s/o CMI SN kids and typical kids

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you think CMI "over diagnoses" to get additional funding and keep close to their stated mission? My daughter chews her shirt when nervous-- is that age appropriate or pull-aside necessary? Would DCPS and CMI react in the same way? Money follows kids in both settings, and I would love to see a snapshot of that.

CMI (and other schools) don't "diagnose" anything. DCPS teachers refer kids to Early Stages (a DCPS "assessment center") for testing to determine whether they qualify for an IEP. Charter schools do not use Early Stages; CMI refers kids to independent 3rd party contractors who conduct the testing.

Re your child's chewing, if it's not disruptive to her learning, she probably wouldn't qualify for an IEP. However I would recommend buying her a chewy necklace or similar item so she doesn't destroy her clothes. They sell them on Amazon.

Given that DCPS early stages is the subject of a lawsuit (again?) that they're chronically under identifying kids with disabilities/in need of assistance, I'm not sure the fact that CMI or any other charter might identify more kids signifies much more than CMI and other charters are "over" identifying. Early stages has a series of procedures that nearly guarantees it misses kids who need assistance (chief among them is how hard it is to get Early Stages to conduct a classroom observation - you know, the place where kids are actually having the difficulty rather than some 1:1 testing environment), and I've heard frequent frustrations from school staff - charter and non - about sending a kid who clearly needs assistance/qualifies to early stages and getting back a "he's totally fine" judgment that seems divorced from reality. But I don't the get the implied opposition here to identifying kids who benefit from additional support?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:the other thread on CMI was getting off course. Curious to hear from parents of typical kids (no IEP or SN) at CMI. Are you happy? Do you feel like your kid is being challenged academically or are they getting shortchanged due to the high number of SN kids? according to previous thread at least 30% of kids have IEPs and a lot of the kids are on the austim spectrum. At no point was this mentioned as the founders mission during the open house. There is a lot of debate over how CMI successfully serves these two populations. So I want to hear from parents in the upper grades of elem how you feel about the academics? Is the school providing enough support for the SN kids so that your own kid is still getting adequate attention? How are behavioral issue dealt with in the classroom? I love the school, its on our short list but now that I am hearing from parents that the school is primarily geared toward specail needs/austistic children it may not be the best fit as our kid hits 2nd or 3rd grade and needs a lot more academic focus.

I have a child on the autism spectrum, and I can guarantee she is smarter than yours. Probably nicer, too.

(I'm not nicer obviously, but I've learned to fight for kids like her against troglodytes like you.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CMI shall soon realize: you're in the heart of DC and better get ready for the influx of diversity, the like private oasis you've gone through extreme lengths and expensive attorneys to protect is over. public means public.

Ha ha ha!! You are so off-base. I am an AA parent whose children attend CMI. The school is about as diverse as you can get. It truly is like a Benetton ad. Oh and those expensive attorneys are a figment of your imagination...the school cannot afford them. The admin is stretched to capacity trying to create a great school and has no time to protect its "private oasis". Nothing to see here. Carry on.

AA parent awesome, FARMS families need to speak up. They would never have Benetton in their lexicon. I think CMI is doing great work, but I continue to worry that they rest on their long waitlists, but don't take what I feel like the responsibilities of charter schools to be seriously via recruitment, etc -- to reach out and support ALL kids in DC. Has Creative Minds ever had a recruitment event or public information EOTR?

Yes, I'm a CMI parent and I have been working with both Ward 7 and Ward 8 to do recruitment. We also were to attend the Ward 8 education fest (which was snowed out). We have a very active group doing recruitment, especially for our middle school.

why does CMI need to recruit? its racially diverse, and economically diverse that actually reflect the city as a whole? also, why would most Ward 7 and 8 parents want to haul their kids to petworth? I am so tired of this never ending discussion about what makes a good school. CMI is a lottery. they don't keep any particular students out. I think the nasty anti CMI folks are just pissed they didn't get in. And honestly why would any school want to add even more FARMS kids??

Well, because that's the fundamental job of a PUBLIC school? To serve all children who could and would like to attend? Does CMI have a map breakdown of their enrollees? Do they have more than 10 from Wards 7 and 8? Is this information public? The only reason I ask is that I feel like a commitment to misson means a commitment to recruitment in the WHOLE city.

Then those families can apply. Anyone can apply. Let's just be frank here- higher SES families do more research and attend more open houses and do the legwork to research the schools that are best for their kids. If parents choose not to do that, and attend their neighborhood school, why is it CMI's fault that their enrollment is what it is? I am so sick and tired of this conspiracy theory that the admin somehow created this enclave of white kids. It's a random lottery!! There's no control over anything. And for this of you who haven't noticed, the founder herself is ethnic!

Aren't we all ethnic?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CMI shall soon realize: you're in the heart of DC and better get ready for the influx of diversity, the like private oasis you've gone through extreme lengths and expensive attorneys to protect is over. public means public.

Ha ha ha!! You are so off-base. I am an AA parent whose children attend CMI. The school is about as diverse as you can get. It truly is like a Benetton ad. Oh and those expensive attorneys are a figment of your imagination...the school cannot afford them. The admin is stretched to capacity trying to create a great school and has no time to protect its "private oasis". Nothing to see here. Carry on.

AA parent awesome, FARMS families need to speak up. They would never have Benetton in their lexicon. I think CMI is doing great work, but I continue to worry that they rest on their long waitlists, but don't take what I feel like the responsibilities of charter schools to be seriously via recruitment, etc -- to reach out and support ALL kids in DC. Has Creative Minds ever had a recruitment event or public information EOTR?

Yes, I'm a CMI parent and I have been working with both Ward 7 and Ward 8 to do recruitment. We also were to attend the Ward 8 education fest (which was snowed out). We have a very active group doing recruitment, especially for our middle school.

why does CMI need to recruit? its racially diverse, and economically diverse that actually reflect the city as a whole? also, why would most Ward 7 and 8 parents want to haul their kids to petworth? I am so tired of this never ending discussion about what makes a good school. CMI is a lottery. they don't keep any particular students out. I think the nasty anti CMI folks are just pissed they didn't get in. And honestly why would any school want to add even more FARMS kids??

Well, because that's the fundamental job of a PUBLIC school? To serve all children who could and would like to attend? Does CMI have a map breakdown of their enrollees? Do they have more than 10 from Wards 7 and 8? Is this information public? The only reason I ask is that I feel like a commitment to misson means a commitment to recruitment in the WHOLE city.

Then those families can apply. Anyone can apply. Let's just be frank here- higher SES families do more research and attend more open houses and do the legwork to research the schools that are best for their kids. If parents choose not to do that, and attend their neighborhood school, why is it CMI's fault that their enrollment is what it is? I am so sick and tired of this conspiracy theory that the admin somehow created this enclave of white kids. It's a random lottery!! There's no control over anything. And for this of you who haven't noticed, the founder herself is ethnic!

Aren't we all ethnic?!

Not WOTP we arent. (I joke)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the other thread on CMI was getting off course. Curious to hear from parents of typical kids (no IEP or SN) at CMI. Are you happy? Do you feel like your kid is being challenged academically or are they getting shortchanged due to the high number of SN kids? according to previous thread at least 30% of kids have IEPs and a lot of the kids are on the austim spectrum. At no point was this mentioned as the founders mission during the open house. There is a lot of debate over how CMI successfully serves these two populations. So I want to hear from parents in the upper grades of elem how you feel about the academics? Is the school providing enough support for the SN kids so that your own kid is still getting adequate attention? How are behavioral issue dealt with in the classroom? I love the school, its on our short list but now that I am hearing from parents that the school is primarily geared toward specail needs/austistic children it may not be the best fit as our kid hits 2nd or 3rd grade and needs a lot more academic focus.

I have a child on the autism spectrum, and I can guarantee she is smarter than yours. Probably nicer, too.

(I'm not nicer obviously, but I've learned to fight for kids like her against troglodytes like you.)

Goodness, where does your anger come from? frustration over your child or frustration that the school isn't serving your kid? I think its a fair question given that so many parents piped in that CMI was always intended to serve SN kids but no mention at all is made of that as the mission at the open houses. So now when parents ask questions you assume they are making a personal attack against your kid? I am sorry for all you have dealt with, truly but raging against parent you don't know on an anonymous forum isn;t going to help your child or services for your child. I hope that you find peace in your situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:God forbid the "SN" kids contaminate your own special snowflake.

God forbid your own special snowflake from spending time with other special snowflakes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CMI shall soon realize: you're in the heart of DC and better get ready for the influx of diversity, the like private oasis you've gone through extreme lengths and expensive attorneys to protect is over. public means public.

Ha ha ha!! You are so off-base. I am an AA parent whose children attend CMI. The school is about as diverse as you can get. It truly is like a Benetton ad. Oh and those expensive attorneys are a figment of your imagination...the school cannot afford them. The admin is stretched to capacity trying to create a great school and has no time to protect its "private oasis". Nothing to see here. Carry on.

AA parent awesome, FARMS families need to speak up. They would never have Benetton in their lexicon. I think CMI is doing great work, but I continue to worry that they rest on their long waitlists, but don't take what I feel like the responsibilities of charter schools to be seriously via recruitment, etc -- to reach out and support ALL kids in DC. Has Creative Minds ever had a recruitment event or public information EOTR?

Yes, I'm a CMI parent and I have been working with both Ward 7 and Ward 8 to do recruitment. We also were to attend the Ward 8 education fest (which was snowed out). We have a very active group doing recruitment, especially for our middle school.

why does CMI need to recruit? its racially diverse, and economically diverse that actually reflect the city as a whole? also, why would most Ward 7 and 8 parents want to haul their kids to petworth? I am so tired of this never ending discussion about what makes a good school. CMI is a lottery. they don't keep any particular students out. I think the nasty anti CMI folks are just pissed they didn't get in. And honestly why would any school want to add even more FARMS kids??

Well, because that's the fundamental job of a PUBLIC school? To serve all children who could and would like to attend? Does CMI have a map breakdown of their enrollees? Do they have more than 10 from Wards 7 and 8? Is this information public? The only reason I ask is that I feel like a commitment to misson means a commitment to recruitment in the WHOLE city.

Just to be aware, the commute to CMI from Ward 6, 7 and 8 is 30 min to 60 min one way.

That's clearly discriminatory. They should have a campus in every Ward, especially 7 and 8.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Just to be aware, the commute to CMI from Ward 6, 7 and 8 is 30 min to 60 min one way.

That's clearly discriminatory. They should have a campus in every Ward, especially 7 and 8.

It is 30 minutes from ward 3 also. What's your point?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Just to be aware, the commute to CMI from Ward 6, 7 and 8 is 30 min to 60 min one way.

That's clearly discriminatory. They should have a campus in every Ward, especially 7 and 8.

It is 30 minutes from ward 3 also. What's your point?

And, to be honest...there are not that many WOTP families either. The few I do know are SAHPs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Just to be aware, the commute to CMI from Ward 6, 7 and 8 is 30 min to 60 min one way.

That's clearly discriminatory. They should have a campus in every Ward, especially 7 and 8.

It is 30 minutes from ward 3 also. What's your point?

Very discriminatory too.

They should have a campus 10 minutes from our house, walking

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Just to be aware, the commute to CMI from Ward 6, 7 and 8 is 30 min to 60 min one way.

That's clearly discriminatory. They should have a campus in every Ward, especially 7 and 8.

It is 30 minutes from ward 3 also. What's your point?

Very discriminatory too.

They should have a campus 10 minutes from our house, walking

They should put a campus in each persons house. CMI should personal come to everyone's house in the morning and teach all kids in DC. All CMI in all 8 Wards.

CMI for All!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Just to be aware, the commute to CMI from Ward 6, 7 and 8 is 30 min to 60 min one way.

That's clearly discriminatory. They should have a campus in every Ward, especially 7 and 8.

It is 30 minutes from ward 3 also. What's your point?

Very discriminatory too.

They should have a campus 10 minutes from our house, walking

They should put a campus in each persons house. CMI should personal come to everyone's house in the morning and teach all kids in DC. All CMI in all 8 Wards.

CMI for All!!

+1. Short of that, CMI is clearly cherry picking some kids and excluding others

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Just to be aware, the commute to CMI from Ward 6, 7 and 8 is 30 min to 60 min one way.

That's clearly discriminatory. They should have a campus in every Ward, especially 7 and 8.

It is 30 minutes from ward 3 also. What's your point?

Very discriminatory too.

They should have a campus 10 minutes from our house, walking

They should put a campus in each persons house. CMI should personal come to everyone's house in the morning and teach all kids in DC. All CMI in all 8 Wards.

CMI for All!!

+1. Short of that, CMI is clearly cherry picking some kids and excluding others

thats just not true. Its a lottery people. How are they cherry picking? this myth needs to die.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Just to be aware, the commute to CMI from Ward 6, 7 and 8 is 30 min to 60 min one way.

That's clearly discriminatory. They should have a campus in every Ward, especially 7 and 8.

It is 30 minutes from ward 3 also. What's your point?

Very discriminatory too.

They should have a campus 10 minutes from our house, walking

They should put a campus in each persons house. CMI should personal come to everyone's house in the morning and teach all kids in DC. All CMI in all 8 Wards.

CMI for All!!

+1. Short of that, CMI is clearly cherry picking some kids and excluding others

thats just not true. Its a lottery people. How are they cherry picking? this myth needs to die.

Yeah, but the lottery favors parents with time and a brain to conduct good research. It is self-selecting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the other thread on CMI was getting off course. Curious to hear from parents of typical kids (no IEP or SN) at CMI. Are you happy? Do you feel like your kid is being challenged academically or are they getting shortchanged due to the high number of SN kids? according to previous thread at least 30% of kids have IEPs and a lot of the kids are on the austim spectrum. At no point was this mentioned as the founders mission during the open house. There is a lot of debate over how CMI successfully serves these two populations. So I want to hear from parents in the upper grades of elem how you feel about the academics? Is the school providing enough support for the SN kids so that your own kid is still getting adequate attention? How are behavioral issue dealt with in the classroom? I love the school, its on our short list but now that I am hearing from parents that the school is primarily geared toward specail needs/austistic children it may not be the best fit as our kid hits 2nd or 3rd grade and needs a lot more academic focus.

I have a child on the autism spectrum, and I can guarantee she is smarter than yours. Probably nicer, too.

(I'm not nicer obviously, but I've learned to fight for kids like her against troglodytes like you.)

Goodness, where does your anger come from? frustration over your child or frustration that the school isn't serving your kid? I think its a fair question given that so many parents piped in that CMI was always intended to serve SN kids but no mention at all is made of that as the mission at the open houses. So now when parents ask questions you assume they are making a personal attack against your kid? I am sorry for all you have dealt with, truly but raging against parent you don't know on an anonymous forum isn;t going to help your child or services for your child. I hope that you find peace in your situation.

NP here. I would guess her anger -- and my anger -- comes from the idea that a school that may be "primarily geared toward autistic children" is at odds with children who "need a lot more academic focus." My autistic child absolutely needs an academic focus and I take great offense at the idea that helping my child learn to play on the playground and learn above grade level math will somehow take away from your child's "academic focus."