BASIS DC will seek to expand to include K to 4th grade

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And now this thread has finally come full circle and back on point. The future K-4 building is hopefully a long overdue opportunity to provide much needed amenities to the current middle/high school.

It is a charter school in DC. What would make you think they could get facilities better than any other DC charter school?

[Anonymous]

Who could argue with that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And now this thread has finally come full circle and back on point. The future K-4 building is hopefully a long overdue opportunity to provide much needed amenities to the current middle/high school.

It is a charter school in DC. What would make you think they could get facilities better than any other DC charter school?

Who here has argued for better facilities? There are dozens of DC charter schools with outdoor space for sports, gyms, stages and libraries, basic facilities the BASIS DC building lacks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And now this thread has finally come full circle and back on point. The future K-4 building is hopefully a long overdue opportunity to provide much needed amenities to the current middle/high school.

It is a charter school in DC. What would make you think they could get facilities better than any other DC charter school?

Keep in mind that when a charter school first opens in DC they have to find and fund (lease, buy) their own facilities. But typically they have no enrollment history or credit history. BASIS is now more than ten years old with strong enrollment demand and, as far as I know, stable finances. They can certainly get better facilities now than when they started.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And now this thread has finally come full circle and back on point. The future K-4 building is hopefully a long overdue opportunity to provide much needed amenities to the current middle/high school.

Why not sell the current building and get a good building for MS and HS as well?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not the pp you're slamming. I'm a ms parent who can tell you that all the BASIS campuses don't do things the same way despite having the same curriculum. The way the curriculum is implemented varies. We visited a couple AZ campuses last year when considering a move to the Phoenix area. At these campuses, we observed advanced ms classes in session, not just for math, like here in DC, but for humanities subjects and foreign languages. We also observed hs classes that aren't offered in DC.

Have you visited AZ campuses? Let me guess, no, yet you persist in insisting that what happens at our DC campus is what happens at the other campuses.

Interesting. I thought the change to linguistics classes rather than language was BASIS-wide. Are you saying that is a DC thing and other campuses start foreign languages in 5th and continue?

I only know what I was told and shown when I visited AZ campuses. Those BASIS branches, established in the 90s, were clearly offering challenge and enrichment that BASIS DC doesn't, in a variety of ways. One of the campuses supports an after-school language program subsidized by the parent organization catering to advanced students. The other campus offered academic electives at the ms level that we don't have, e.g. detective forensics, instrumental music lessons and collecting oral histories. My impression was that the leadership (board, HoS, parent organization) of these campuses was far dynamic than ours, drawing in grants, raising money, creating hands-on learning opportunities for particularly enthusiastic and able students. Middle schoolers were competing in academic competitions at the city and state levels. On paper, the ms classes might have been the same, but the experience for the kids seemed much richer.

Are the AZ campuses in office buildings like DC? Because that is problem number one.

The AZ campuses I visited looked nothing like the DC building. They had playing fields, nice media centers/libraries, gyms, stages and an abundance of natural light inside.

The other BASIS schools charge tuition, don't they?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We got the critical flexibility and support we needed to pursue post AP language, performance music and STEM competition success (involving some travel on school days) from SJC. At BASIS, when we would ask admins for a little flexibility in middle school and 9th grade the answer was invariably, no. Too many barriers for our kid to stand out in college admissions down the road.

Sounds like private school was the right choice for you. It’s harder for a public school to violate policies like you were asking. TBH, except for post AP language, for the others I would have just done it and waited for someone to tell me no. As long as your kid keeps up in class and you don’t push absences past 10 days or whatever, there’s a lot you can get away with.

Um, not in Fairfax, MoCo or Arlington, not in well-run suburban systems aiming high in college admissions. The open-minded former BASIS HoS would have worked with you. This guy wears his insecurities on his sleeve by controlling whatever he can. Glad you could afford to leave to stay on track for an Ivy.

The current HOH is a big reason we are leaving for Private for HS. He makes no changes, blows off parent concerns, does nothing to try and control classroom behavior. My child has gotten excellent grades - and honestly if Basis followed through on the curriculum as it was designed (as opposed to being months behind the AZ campuses), she would really thrive more and maybe we would stay. But the teaching quality has been hit or miss, admin is clueless and prides themselves on dragging along kids who are in over their heads and probably shouldn't be at Basis rather than being an environment where advanced children can thrive.

We could have written this post. We're fed up with rowdy middle school classes. My sibling has teens at the original Arizona campus and their school is simply much better. The campus has good facilities and a serious performing arts program. Teens can play in a first-rate school orchestra. They can take languages past the AP level and advanced humanities classes from 7th grade. A different world.

Are you considering moving to Arizona? If not, what's the relevance of what an AZ school offers? How does that make any more sense than saying, "Boston Latin is better to I'm leaving Walls".

The statement above shouts false equivalency because BASIS isn't a stand-alone school, like BL or Walls. The relevance of what an AZ school offers is that BASIS DC admins, and longtime parents for that matter, constantly claim that BASIS HQ/AZ policy doesn't permit dramatic upgrades when this is clearly BS. What's true is that the current BASIS DC administration isn't interested in serious performing arts, or languages past the AP level (strongly preferring that kids learn two or three languages at the beginning level), or advanced MS humanities classes. It's also true that toxic DC politics won't support backfilling at BASIS DC while the AZ campuses freely backfill.

For the gazillionth time, the AZ campuses are allowed to “freely backfill” because they’re allowed to administer placement exams to kids entering any grade. They are allowed to & do make kids repeat multiple grades. So, they’ll let a kid who just finished 9th grade at another school take a placement exam for 10th grade BASIS, but if the kid doesn’t perform up to par, they’ll have to repeat a couple grades at BASIS. Obviously, that would never fly in DC.

My kids are currently attending a Basis school in AZ, and the bolded parts are flat out incorrect. There are no Basis campuses where kids are repeating multiple grades. A decent number of kids pass the placement tests, since the required math level is not exactly a secret. If they fail, they generally just repeat a single grade, or they opt to enroll elsewhere. Both of my kids have a small number of kids who are a year older than they ought to be in their classes. Some of these kids are redshirts and not even kids that Basis held back.
There are no kids who are 2 or more years older than they should be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not the pp you're slamming. I'm a ms parent who can tell you that all the BASIS campuses don't do things the same way despite having the same curriculum. The way the curriculum is implemented varies. We visited a couple AZ campuses last year when considering a move to the Phoenix area. At these campuses, we observed advanced ms classes in session, not just for math, like here in DC, but for humanities subjects and foreign languages. We also observed hs classes that aren't offered in DC.

Have you visited AZ campuses? Let me guess, no, yet you persist in insisting that what happens at our DC campus is what happens at the other campuses.

Interesting. I thought the change to linguistics classes rather than language was BASIS-wide. Are you saying that is a DC thing and other campuses start foreign languages in 5th and continue?

I only know what I was told and shown when I visited AZ campuses. Those BASIS branches, established in the 90s, were clearly offering challenge and enrichment that BASIS DC doesn't, in a variety of ways. One of the campuses supports an after-school language program subsidized by the parent organization catering to advanced students. The other campus offered academic electives at the ms level that we don't have, e.g. detective forensics, instrumental music lessons and collecting oral histories. My impression was that the leadership (board, HoS, parent organization) of these campuses was far dynamic than ours, drawing in grants, raising money, creating hands-on learning opportunities for particularly enthusiastic and able students. Middle schoolers were competing in academic competitions at the city and state levels. On paper, the ms classes might have been the same, but the experience for the kids seemed much richer.

Are the AZ campuses in office buildings like DC? Because that is problem number one.

The AZ campuses I visited looked nothing like the DC building. They had playing fields, nice media centers/libraries, gyms, stages and an abundance of natural light inside.

The other BASIS schools charge tuition, don't they?

Basis Independent schools charge tuition. Basis charter schools do not.

[Anonymous]

there is a town hall tonight about the expansion for people who want to listen

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not the pp you're slamming. I'm a ms parent who can tell you that all the BASIS campuses don't do things the same way despite having the same curriculum. The way the curriculum is implemented varies. We visited a couple AZ campuses last year when considering a move to the Phoenix area. At these campuses, we observed advanced ms classes in session, not just for math, like here in DC, but for humanities subjects and foreign languages. We also observed hs classes that aren't offered in DC.

Have you visited AZ campuses? Let me guess, no, yet you persist in insisting that what happens at our DC campus is what happens at the other campuses.

Interesting. I thought the change to linguistics classes rather than language was BASIS-wide. Are you saying that is a DC thing and other campuses start foreign languages in 5th and continue?

I only know what I was told and shown when I visited AZ campuses. Those BASIS branches, established in the 90s, were clearly offering challenge and enrichment that BASIS DC doesn't, in a variety of ways. One of the campuses supports an after-school language program subsidized by the parent organization catering to advanced students. The other campus offered academic electives at the ms level that we don't have, e.g. detective forensics, instrumental music lessons and collecting oral histories. My impression was that the leadership (board, HoS, parent organization) of these campuses was far dynamic than ours, drawing in grants, raising money, creating hands-on learning opportunities for particularly enthusiastic and able students. Middle schoolers were competing in academic competitions at the city and state levels. On paper, the ms classes might have been the same, but the experience for the kids seemed much richer.

Are the AZ campuses in office buildings like DC? Because that is problem number one.

The AZ campuses I visited looked nothing like the DC building. They had playing fields, nice media centers/libraries, gyms, stages and an abundance of natural light inside.

The other BASIS schools charge tuition, don't they?

No. And for anyone who is still confused on this point NOOOOOOO!!!!

There are two different BASIS school organizations. The BASIS Charter schools are free, lottery schools. Those are in AZ, LA, TX, DC, etc. The BASIS Independent Schools are private, for profit schools that charge tuition. The one in VA is a for-profit.

And because there is a DCUM troll who likes to talk about Chinese influence, the Independent schools took an investment from a Chinese investor. That is unrelated to the Charter schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:there is a town hall tonight about the expansion for people who want to listen

Don't do that, PP. The title of the presentation is "Information Session for Current Families". I am begging you to resist your inner a-hole troll and not post the link. This is a presentation to address current families' concerns. Not an open forum for WTU and the other DCUM haters to disrupt.

[Anonymous]

Inner troll, haters, ridiculous. Just grow up already. -Signed BASIS HS Parent Who Wishes MS Boosters Would Shut Up

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not the pp you're slamming. I'm a ms parent who can tell you that all the BASIS campuses don't do things the same way despite having the same curriculum. The way the curriculum is implemented varies. We visited a couple AZ campuses last year when considering a move to the Phoenix area. At these campuses, we observed advanced ms classes in session, not just for math, like here in DC, but for humanities subjects and foreign languages. We also observed hs classes that aren't offered in DC.

Have you visited AZ campuses? Let me guess, no, yet you persist in insisting that what happens at our DC campus is what happens at the other campuses.

Interesting. I thought the change to linguistics classes rather than language was BASIS-wide. Are you saying that is a DC thing and other campuses start foreign languages in 5th and continue?

I only know what I was told and shown when I visited AZ campuses. Those BASIS branches, established in the 90s, were clearly offering challenge and enrichment that BASIS DC doesn't, in a variety of ways. One of the campuses supports an after-school language program subsidized by the parent organization catering to advanced students. The other campus offered academic electives at the ms level that we don't have, e.g. detective forensics, instrumental music lessons and collecting oral histories. My impression was that the leadership (board, HoS, parent organization) of these campuses was far dynamic than ours, drawing in grants, raising money, creating hands-on learning opportunities for particularly enthusiastic and able students. Middle schoolers were competing in academic competitions at the city and state levels. On paper, the ms classes might have been the same, but the experience for the kids seemed much richer.

Are the AZ campuses in office buildings like DC? Because that is problem number one.

The AZ campuses I visited looked nothing like the DC building. They had playing fields, nice media centers/libraries, gyms, stages and an abundance of natural light inside.

The other BASIS schools charge tuition, don't they?

No. And for anyone who is still confused on this point NOOOOOOO!!!!

There are two different BASIS school organizations. The BASIS Charter schools are free, lottery schools. Those are in AZ, LA, TX, DC, etc. The BASIS Independent Schools are private, for profit schools that charge tuition. The one in VA is a for-profit.

And because there is a DCUM troll who likes to talk about Chinese influence, the Independent schools took an investment from a Chinese investor. That is unrelated to the Charter schools.

They. Are. Two. Parts. Of. The. BASIS. Organization.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not the pp you're slamming. I'm a ms parent who can tell you that all the BASIS campuses don't do things the same way despite having the same curriculum. The way the curriculum is implemented varies. We visited a couple AZ campuses last year when considering a move to the Phoenix area. At these campuses, we observed advanced ms classes in session, not just for math, like here in DC, but for humanities subjects and foreign languages. We also observed hs classes that aren't offered in DC.

Have you visited AZ campuses? Let me guess, no, yet you persist in insisting that what happens at our DC campus is what happens at the other campuses.

Interesting. I thought the change to linguistics classes rather than language was BASIS-wide. Are you saying that is a DC thing and other campuses start foreign languages in 5th and continue?

I only know what I was told and shown when I visited AZ campuses. Those BASIS branches, established in the 90s, were clearly offering challenge and enrichment that BASIS DC doesn't, in a variety of ways. One of the campuses supports an after-school language program subsidized by the parent organization catering to advanced students. The other campus offered academic electives at the ms level that we don't have, e.g. detective forensics, instrumental music lessons and collecting oral histories. My impression was that the leadership (board, HoS, parent organization) of these campuses was far dynamic than ours, drawing in grants, raising money, creating hands-on learning opportunities for particularly enthusiastic and able students. Middle schoolers were competing in academic competitions at the city and state levels. On paper, the ms classes might have been the same, but the experience for the kids seemed much richer.

Are the AZ campuses in office buildings like DC? Because that is problem number one.

The AZ campuses I visited looked nothing like the DC building. They had playing fields, nice media centers/libraries, gyms, stages and an abundance of natural light inside.

The other BASIS schools charge tuition, don't they?

No. And for anyone who is still confused on this point NOOOOOOO!!!!

There are two different BASIS school organizations. The BASIS Charter schools are free, lottery schools. Those are in AZ, LA, TX, DC, etc. The BASIS Independent Schools are private, for profit schools that charge tuition. The one in VA is a for-profit.

And because there is a DCUM troll who likes to talk about Chinese influence, the Independent schools took an investment from a Chinese investor. That is unrelated to the Charter schools.

Then why are BASIS DC kids being assigned weird pro-China essay prompts?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not the pp you're slamming. I'm a ms parent who can tell you that all the BASIS campuses don't do things the same way despite having the same curriculum. The way the curriculum is implemented varies. We visited a couple AZ campuses last year when considering a move to the Phoenix area. At these campuses, we observed advanced ms classes in session, not just for math, like here in DC, but for humanities subjects and foreign languages. We also observed hs classes that aren't offered in DC.

Have you visited AZ campuses? Let me guess, no, yet you persist in insisting that what happens at our DC campus is what happens at the other campuses.

Interesting. I thought the change to linguistics classes rather than language was BASIS-wide. Are you saying that is a DC thing and other campuses start foreign languages in 5th and continue?

I only know what I was told and shown when I visited AZ campuses. Those BASIS branches, established in the 90s, were clearly offering challenge and enrichment that BASIS DC doesn't, in a variety of ways. One of the campuses supports an after-school language program subsidized by the parent organization catering to advanced students. The other campus offered academic electives at the ms level that we don't have, e.g. detective forensics, instrumental music lessons and collecting oral histories. My impression was that the leadership (board, HoS, parent organization) of these campuses was far dynamic than ours, drawing in grants, raising money, creating hands-on learning opportunities for particularly enthusiastic and able students. Middle schoolers were competing in academic competitions at the city and state levels. On paper, the ms classes might have been the same, but the experience for the kids seemed much richer.

Are the AZ campuses in office buildings like DC? Because that is problem number one.

The AZ campuses I visited looked nothing like the DC building. They had playing fields, nice media centers/libraries, gyms, stages and an abundance of natural light inside.

The other BASIS schools charge tuition, don't they?

No. And for anyone who is still confused on this point NOOOOOOO!!!!

There are two different BASIS school organizations. The BASIS Charter schools are free, lottery schools. Those are in AZ, LA, TX, DC, etc. The BASIS Independent Schools are private, for profit schools that charge tuition. The one in VA is a for-profit.

And because there is a DCUM troll who likes to talk about Chinese influence, the Independent schools took an investment from a Chinese investor. That is unrelated to the Charter schools.

Then why are BASIS DC kids being assigned weird pro-China essay prompts?

Say more about this.