BASIS Elementary Expansion - What's the latest?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It will ruin BASIS. I hope it doesn’t pass.

Dumb take.

There are 59 BASIS schools around the world. In the US, many of the BASIS schools are ranked among the top in the country.

Of those 59 schools, only ONE does not have K-4. That is BASIS DC.

Plus, BASIS DC middle school is already ranked #1 among public schools in DC and is ranked the #1 charter school.

So, no, I don't think adding a K-4 option will "ruin" BASIS DC.

No problem with BASIS opening k-4. But PRE-K?? Got a lot of questions about how they intend to run that.

Good news then. They aren't! Now you can worry about more important things like asteroids hitting earth or getting eaten by a killer whale.

This is not a DCUM fantasy. BASIS DC itself is out there saying preK.

https://bdcschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Minutes-5.25.23-Draft-for-posting.pdf

[Anonymous]

New to this thread. Without the vitriol (bc I don’t think I can stomach going back through this thread), I ask:

- what’s the status of a Basis elementary expansion?
- when would it be decided?
- if approved, when would it open?

Hoping someone logical and helpful can get to this question first before this further spirals into a “basis is a gulag” or a “basis is a segregation academy” thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:New to this thread. Without the vitriol (bc I don’t think I can stomach going back through this thread), I ask:

- what’s the status of a Basis elementary expansion?
- when would it be decided?
- if approved, when would it open?

Hoping someone logical and helpful can get to this question first before this further spirals into a “basis is a gulag” or a “basis is a segregation academy” thread.

The status is unknown. They looked at a building and they found it didn't meet their needs. They are going to apply to open an elementary school and we don't know if it will be approved by the charter board. It would be decided at a charter board meeting that is typically sometime in late winter or early spring. It would open August 2024 if approved. Or not, if they can't find a building they may have to delay a year.

[Anonymous]

Thank you very much for your direct response. I appreciate it!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you very much for your direct response. I appreciate it!!

You're welcome. And do try to understand, a lot of what you see as "vitriol" is at the same time, commentary on whether or not the expansion will be approved. BASIS has some very real issues that even its proponents acknowledge, as well as some issues that may or may not be a problem in the eyes of the charter board. But it's really not clear that this will be approved. Applications are rejected all the time, and there are so many elementary schools in the system already, that sets the bar kinda high for any expansion by anyone.

[Anonymous]

I appreciate this. For context, I’m a DCPS high school teacher who has taught many students who “chose to leave” Basis. These kids did well in DCPS (and I have my own beliefs on why that is) on their report cards, and they’ve shared their negative experiences about Basis. It’s not a school for everyone. And based on a couple teacher friends who used to teach there, the concerns are justified.

Yet here I am: desperate parent. We’re hoping our kid will be a motivated enough student to take on the challenges and thrive at Basis, if given the opportunity. After teaching 12 years in DCPS in middle and high school, I can say wholeheartedly that the bar is on the floor and I wouldn’t allow my own kid in a DCPS school. Haha. No.

It’s either luck in the lottery, making serious lifestyle sacrifices to do private, or moving. Leaving our house and friends, even for a suburb 10 mins away, would be painful.

Again, I really appreciate the direct response! It rarely happens here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I appreciate this. For context, I’m a DCPS high school teacher who has taught many students who “chose to leave” Basis. These kids did well in DCPS (and I have my own beliefs on why that is) on their report cards, and they’ve shared their negative experiences about Basis. It’s not a school for everyone. And based on a couple teacher friends who used to teach there, the concerns are justified.

Yet here I am: desperate parent. We’re hoping our kid will be a motivated enough student to take on the challenges and thrive at Basis, if given the opportunity. After teaching 12 years in DCPS in middle and high school, I can say wholeheartedly that the bar is on the floor and I wouldn’t allow my own kid in a DCPS school. Haha. No.

It’s either luck in the lottery, making serious lifestyle sacrifices to do private, or moving. Leaving our house and friends, even for a suburb 10 mins away, would be painful.

Again, I really appreciate the direct response! It rarely happens here.

Well, FWIW, reading between the lines of their announcement about the building it seems like they want to start their elementary school with just a few grade levels and build it up over time. So maybe your kid wouldn't actually be affected.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I appreciate this. For context, I’m a DCPS high school teacher who has taught many students who “chose to leave” Basis. These kids did well in DCPS (and I have my own beliefs on why that is) on their report cards, and they’ve shared their negative experiences about Basis. It’s not a school for everyone. And based on a couple teacher friends who used to teach there, the concerns are justified.

Yet here I am: desperate parent. We’re hoping our kid will be a motivated enough student to take on the challenges and thrive at Basis, if given the opportunity. After teaching 12 years in DCPS in middle and high school, I can say wholeheartedly that the bar is on the floor and I wouldn’t allow my own kid in a DCPS school. Haha. No.

It’s either luck in the lottery, making serious lifestyle sacrifices to do private, or moving. Leaving our house and friends, even for a suburb 10 mins away, would be painful.

Again, I really appreciate the direct response! It rarely happens here.

This might be the most obnoxious post I’ve ever seen on DCUM. People give you a straight answer on Basis, with zero commentary, and you respond by accusing every parent of every child in any DCPS MS or HS — even the ones who have gone Deal to Walls to Yale — of child abuse. And what is the supposedly horrible thing we have done to our children? Allow you to be their teacher. What is wrong with you?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I appreciate this. For context, I’m a DCPS high school teacher who has taught many students who “chose to leave” Basis. These kids did well in DCPS (and I have my own beliefs on why that is) on their report cards, and they’ve shared their negative experiences about Basis. It’s not a school for everyone. And based on a couple teacher friends who used to teach there, the concerns are justified.

Yet here I am: desperate parent. We’re hoping our kid will be a motivated enough student to take on the challenges and thrive at Basis, if given the opportunity. After teaching 12 years in DCPS in middle and high school, I can say wholeheartedly that the bar is on the floor and I wouldn’t allow my own kid in a DCPS school. Haha. No.

It’s either luck in the lottery, making serious lifestyle sacrifices to do private, or moving. Leaving our house and friends, even for a suburb 10 mins away, would be painful.

Again, I really appreciate the direct response! It rarely happens here.

This might be the most obnoxious post I’ve ever seen on DCUM. People give you a straight answer on Basis, with zero commentary, and you respond by accusing every parent of every child in any DCPS MS or HS — even the ones who have gone Deal to Walls to Yale — of child abuse. And what is the supposedly horrible thing we have done to our children? Allow you to be their teacher. What is wrong with you?!

I’ll stay employed and take some of the DCPS scandals I’ve seen— the ones we’ve all seen on the news and the ones we haven’t— to the grave with me.

Happy you were IB for Deal though, and give my best to your kid at Yale. Xo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I appreciate this. For context, I’m a DCPS high school teacher who has taught many students who “chose to leave” Basis. These kids did well in DCPS (and I have my own beliefs on why that is) on their report cards, and they’ve shared their negative experiences about Basis. It’s not a school for everyone. And based on a couple teacher friends who used to teach there, the concerns are justified.

Yet here I am: desperate parent. We’re hoping our kid will be a motivated enough student to take on the challenges and thrive at Basis, if given the opportunity. After teaching 12 years in DCPS in middle and high school, I can say wholeheartedly that the bar is on the floor and I wouldn’t allow my own kid in a DCPS school. Haha. No.

It’s either luck in the lottery, making serious lifestyle sacrifices to do private, or moving. Leaving our house and friends, even for a suburb 10 mins away, would be painful.

Again, I really appreciate the direct response! It rarely happens here.

This might be the most obnoxious post I’ve ever seen on DCUM. People give you a straight answer on Basis, with zero commentary, and you respond by accusing every parent of every child in any DCPS MS or HS — even the ones who have gone Deal to Walls to Yale — of child abuse. And what is the supposedly horrible thing we have done to our children? Allow you to be their teacher. What is wrong with you?!

I’ll stay employed and take some of the DCPS scandals I’ve seen— the ones we’ve all seen on the news and the ones we haven’t— to the grave with me.

Happy you were IB for Deal though, and give my best to your kid at Yale. Xo.

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Boola boola.