A solution for military families in dc?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When did military families become such snowflakes? I come from a multi generational military family and my dh is a vet. We went to whatever public or DoD school that was nearby. Almost all my military Brat friends have MDs and PhDs and talk about how grateful we were not to have been coddled. I am really worried about this generation of Brats with their parents obsessed with top schools and not teaching their kids who civilians and other cultures work.

DCPS is not just any nearby school. The charter schools and lottery illustrate that. Since so many DC residents play the lottery, it's reasonable that military families should, too. That's not coddling, it's normal.

[Anonymous]

I don't know a lot of military children who are coddled. I do know that military families are not monolithic and approach education creatively just like everyone else in America. I've noticed a ton of homeschooling and I think Congress or dept of ed should survey and examine that statistic. Im convinced that for every homeschooled kid ideologically motivated, there is another family that has thrown up their hands at their options and simply decided their kid is better served if they don't themselves. That's a big ask on top of everything else. I think this charter school is a great option. It's not feasible to change the lottery deadline just for military families in DC, so this speaks to the fact that they have no control over assignment timelines and thus don't have the same options as other DC resident families to select from an array of schools.

[Anonymous]

For those of you against a military preference at this one charter school in ward 8, would the military children be taking a spot from your child? Are you looking for a spot at a ward 8 charter? According to my school dc, there are many charter openings in ward 8 that you could apply to now and be accepted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or they could stop fearing brown children and send their kids to Leckie.

This is really short sighted. We Have two children at Leckie and it isn’t the kids, it’s everything else that makes us want to move them next year. I won’t go into detail but it’s not good at all. And just like any other family, we have the right to try the lottery for an OOB spot.

I don't understand why military families get some special preferences, they are barely DC residents for even a few years and yet we are bending over backwards to help families who will move on a in a couple of years and have no vested interest in the District. I do have a friend with kids at Leckie and the miliary families are the only diversity at the school. Her kids PK class had several white middle class kids and a few asian american kids. but by K they all moved on. when our city needs more options for all kids, this is absurd to cater to this one group.

What special preferences do they get?

I'm pretty sure they can enroll at any DCPS school they want. While many go to Stoddert, there are many at other schools too.

No. They can enroll at any DCPS neighborhood school if there are seats available / no wait list. They can enter the lottery from another city and have more time to establish residency, but of course they don’t always know they will be coming to DC when the lottery opens. If there is a wait list they have to go to their IB or the back of the WL like anyone else who moves to the city midyear.

The “no waitlist” part is not correct though. Otherwise how would so many military kids end up at Brent, where there are long wait lists? I’m not objecting to the policy. But there is definitely a method by which they can jump to the top of the OOB waitlist at certain schools.

[Anonymous]

^ That is a good question. Has anyone done any digging?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know a lot of military children who are coddled. I do know that military families are not monolithic and approach education creatively just like everyone else in America. I've noticed a ton of homeschooling and I think Congress or dept of ed should survey and examine that statistic. Im convinced that for every homeschooled kid ideologically motivated, there is another family that has thrown up their hands at their options and simply decided their kid is better served if they don't themselves. That's a big ask on top of everything else. I think this charter school is a great option. It's not feasible to change the lottery deadline just for military families in DC, so this speaks to the fact that they have no control over assignment timelines and thus don't have the same options as other DC resident families to select from an array of schools.

They homeschool as kids often get moved every 1-2 years and its not a stable education. Likewise, not all schools near military bases are good. Often military bases are surrounded by not so great neighborhoods with not so great schools. In DC, it was common to transfer the kids out to better schools and it was allowed. My husband's kids years ago on Bolling got transferred out to a better school. Having school on base would be great. Some enlisted only have 1 car so getting the kids to and from other schools is a huge issue. Most people here would not be ok with the school the kids are zoned for. Enlisted cannot afford private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those of you against a military preference at this one charter school in ward 8, would the military children be taking a spot from your child? Are you looking for a spot at a ward 8 charter? According to my school dc, there are many charter openings in ward 8 that you could apply to now and be accepted.

I think the post is the DC needs more charter schools for all kids, not a special group of transit kids who won't be there more than 3 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or they could stop fearing brown children and send their kids to Leckie.

This is really short sighted. We Have two children at Leckie and it isn’t the kids, it’s everything else that makes us want to move them next year. I won’t go into detail but it’s not good at all. And just like any other family, we have the right to try the lottery for an OOB spot.

I don't understand why military families get some special preferences, they are barely DC residents for even a few years and yet we are bending over backwards to help families who will move on a in a couple of years and have no vested interest in the District. I do have a friend with kids at Leckie and the miliary families are the only diversity at the school. Her kids PK class had several white middle class kids and a few asian american kids. but by K they all moved on. when our city needs more options for all kids, this is absurd to cater to this one group.

What special preferences do they get?

garuenteed entry into a charter school? around a specific population.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or they could stop fearing brown children and send their kids to Leckie.

This is really short sighted. We Have two children at Leckie and it isn’t the kids, it’s everything else that makes us want to move them next year. I won’t go into detail but it’s not good at all. And just like any other family, we have the right to try the lottery for an OOB spot.

I don't understand why military families get some special preferences, they are barely DC residents for even a few years and yet we are bending over backwards to help families who will move on a in a couple of years and have no vested interest in the District. I do have a friend with kids at Leckie and the miliary families are the only diversity at the school. Her kids PK class had several white middle class kids and a few asian american kids. but by K they all moved on. when our city needs more options for all kids, this is absurd to cater to this one group.

What special preferences do they get?

garuenteed entry into a charter school? around a specific population.

Where does it say they have guaranteed entry? And you said "some" which is more than one. So what other special preferences do they get?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those of you against a military preference at this one charter school in ward 8, would the military children be taking a spot from your child? Are you looking for a spot at a ward 8 charter? According to my school dc, there are many charter openings in ward 8 that you could apply to now and be accepted.

I think the post is the DC needs more charter schools for all kids, not a special group of transit kids who won't be there more than 3 years.

There it is. You don't care about the needs of these kids because they won't be here for more than three years. Got it.

[Anonymous]

Maybe the military should move the base somewhere more hospitable. There are plenty of jurisdictions across the land that would welcome a military base and accompanying revenue. Congress fights for these bases.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe the military should move the base somewhere more hospitable. There are plenty of jurisdictions across the land that would welcome a military base and accompanying revenue. Congress fights for these bases.

Do you know how much that would cost? The DIA is on base. It's huge. Not to mention the white house communication center and the helicopters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe the military should move the base somewhere more hospitable. There are plenty of jurisdictions across the land that would welcome a military base and accompanying revenue. Congress fights for these bases.

Do you know how much that would cost? The DIA is on base. It's huge. Not to mention the white house communication center and the helicopters.

This is laughable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe the military should move the base somewhere more hospitable. There are plenty of jurisdictions across the land that would welcome a military base and accompanying revenue. Congress fights for these bases.

Do you know how much that would cost? The DIA is on base. It's huge. Not to mention the white house communication center and the helicopters.

This is laughable.

They olose and open bases all the time. Has the FBI decided to relocate yet? DC seems to care not about being a good host to big partners. We let them walk all the time. Kind of dumb imo

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe the military should move the base somewhere more hospitable. There are plenty of jurisdictions across the land that would welcome a military base and accompanying revenue. Congress fights for these bases.

Do you know how much that would cost? The DIA is on base. It's huge. Not to mention the white house communication center and the helicopters.

This is laughable.

Okay? Move the base WOTR then.