (PG County).

I contacted both Potomac and College Park, but I don't know if I want to commit to suburban living. I can understand that selective admissions are unlawful, but it should be possible to test for competency, then apply to the lottery for spaces that may come available due to attrition, if the student's level of learning is equal to or greater than that of grade level peers.

Federal law. Chinese or any language proficiency cannot be screened for public lottery admissions.

I don't think that the law is federal. Other public/magnet/ charter schools in the DC area and nationwide allow students with language proficiency to test into the program or to test into the lottery wait pool.

At least I now know that I can remove Yu Ying from our list of prospective schools.

Interesting OP, which DC public charter schools allow students to test language proficiency prior to admission? Please name them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yu Ying doesn't accept kids past 2nd grade because the law does not allow them to be selective in admissions and it would be too hard for kids to catch up after that point. All DC charters are bound by this law. Yu Ying's hands are tied. They can't admit anyone new in third grade or above. If they allowed it they would have to admit kids by strictly by lottery, so they don't.

I believe there are Mandarin immersion schools in both Potomoc (Montgomery County) and College Park (PG County).

I contacted both Potomac and College Park, but I don't know if I want to commit to suburban living. I can understand that selective admissions are unlawful, but it should be possible to test for competency, then apply to the lottery for spaces that may come available due to attrition, if the student's level of learning is equal to or greater than that of grade level peers.

Federal law. Chinese or any language proficiency cannot be screened for public lottery admissions.

I don't think that the law is federal. Other public/magnet/ charter schools in the DC area and nationwide allow students with language proficiency to test into the program or to test into the lottery wait pool.

At least I now know that I can remove Yu Ying from our list of prospective schools.

Interesting OP, which DC public charter schools allow students to test language proficiency prior to admission? Please name them.

I said DC area. Baltimore International Academy, Potomac and College Park. BIA will test before moving to the area, but Potomac and College Park both require residency before testing.

[Anonymous]

You are not a current resident of DC - and you are complaining about not being able to test into Yu Ying?

Do you know how many people (who have paid taxes for years) have waited outside to get a spot at this desireable school - without success?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yu Ying doesn't accept kids past 2nd grade because the law does not allow them to be selective in admissions and it would be too hard for kids to catch up after that point. All DC charters are bound by this law. Yu Ying's hands are tied. They can't admit anyone new in third grade or above. If they allowed it they would have to admit kids by strictly by lottery, so they don't.

I believe there are Mandarin immersion schools in both Potomoc (Montgomery County) and College Park (PG County).

I contacted both Potomac and College Park, but I don't know if I want to commit to suburban living. I can understand that selective admissions are unlawful, but it should be possible to test for competency, then apply to the lottery for spaces that may come available due to attrition, if the student's level of learning is equal to or greater than that of grade level peers.

Federal law. Chinese or any language proficiency cannot be screened for public lottery admissions.

I don't think that the law is federal. Other public/magnet/ charter schools in the DC area and nationwide allow students with language proficiency to test into the program or to test into the lottery wait pool.

At least I now know that I can remove Yu Ying from our list of prospective schools.

OP, a few things before moving to the area. Baltimore isn't DC-area. In addition DC isn't a state so you need to be aware of "home rule" and the issues that DC has in passing their own laws. MD charters have their own state laws. DC charters were created by an act of Congress. Like the laws for VA charters vary from MD charters. DC charted have their own laws which were created at the federal level.