Ward/neighborhood preferences for Charter School admissions

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do people think of this idea? We had better start asking our council members what they think. Hearing that Tommy Wells may be introducing a bill to give ward-based admissions preferences for charter schools.

The Tommy Wells plan and associated legislation would destroy specialized charters and leave kids East of the Park stranded. Tommy's staff point person should consider the needs of the whole City not just Hill people who want a "high-quality public school I can walk to." We can't all have that option right away. Specialized and other charters fill in the gaps for all of DC. It's not a matter of wooly-headed "fairness" or "equity" to destroy charters for the Hill and a few other places with resources as we return to the old system.

There has to be something more to it than this, right? Are there any good charters that are walkable from the Hill? The history is that a few Hill parents freaked out over the existence of Two Rivers, and even it is up at Florida Ave. That is not walking distance.

The Hill is a highly-educated, specialized subset of DC families, it is not representative of DC as a whole. In any event, the Hill's new favorite charters are: Latin, Yu Ying, and Basis. None of those are walkable.

I'd be interested to know more about what is driving this. Could it be Ward 6 parents wanting the OOB kids in their neighborhood schools to stay in Wards 7 & 8, and hoping that neighborhood preference for all the Anacostia-side charter schools will encourage them to do so?

[Anonymous]

Keep in mind that 70% of D.C.'s kids live east of the river. PCSB should be encouraging as many high-performing charters to go into Wards 7-8 as possible. Next, they should focus on getting more charters in 5 and 4. Perhaps they should not approve new charters unless they agree to locate in the underserved Wards. Too many charter schools are clinging to Wards 1-3. There are already excellent charters in these Wards, and thier parents are more likely to have other options. Perhaps having the neighborhood preference will even spur new development/growth in "unchic" neighborhoods like Brightwood and Brentwood. What a great idea!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:[
I'd be interested to know more about what is driving this. Could it be Ward 6 parents wanting the OOB kids in their neighborhood schools to stay in Wards 7 & 8, and hoping that neighborhood preference for all the Anacostia-side charter schools will encourage them to do so?

Tommy Wells would like to run for mayor, and this would be a big victory for affluent voters in Wards 1 and 4. Not that I am cynical or anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Keep in mind that 70% of D.C.'s kids live east of the river. PCSB should be encouraging as many high-performing charters to go into Wards 7-8 as possible. Next, they should focus on getting more charters in 5 and 4. Perhaps they should not approve new charters unless they agree to locate in the underserved Wards. Too many charter schools are clinging to Wards 1-3. There are already excellent charters in these Wards, and thier parents are more likely to have other options. Perhaps having the neighborhood preference will even spur new development/growth in "unchic" neighborhoods like Brightwood and Brentwood. What a great idea!

Charters go where they can afford to. Give DCPS a call and tell them to expedite handing over the keys to the vast catalog of failing schools. If they're in Wards 7 & 8, so be it. For the time being, expect them to be as close as possible to the geographic center of the city, in buildings they can afford to lease or purchase.

[Anonymous]

If charters take over DCPS buildings, they should be expected to give preference to the kids in that neighborhood. The idea that locations in the geographic center of the city are cheaper is COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM REALITY. Rents are much much cheaper in Wards 7-8-5-4 - there are simply two types of charters - those who focus on kids in 7/8 and those who aspire to serve the wealthy/middle class in Wards 1-3. Wards 5 and 4 are left completely out in the cold for the most part. The PCSB should not not approve charters in 1-3, until 5 and 4 get more schools.

[Anonymous]

How exactly would a charter be harmed by giving a walking distance preference for x% of spots in neighborhoods with a deficit of high quality seats? None of these posts explain why that is. If you can explain it in some way other than you want to keep out the demographic in walking distance to a school.

[Anonymous]

I heard that Tommy Wells is having a meeting on Charter Schools at Busboys and Poets on November 21st, does anyone know anything about this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If charters take over DCPS buildings, they should be expected to give preference to the kids in that neighborhood. The idea that locations in the geographic center of the city are cheaper is COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM REALITY. Rents are much much cheaper in Wards 7-8-5-4 - there are simply two types of charters - those who focus on kids in 7/8 and those who aspire to serve the wealthy/middle class in Wards 1-3. Wards 5 and 4 are left completely out in the cold for the most part. The PCSB should not not approve charters in 1-3, until 5 and 4 get more schools.

Happy to say this is not true. Haynes and Latin are in Ward 4.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No legislation yet, just a task force:

http://m.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc-schools-insider/post/dc-considers-neighborhood-admissions-preference-for-charter-schools/2012/10/03/b3934846-0cc6-11e2-bb5e-492c0d30bff6_blog.html

Tommy Wells is an old-fashioned liberal from the Hill. He will jam this through as he did the bag tax.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No legislation yet, just a task force:

http://m.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc-schools-insider/post/dc-considers-neighborhood-admissions-preference-for-charter-schools/2012/10/03/b3934846-0cc6-11e2-bb5e-492c0d30bff6_blog.html

Tommy Wells is an old-fashioned liberal from the Hill. He will jam this through as he did the bag tax.

Wells is backing David Grosso for Council so you might count on one more vote in favor of this Wells legislative agenda item.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Keep in mind that 70% of D.C.'s kids live east of the river. PCSB should be encouraging as many high-performing charters to go into Wards 7-8 as possible. Next, they should focus on getting more charters in 5 and 4. Perhaps they should not approve new charters unless they agree to locate in the underserved Wards. Too many charter schools are clinging to Wards 1-3. There are already excellent charters in these Wards, and thier parents are more likely to have other options. Perhaps having the neighborhood preference will even spur new development/growth in "unchic" neighborhoods like Brightwood and Brentwood. What a great idea!

Many many posters have said now that Ward 3 is well-served by charters.

I cannot think of a single one. Unless someone can provide the list of clandestine charters that serve Ward 3 "well" then please stop repeating that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Keep in mind that 70% of D.C.'s kids live east of the river. PCSB should be encouraging as many high-performing charters to go into Wards 7-8 as possible. Next, they should focus on getting more charters in 5 and 4. Perhaps they should not approve new charters unless they agree to locate in the underserved Wards. Too many charter schools are clinging to Wards 1-3. There are already excellent charters in these Wards, and thier parents are more likely to have other options. Perhaps having the neighborhood preference will even spur new development/growth in "unchic" neighborhoods like Brightwood and Brentwood. What a great idea!

Many many posters have said now that Ward 3 is well-served by charters.

I cannot think of a single one. Unless someone can provide the list of clandestine charters that serve Ward 3 "well" then please stop repeating that.

Ward 3 is under served by charters crowded in its decent traditional public schools. Latin has a strong contingent but is on the other side of the park and moving north across the park from Chevy Chase DC. That is Ward 4.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Keep in mind that 70% of D.C.'s kids live east of the river. PCSB should be encouraging as many high-performing charters to go into Wards 7-8 as possible. Next, they should focus on getting more charters in 5 and 4. Perhaps they should not approve new charters unless they agree to locate in the underserved Wards. Too many charter schools are clinging to Wards 1-3. There are already excellent charters in these Wards, and thier parents are more likely to have other options. Perhaps having the neighborhood preference will even spur new development/growth in "unchic" neighborhoods like Brightwood and Brentwood. What a great idea!

Many many posters have said now that Ward 3 is well-served by charters.

I cannot think of a single one. Unless someone can provide the list of clandestine charters that serve Ward 3 "well" then please stop repeating that.

Yes, Ward 3 has no real charters.

[Anonymous]

Ward 3 is under served by charters crowded in its decent traditional public schools. Latin has a strong contingent but is on the other side of the park and moving north across the park from Chevy Chase DC. That is Ward 4.

I know, that's my point. Let's everyone stop saying that "Wards 1-3 are well-served by charters already blah blah blah ... they have all the charters blah blah..."

There aren't any over here in Ward 3. The fact that a handful of elementary kids make the drive to YY and a couple dozen go to Latin -- schools in other Wards -- doesn't change facts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If charters take over DCPS buildings, they should be expected to give preference to the kids in that neighborhood. The idea that locations in the geographic center of the city are cheaper is COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM REALITY. Rents are much much cheaper in Wards 7-8-5-4 - there are simply two types of charters - those who focus on kids in 7/8 and those who aspire to serve the wealthy/middle class in Wards 1-3. Wards 5 and 4 are left completely out in the cold for the most part. The PCSB should not not approve charters in 1-3, until 5 and 4 get more schools.

Happy to say this is not true. Haynes and Latin are in Ward 4.

DUTY TO READ: "for the most part[!]"