BASIS: PCSB staff recommends conditional continuance due to SWD

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t get some of the parents on here. Basis is not a good fit for my child so we will not be applying. But I don’t want to shut it down. It seems like a good option for some other kids. DCPS needs to be raked over the coals for failing to provide good options in every ward. I’m less bothered by Basis. They are a small niche school

This.

they are a niche PUBLIC school. PUBLIC. If you want a school that can exclude kids with disabilities due to not fitting their "niche," you'll have to go private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t get some of the parents on here. Basis is not a good fit for my child so we will not be applying. But I don’t want to shut it down. It seems like a good option for some other kids. DCPS needs to be raked over the coals for failing to provide good options in every ward. I’m less bothered by Basis. They are a small niche school

This.

They are a public charter school which needs to follow the law to receive public funds. If they want to be a small niche school then they can become like Basis in VA. Which is a small, private, niche school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To compare the SPED options at BASIS with Montgomery County is ridiculous - the school only has 650 students and that counts as its entire universe. It would be very hard to create multiple types of SPED classrooms/programs for such a small amount of students, especially when it is given less funding than public schools.

They should have about 60 kids with IEPs. That's enough to create a program that helps them navigate Basis with a little more coordination than just providing 1:1/small group services on an ad hoc basis. IF the school actually cared, that is. If Basis offered a GT/LD option and gave special preference to IEPs/504s they would have SO much interest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:SPED percentages at Basis are 3.5-4.5%, compared to 8.5% for other DCPS charters.

Basis is 100% lottery (except for sibling preference) and all kids have an equal chance of getting in. Basis isn’t a good fit for every kid, regardless of whether they have a disability or not. If they don’t apply because they think Basis is too rigorous or don’t like the physical layout or whatever, that is their choice. Same, if they choose to drop out and enroll elsewhere.

Many charters and other public schools in wards 7 and 8 are 0% white and Janney is 72% white and all receive public funds, but let’s criticize Basis because they have 28 SPED kids and other DC charters of similar size have an average of 54 SPED kids. Really?

Fact: The education system in DC needs to be fixed. Look at where DC ranks compared to the 50 states:

• Highest Dropout Rate: 51
• Lowest Math Test Score: 47
• Lowest Reading Test Score: 49
• Lowest Median SAT Score: 51
• Highest Percentage of Threatened/Injured HS Students: 41

Fact: Basis is a rare success story in DC. In only a decade, its results have been excellent. Based on the numbers, it is now the top charter school in the city.

Fact: For those SPED kids who stick it out (many non-SPED and SPED kids don’t), the results have been similarly impressive.

Fact: Basis is a last-resort option for parents who would otherwise flee to the burbs for better education.

PCSB, please don’t kill the goose that laid the golden egg.

+1,000,000

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SPED percentages at Basis are 3.5-4.5%, compared to 8.5% for other DCPS charters.

Basis is 100% lottery (except for sibling preference) and all kids have an equal chance of getting in. Basis isn’t a good fit for every kid, regardless of whether they have a disability or not. If they don’t apply because they think Basis is too rigorous or don’t like the physical layout or whatever, that is their choice. Same, if they choose to drop out and enroll elsewhere.

Many charters and other public schools in wards 7 and 8 are 0% white and Janney is 72% white and all receive public funds, but let’s criticize Basis because they have 28 SPED kids and other DC charters of similar size have an average of 54 SPED kids. Really?

Fact: The education system in DC needs to be fixed. Look at where DC ranks compared to the 50 states:

• Highest Dropout Rate: 51
• Lowest Math Test Score: 47
• Lowest Reading Test Score: 49
• Lowest Median SAT Score: 51
• Highest Percentage of Threatened/Injured HS Students: 41

Fact: Basis is a rare success story in DC. In only a decade, its results have been excellent. Based on the numbers, it is now the top charter school in the city.

Fact: For those SPED kids who stick it out (many non-SPED and SPED kids don’t), the results have been similarly impressive.

Fact: Basis is a last-resort option for parents who would otherwise flee to the burbs for better education.

PCSB, please don’t kill the goose that laid the golden egg.

yes, really, I will criticize Basis for pushing out SN kids and making it clear they shouldn’t apply.

signed,
SN mom

Great. Enjoy making it all about your kid's needs. I will do the same for my NT kid and support the existing structure that helps my kid.

See how that works?

yes, I will continue to fight for my child’s needs and legal rights. Any other questions? Plenty of private schools around if your snowflake is so tender that they can’t be around “those kids.”

(also - the difference between me and you is that I’m just asking for my child to be included with your kid with appropriate supports - and there are plenty of models for how to do that without detracting from the Basis strengths. You apparently want my kid excluded so you get gets access to all the benefits.)

No one said anything about wanting your kid excluded or that they shouldn't help all kids. But you are obsessing about a school with a handfull fewer SN kids than others. Basis is small and it is new and presents a model that is different than most DC schools, particularly about social promotion.

I support adovating for special ed resources but perhaps if its so easy make SN kids sucessful, you should write them a letter and tell them how.

It's not a "handful fewer." It's half as many as they should have. That's a big deal. And yes I do know how they could better serve kids with SN and I posted it repeatedly, but I'm sure BASIS has no actual commitment to helping SN kids. You appear to just believe that Basis is "special" and shouldn't have to follow the law.

Based on what, PP? You have accused, tried, and conviced the school on a public forum- but do you actually have a kid there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SPED percentages at Basis are 3.5-4.5%, compared to 8.5% for other DCPS charters.

Basis is 100% lottery (except for sibling preference) and all kids have an equal chance of getting in. Basis isn’t a good fit for every kid, regardless of whether they have a disability or not. If they don’t apply because they think Basis is too rigorous or don’t like the physical layout or whatever, that is their choice. Same, if they choose to drop out and enroll elsewhere.

Many charters and other public schools in wards 7 and 8 are 0% white and Janney is 72% white and all receive public funds, but let’s criticize Basis because they have 28 SPED kids and other DC charters of similar size have an average of 54 SPED kids. Really?

Fact: The education system in DC needs to be fixed. Look at where DC ranks compared to the 50 states:

• Highest Dropout Rate: 51
• Lowest Math Test Score: 47
• Lowest Reading Test Score: 49
• Lowest Median SAT Score: 51
• Highest Percentage of Threatened/Injured HS Students: 41

Fact: Basis is a rare success story in DC. In only a decade, its results have been excellent. Based on the numbers, it is now the top charter school in the city.

Fact: For those SPED kids who stick it out (many non-SPED and SPED kids don’t), the results have been similarly impressive.

Fact: Basis is a last-resort option for parents who would otherwise flee to the burbs for better education.

PCSB, please don’t kill the goose that laid the golden egg.

yes, really, I will criticize Basis for pushing out SN kids and making it clear they shouldn’t apply.

signed,
SN mom

Great. Enjoy making it all about your kid's needs. I will do the same for my NT kid and support the existing structure that helps my kid.

See how that works?

yes, I will continue to fight for my child’s needs and legal rights. Any other questions? Plenty of private schools around if your snowflake is so tender that they can’t be around “those kids.”

(also - the difference between me and you is that I’m just asking for my child to be included with your kid with appropriate supports - and there are plenty of models for how to do that without detracting from the Basis strengths. You apparently want my kid excluded so you get gets access to all the benefits.)

No one said anything about wanting your kid excluded or that they shouldn't help all kids. But you are obsessing about a school with a handfull fewer SN kids than others. Basis is small and it is new and presents a model that is different than most DC schools, particularly about social promotion.

I support adovating for special ed resources but perhaps if its so easy make SN kids sucessful, you should write them a letter and tell them how.

It's not a "handful fewer." It's half as many as they should have. That's a big deal. And yes I do know how they could better serve kids with SN and I posted it repeatedly, but I'm sure BASIS has no actual commitment to helping SN kids. You appear to just believe that Basis is "special" and shouldn't have to follow the law.

Based on what, PP? You have accused, tried, and conviced the school on a public forum- but do you actually have a kid there?

Hmm, they are at danger of losing their charter approval because of their failure to serve SN kids, yet I'm supposed to believe that they have a mission to support SN kids. Ok! Makes sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t get some of the parents on here. Basis is not a good fit for my child so we will not be applying. But I don’t want to shut it down. It seems like a good option for some other kids. DCPS needs to be raked over the coals for failing to provide good options in every ward. I’m less bothered by Basis. They are a small niche school

This.

They are a public charter school which needs to follow the law to receive public funds. If they want to be a small niche school then they can become like Basis in VA. Which is a small, private, niche school.

Well, according tho the charter board, they are. They may need improvements, but the board found that they were not violating the law. "While BASIS DC PCS met its compliance requirements, including its special education compliance requirements, DC PCSB staff identified concerns with the school’s special education enrollment"

The only thing they objected to were the acutal numbers of kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SPED percentages at Basis are 3.5-4.5%, compared to 8.5% for other DCPS charters.

Basis is 100% lottery (except for sibling preference) and all kids have an equal chance of getting in. Basis isn’t a good fit for every kid, regardless of whether they have a disability or not. If they don’t apply because they think Basis is too rigorous or don’t like the physical layout or whatever, that is their choice. Same, if they choose to drop out and enroll elsewhere.

Many charters and other public schools in wards 7 and 8 are 0% white and Janney is 72% white and all receive public funds, but let’s criticize Basis because they have 28 SPED kids and other DC charters of similar size have an average of 54 SPED kids. Really?

Fact: The education system in DC needs to be fixed. Look at where DC ranks compared to the 50 states:

• Highest Dropout Rate: 51
• Lowest Math Test Score: 47
• Lowest Reading Test Score: 49
• Lowest Median SAT Score: 51
• Highest Percentage of Threatened/Injured HS Students: 41

Fact: Basis is a rare success story in DC. In only a decade, its results have been excellent. Based on the numbers, it is now the top charter school in the city.

Fact: For those SPED kids who stick it out (many non-SPED and SPED kids don’t), the results have been similarly impressive.

Fact: Basis is a last-resort option for parents who would otherwise flee to the burbs for better education.

PCSB, please don’t kill the goose that laid the golden egg.

yes, really, I will criticize Basis for pushing out SN kids and making it clear they shouldn’t apply.

signed,
SN mom

Great. Enjoy making it all about your kid's needs. I will do the same for my NT kid and support the existing structure that helps my kid.

See how that works?

yes, I will continue to fight for my child’s needs and legal rights. Any other questions? Plenty of private schools around if your snowflake is so tender that they can’t be around “those kids.”

(also - the difference between me and you is that I’m just asking for my child to be included with your kid with appropriate supports - and there are plenty of models for how to do that without detracting from the Basis strengths. You apparently want my kid excluded so you get gets access to all the benefits.)

No one said anything about wanting your kid excluded or that they shouldn't help all kids. But you are obsessing about a school with a handfull fewer SN kids than others. Basis is small and it is new and presents a model that is different than most DC schools, particularly about social promotion.

I support adovating for special ed resources but perhaps if its so easy make SN kids sucessful, you should write them a letter and tell them how.

It's not a "handful fewer." It's half as many as they should have. That's a big deal. And yes I do know how they could better serve kids with SN and I posted it repeatedly, but I'm sure BASIS has no actual commitment to helping SN kids. You appear to just believe that Basis is "special" and shouldn't have to follow the law.

Based on what, PP? You have accused, tried, and conviced the school on a public forum- but do you actually have a kid there?

Hmm, they are at danger of losing their charter approval because of their failure to serve SN kids, yet I'm supposed to believe that they have a mission to support SN kids. Ok! Makes sense.

So any school who's mission is not to support SN kids should be shut down.... gotcha.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SPED percentages at Basis are 3.5-4.5%, compared to 8.5% for other DCPS charters.

Basis is 100% lottery (except for sibling preference) and all kids have an equal chance of getting in. Basis isn’t a good fit for every kid, regardless of whether they have a disability or not. If they don’t apply because they think Basis is too rigorous or don’t like the physical layout or whatever, that is their choice. Same, if they choose to drop out and enroll elsewhere.

Many charters and other public schools in wards 7 and 8 are 0% white and Janney is 72% white and all receive public funds, but let’s criticize Basis because they have 28 SPED kids and other DC charters of similar size have an average of 54 SPED kids. Really?

Fact: The education system in DC needs to be fixed. Look at where DC ranks compared to the 50 states:

• Highest Dropout Rate: 51
• Lowest Math Test Score: 47
• Lowest Reading Test Score: 49
• Lowest Median SAT Score: 51
• Highest Percentage of Threatened/Injured HS Students: 41

Fact: Basis is a rare success story in DC. In only a decade, its results have been excellent. Based on the numbers, it is now the top charter school in the city.

Fact: For those SPED kids who stick it out (many non-SPED and SPED kids don’t), the results have been similarly impressive.

Fact: Basis is a last-resort option for parents who would otherwise flee to the burbs for better education.

PCSB, please don’t kill the goose that laid the golden egg.

yes, really, I will criticize Basis for pushing out SN kids and making it clear they shouldn’t apply.

signed,
SN mom

Great. Enjoy making it all about your kid's needs. I will do the same for my NT kid and support the existing structure that helps my kid.

See how that works?

yes, I will continue to fight for my child’s needs and legal rights. Any other questions? Plenty of private schools around if your snowflake is so tender that they can’t be around “those kids.”

(also - the difference between me and you is that I’m just asking for my child to be included with your kid with appropriate supports - and there are plenty of models for how to do that without detracting from the Basis strengths. You apparently want my kid excluded so you get gets access to all the benefits.)

No one said anything about wanting your kid excluded or that they shouldn't help all kids. But you are obsessing about a school with a handfull fewer SN kids than others. Basis is small and it is new and presents a model that is different than most DC schools, particularly about social promotion.

I support adovating for special ed resources but perhaps if its so easy make SN kids sucessful, you should write them a letter and tell them how.

It's not a "handful fewer." It's half as many as they should have. That's a big deal. And yes I do know how they could better serve kids with SN and I posted it repeatedly, but I'm sure BASIS has no actual commitment to helping SN kids. You appear to just believe that Basis is "special" and shouldn't have to follow the law.

Based on what, PP? You have accused, tried, and conviced the school on a public forum- but do you actually have a kid there?

Hmm, they are at danger of losing their charter approval because of their failure to serve SN kids, yet I'm supposed to believe that they have a mission to support SN kids. Ok! Makes sense.

So any school who's mission is not to support SN kids should be shut down.... gotcha.

Every public school has a legal mission to support SN kids, yes. If they are a charter and fail at this, they can have their charter revoked.

[Anonymous]

I, for one, would be perfectly happy if they lost their charter and converted to private. Two students there and it would be a stretch, but worth it to keep the school going.

And it would be such a relief to not have to read these crabs-in-a-barrel comments from anti-charter people who want everything to be the SAME, even if the "SAME" is pretty horrible.

For the record, DCPS does a pretty horrible job with SPED - yes they have programming but the students don't learn much once you get past elementary school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t get some of the parents on here. Basis is not a good fit for my child so we will not be applying. But I don’t want to shut it down. It seems like a good option for some other kids. DCPS needs to be raked over the coals for failing to provide good options in every ward. I’m less bothered by Basis. They are a small niche school

This.

They are a public charter school which needs to follow the law to receive public funds. If they want to be a small niche school then they can become like Basis in VA. Which is a small, private, niche school.

Well, according tho the charter board, they are. They may need improvements, but the board found that they were not violating the law. "While BASIS DC PCS met its compliance requirements, including its special education compliance requirements, DC PCSB staff identified concerns with the school’s special education enrollment"

The only thing they objected to were the acutal numbers of kids.

Read the report, there are a lot of violations noted. I'm not sure why they said BASIS met its special education compliance requirements because the report is basically a long list of violations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I, for one, would be perfectly happy if they lost their charter and converted to private. Two students there and it would be a stretch, but worth it to keep the school going.

And it would be such a relief to not have to read these crabs-in-a-barrel comments from anti-charter people who want everything to be the SAME, even if the "SAME" is pretty horrible.

For the record, DCPS does a pretty horrible job with SPED - yes they have programming but the students don't learn much once you get past elementary school.

It's not that people want it to be the same. People want BASIS to follow the law. Is that so awful?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I, for one, would be perfectly happy if they lost their charter and converted to private. Two students there and it would be a stretch, but worth it to keep the school going.

And it would be such a relief to not have to read these crabs-in-a-barrel comments from anti-charter people who want everything to be the SAME, even if the "SAME" is pretty horrible.

For the record, DCPS does a pretty horrible job with SPED - yes they have programming but the students don't learn much once you get past elementary school.

It's not that people want it to be the same. People want BASIS to follow the law. Is that so awful?

They ARE following the law.

Read the report before you comment further. You are just embarrassing yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I, for one, would be perfectly happy if they lost their charter and converted to private. Two students there and it would be a stretch, but worth it to keep the school going.

And it would be such a relief to not have to read these crabs-in-a-barrel comments from anti-charter people who want everything to be the SAME, even if the "SAME" is pretty horrible.

For the record, DCPS does a pretty horrible job with SPED - yes they have programming but the students don't learn much once you get past elementary school.

It's not that people want it to be the same. People want BASIS to follow the law. Is that so awful?

They ARE following the law.

Read the report before you comment further. You are just embarrassing yourself.

Then why are there so many violations listed in the report?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SPED percentages at Basis are 3.5-4.5%, compared to 8.5% for other DCPS charters.

Basis is 100% lottery (except for sibling preference) and all kids have an equal chance of getting in. Basis isn’t a good fit for every kid, regardless of whether they have a disability or not. If they don’t apply because they think Basis is too rigorous or don’t like the physical layout or whatever, that is their choice. Same, if they choose to drop out and enroll elsewhere.

Many charters and other public schools in wards 7 and 8 are 0% white and Janney is 72% white and all receive public funds, but let’s criticize Basis because they have 28 SPED kids and other DC charters of similar size have an average of 54 SPED kids. Really?

Fact: The education system in DC needs to be fixed. Look at where DC ranks compared to the 50 states:

• Highest Dropout Rate: 51
• Lowest Math Test Score: 47
• Lowest Reading Test Score: 49
• Lowest Median SAT Score: 51
• Highest Percentage of Threatened/Injured HS Students: 41

Fact: Basis is a rare success story in DC. In only a decade, its results have been excellent. Based on the numbers, it is now the top charter school in the city.

Fact: For those SPED kids who stick it out (many non-SPED and SPED kids don’t), the results have been similarly impressive.

Fact: Basis is a last-resort option for parents who would otherwise flee to the burbs for better education.

PCSB, please don’t kill the goose that laid the golden egg.

yes, really, I will criticize Basis for pushing out SN kids and making it clear they shouldn’t apply.

signed,
SN mom

Great. Enjoy making it all about your kid's needs. I will do the same for my NT kid and support the existing structure that helps my kid.

See how that works?

yes, I will continue to fight for my child’s needs and legal rights. Any other questions? Plenty of private schools around if your snowflake is so tender that they can’t be around “those kids.”

(also - the difference between me and you is that I’m just asking for my child to be included with your kid with appropriate supports - and there are plenty of models for how to do that without detracting from the Basis strengths. You apparently want my kid excluded so you get gets access to all the benefits.)

No one said anything about wanting your kid excluded or that they shouldn't help all kids. But you are obsessing about a school with a handfull fewer SN kids than others. Basis is small and it is new and presents a model that is different than most DC schools, particularly about social promotion.

I support adovating for special ed resources but perhaps if its so easy make SN kids sucessful, you should write them a letter and tell them how.

It's not a "handful fewer." It's half as many as they should have. That's a big deal. And yes I do know how they could better serve kids with SN and I posted it repeatedly, but I'm sure BASIS has no actual commitment to helping SN kids. You appear to just believe that Basis is "special" and shouldn't have to follow the law.

Based on what, PP? You have accused, tried, and conviced the school on a public forum- but do you actually have a kid there?

Hmm, they are at danger of losing their charter approval because of their failure to serve SN kids, yet I'm supposed to believe that they have a mission to support SN kids. Ok! Makes sense.

So any school who's mission is not to support SN kids should be shut down.... gotcha.

Every public school has a legal mission to support SN kids, yes. If they are a charter and fail at this, they can have their charter revoked.

No, they have a legal OBLIGATION, not mission. Anyhow, the kids at basis who do receive services do much better than elsewhere.