BASIS DCPCSB to open two PK3-5 campuses
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
From the application. "As our search for a BASIS DC Primary school is still active, we continue to winnow the field of possible locations for further analysis. We know that charter schools in D.C. have a different demographic variation due to open enrollment and families/students who attend from every ward. We anticipate that our new primary school would reflect something similar to these schools (see footnote 11). Applying this information, together with the current demographic information for BASIS DC grades 5-12, we anticipate that the student population at BASIS DC primary campuses will reflect approximately 7-10% special education, 3 percent ELL, and 17 percent Economically Disadvantaged. ... Footnote 11 - The similar schools information provided in the Additional Materials (appendix H) shows E.L. Haynes in Ward 4 at 15 percent Special Education, 65 percent Economically Disadvantaged and 30 percent for English Language Learners. Two Rivers in Ward 6 shows 24 percent Special Education, 45 percent Economically Disadvantaged, and 4 percent English Language Learners. In Ward 5 for Charter Schools Yu Ying and Inspired Teaching Demonstration, the ranges are: 8-12 percent Special Education, 4-6 percent ELL, and 9-18 percent Economically Disadvantaged. |
Anonymous
that is interesting. How can they not knwo that play-based, whole child, arty farty is all the range for middle to high ses east coast parents?! In fact, I want that through middle school (well, in middle school, replace "play based" with "challenging, individualized, student driven"). |
Anonymous
|
Maybe they think that behind every parent who says they wants playbased secretly lives a tiger mom who cares about the PISA exam scores by country???
Or higher SES parents in Arizona don't want based, artsy fartsy? |
Anonymous
I would say that play based arty farty is a coastal thing. You want academic savants in the middle states lest you be left behind. Childhood is a privilege, a luxury. |
Anonymous
| So what are the chances of this application being approved? In it's first iteration or later? I don't know anything about the charter approval process. |
Anonymous
Very few amendments for successful charter schools - which the middle and high school are - are rejected. But BASIS also tends to generate more than its share of controversy. |
Anonymous
Why would it be akin to KIPP? KIPP serves 75% economically disadvantaged students, with some campuses being higher than that. Basis is looking for 17% economically disadvantaged. |
Anonymous
|
What BASIS is looking for and what they will get are not necessarily the same.
Only 12% of all lottery applications come from Wards 1-2 already. BASIS seems to think all of these families will choose them. The PP and I disagree. Parents in those wards have decent IB DCPS options, especially for the lower grades. Why would they choose a school with high-stakes testing starting in 1st and no playground or gym? |
Anonymous
I am also a BASIS parent and also am happy there (it works for us, doesn't work for everyone) -- and DS will (at least that's the plan) join big sister next year. Since I won't have any more kids in ES, the BASIS app for an amendment to their current charter doesn't apply directly to me (it doesn't seem like the ES will affect the MS/HS for us). I also wouldn't write -- maybe there are parents that want this for their kids and I believe in choice. BUT, my personal advice to close friends, family, and loved ones in DC is DO NOT CHOOSE THIS MODEL FOR ES. There is almost nothing on creativity (even art projects are very specific), play-based learning, or unstructured time. It is in exact contrast to everything that is being discovered about the best ways for the younger students to learn, thrive, and live. Social-emotional intelligence is the key to having well-balanced children. Having a kid re-do 1st grade over a test result seems like a sure-fire way to create life-long stresses, instability, and fear -- not a way to build up their confidence so they can succeed in a place like BASIS in the first place! |
Anonymous
|
Another BASIS DC parent--+1000 to the post above.
Also, to all parents who may have signed the list of parents interested in getting more information on the plans for a Basis primary last year--even if your desire for info had nothing to do with sending your child to a Basis elementary and/or you were just concerned about how the primary school might impact your child who was already at BDC, the school is purporting in their proposal to the PCSB that you and all the other parents interested in information are in fact clamoring for them to create a BDC elementary. They are now also proposing that 20% more students be allowed to occupy their Penn Quarter building. |
Anonymous
I would not believe everything you read on DCurbanmom. I was told otherwise in regards to the number of students so I will not believe this unless I see a link to a document saying otherwise. As for the elementary school model, everyone is making assumptions that their model will be drill and kill and be age inappropriate. I will not make this assumption at all since I have found their middle school methods age appropriate for the most part. The only thing I would like to see is a shorter school day and 10 to 20% less homework. But otherwise, the content they have covered and the methods they have used I believe are very accessible. A student will have a harder time if they are years behind or have little exposure to academic content. Our kid had a lot of exposure to the sort of things BASIS will most likely be covering in elementary school from what I can tell in age appropriate ways. Kids can actually learn a lot about history, grammar, science and so on at young ages in very fun ways. I think there is this notion that kids are unable to this which I think is wrong. Also, kids who go to a BASIS elementary school will most likely be more prepared for middle and high schools. |
Anonymous
Project enrollment/capacity for 8th street building is on page 3 of the proposal http://www.dcpcsb.org/sites/default/files/report/2016-09-02%20BASIS%20DC%20ES%20Amendment%20Application%20REDACTED.compressed.pdf Read pages 10-50 at the same link and decide for yourself if the approach is appropriate. -BDC middle school parent who read 100+ pages of this and would vote NO |
Anonymous
|
Just read a lot of the proposal and think they are crazy to think that they will siphon off students from the top Elementaries, just as I still think the McLean private is misguided.
-- happy BASIS DC high school parent |
Anonymous
|
I'm chuckling at the idea of my K student learning note taking strategies. Pictorial notes perhaps? Though 3/4 of the time I still have to ask her to tell me what precisely it is she drew since a person and a dinosaur look essentially the same in her drawings.
The focus on test taking at such an early age holds no appeal to me personally, but maybe there are other parents who prefer that method. |
Anonymous
Agree. But Basis McLean enrolled 300 students, across all grades, which was their goal. So maybe they're smarter than all of us. |