Emma Brown in Washington Post -- Limiting Charter Schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCPS didn't meet the needs of the high achievers, the G&T, the motivated, et cetera. So now that's a set of needs they no longer need to think about, because most of their schools don't have to deal with it, as they've lost those students to the charters. Instead, they could narrow down and focus on the bad behavior and other issues in DCPS. But, they aren't. Frankly, I don't think DCPS really focuses at all on what's going on in their student body, or what kinds of needs they really need to be focusing on, i.e. the drug problems, the unmotivated, the behavior problems, the special needs. Their focus, by default, keeps getting narrower and narrower as various groups of students are stripped away, yet DCPS can't even seem to manage to meet the needs of that ever-narrowing group, either.

JKLM and Brent do pretty well with high achievers because their 6-figure PTAs and spunky principals see to it - at least DCPS has the good sense to largely stay out of their way. If only DCPS and the pols had the guts and vision to add much needed wings to the buildings of in-demand DCPS schools. Trailers and temporary buildings (more and more as time goes on) on the grounds of Murch and Lafayette for more than a decade is shameful. The boundary review and revision won't change anything beyond motivating more Upper NW parents to move to MoCo and Fairfax, and perhaps a few in SE around Brent.

Ah yes, the multitudes in Upper NW who would leave their JKLM and move IB for Brent, not least because of their desire to enroll in Stuart Hobson over Deal.

If I had a nickel for every one of those, I still wouldn't be able to buy a penny gumball.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Charter to charter doesn't happen unless it's an "even exchange" and I'm not sure how a charter would even do this.

As I understand it, charter funding is based on children in seats at a given date in October. After this, individual schools have no motivation to let anyone new in should space open up. If the child moves out, however, they keep the funding and have an empty space.

I can't speak for other schools, but this is not true at Bridges. If there are open seats (even mid-year, say, because of a family moving), the Director will fill them. Even well after count day.

Not true at BASIS either. They are happy to take a kid after count day with the expectation that he/she will stay until graduation. After all, that kid brings somewhere from 6 to 8 years of funding. Long-term viability is more important that short-term profiteering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Charter schools are the nail salons of education. Everywhere you look, there is one here and there. They serve the rich and poor.

Well said, and many of the high performing charters aren't even that great. Our charter, that is rated Tier 1, can't even get to 70% proficiency. Where do most of our peers (high SES) go after 4th or 5th grade? Most go back to DCPS, some go to Latin, and now some are flocking to a brand new charter - BASIS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCPS didn't meet the needs of the high achievers, the G&T, the motivated, et cetera. So now that's a set of needs they no longer need to think about, because most of their schools don't have to deal with it, as they've lost those students to the charters. Instead, they could narrow down and focus on the bad behavior and other issues in DCPS. But, they aren't. Frankly, I don't think DCPS really focuses at all on what's going on in their student body, or what kinds of needs they really need to be focusing on, i.e. the drug problems, the unmotivated, the behavior problems, the special needs. Their focus, by default, keeps getting narrower and narrower as various groups of students are stripped away, yet DCPS can't even seem to manage to meet the needs of that ever-narrowing group, either.

JKLM and Brent do pretty well with high achievers because their 6-figure PTAs and spunky principals see to it - at least DCPS has the good sense to largely stay out of their way. If only DCPS and the pols had the guts and vision to add much needed wings to the buildings of in-demand DCPS schools. Trailers and temporary buildings (more and more as time goes on) on the grounds of Murch and Lafayette for more than a decade is shameful. The boundary review and revision won't change anything beyond motivating more Upper NW parents to move to MoCo and Fairfax, and perhaps a few in SE around Brent.

Ah yes, the multitudes in Upper NW who would leave their JKLM and move IB for Brent, not least because of their desire to enroll in Stuart Hobson over Deal.

If I had a nickel for every one of those, I still wouldn't be able to buy a penny gumball.

Actually, you get to choose between two DzCPS middle schools. SH is not one of the options. Jefferson or Eliot-Hine anyone? You are close to BASIS though.