Basis fills a gap that shouldn’t exist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But PPs who are Basis parents compare it to their regular public school growing up. It can’t be so very difficult that no kid coming in via the lottery could handle it. It’s too bad no one even gets the chance.

Really, it's the math. Basis 7th graders take Algebra. Basis 9th graders take pre-calc, etc. If a kid is trying to enter in 7th, and they were already on a track to take Algebra in 7th, they would be fine at Basis. A lot of kids in DC are on that track and would be fine. A lot aren't, and entering Basis would entail completely skipping pre-algebra and then likely failing Algebra because they weren't ready. Almost all of the kids who are academic wash-outs from Basis either entered in 5th with extremely shaky math foundations, or needed a slower pace of math instruction and were not going to be ready for Algebra in 7th anywhere.

Not only is basis prohibited from using any admissions tests in the upper grades, but also they're not allowed to admit or not based on transcripts from previous schools. So they can't even set "passing pre-algebra in a previous school" as a criterion for 7th grade entry. Since Basis can't do anything at all to ensure that the kid would have a reasonable shot of succeeding at Basis, they don't admit in the higher grades. Take it up with DC politicians if you disagree with the laws governing charter schools.

No one should have to roll the dice like this. If you get into BASIS in 5th, the school should have to teach to your level. Which means if a kid needs a slower pace of math, the school should offer it. Think how damaging that could be to a perfectly bright kid who enters BASIS with the right foundations but simply cannot keep up with the pace, is then told that rather than just moving to a slower paced math track, they must repeat the same higher paced math, and that the math acceleration will never let up while they are at the school so it's sink or swim.

To say "oh well that 10/11 year old couldn't hack it, tough luck kid" is an unserious attitude that does not belong in public education. We're not even talking about a kid with a learning disorder or other disability (though BASIS wants nothing to do with those kids unless they can medicate the issues away so they don't impact the BASIS approach to education in any way). We're talking about a kid who may be perfectly intelligent, on grade level in math coming into BASIS, but simply not able to keep up with the accelerated pathway. And we are acting like it's fine for the school to chew up that kid and spit them back out (no consideration to the impact that could have on that child's confidence academically moving forward, a child who isn't even in 6th grade yet).

That's messed up. BASIS is not an applications school but they act like they are, and that's the problem. If you want an application school, get DC to change the rules to permit a charter to be application only. But the current situation serves a tiny number of students *at the expense* of other students. That is not in keeping with the goals of the system.

BASIS has high standards. If you prefer low standards, there's lots of DCPS schools to choose from.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But PPs who are Basis parents compare it to their regular public school growing up. It can’t be so very difficult that no kid coming in via the lottery could handle it. It’s too bad no one even gets the chance.

Really, it's the math. Basis 7th graders take Algebra. Basis 9th graders take pre-calc, etc. If a kid is trying to enter in 7th, and they were already on a track to take Algebra in 7th, they would be fine at Basis. A lot of kids in DC are on that track and would be fine. A lot aren't, and entering Basis would entail completely skipping pre-algebra and then likely failing Algebra because they weren't ready. Almost all of the kids who are academic wash-outs from Basis either entered in 5th with extremely shaky math foundations, or needed a slower pace of math instruction and were not going to be ready for Algebra in 7th anywhere.

Not only is basis prohibited from using any admissions tests in the upper grades, but also they're not allowed to admit or not based on transcripts from previous schools. So they can't even set "passing pre-algebra in a previous school" as a criterion for 7th grade entry. Since Basis can't do anything at all to ensure that the kid would have a reasonable shot of succeeding at Basis, they don't admit in the higher grades. Take it up with DC politicians if you disagree with the laws governing charter schools.

No one should have to roll the dice like this. If you get into BASIS in 5th, the school should have to teach to your level. Which means if a kid needs a slower pace of math, the school should offer it. Think how damaging that could be to a perfectly bright kid who enters BASIS with the right foundations but simply cannot keep up with the pace, is then told that rather than just moving to a slower paced math track, they must repeat the same higher paced math, and that the math acceleration will never let up while they are at the school so it's sink or swim.

To say "oh well that 10/11 year old couldn't hack it, tough luck kid" is an unserious attitude that does not belong in public education. We're not even talking about a kid with a learning disorder or other disability (though BASIS wants nothing to do with those kids unless they can medicate the issues away so they don't impact the BASIS approach to education in any way). We're talking about a kid who may be perfectly intelligent, on grade level in math coming into BASIS, but simply not able to keep up with the accelerated pathway. And we are acting like it's fine for the school to chew up that kid and spit them back out (no consideration to the impact that could have on that child's confidence academically moving forward, a child who isn't even in 6th grade yet).

That's messed up. BASIS is not an applications school but they act like they are, and that's the problem. If you want an application school, get DC to change the rules to permit a charter to be application only. But the current situation serves a tiny number of students *at the expense* of other students. That is not in keeping with the goals of the system.

BASIS has high standards. If you prefer low standards, there's lots of DCPS schools to choose from.

“BASIS: Our model is sacrosanct. Your children are disposable.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But PPs who are Basis parents compare it to their regular public school growing up. It can’t be so very difficult that no kid coming in via the lottery could handle it. It’s too bad no one even gets the chance.

Really, it's the math. Basis 7th graders take Algebra. Basis 9th graders take pre-calc, etc. If a kid is trying to enter in 7th, and they were already on a track to take Algebra in 7th, they would be fine at Basis. A lot of kids in DC are on that track and would be fine. A lot aren't, and entering Basis would entail completely skipping pre-algebra and then likely failing Algebra because they weren't ready. Almost all of the kids who are academic wash-outs from Basis either entered in 5th with extremely shaky math foundations, or needed a slower pace of math instruction and were not going to be ready for Algebra in 7th anywhere.

Not only is basis prohibited from using any admissions tests in the upper grades, but also they're not allowed to admit or not based on transcripts from previous schools. So they can't even set "passing pre-algebra in a previous school" as a criterion for 7th grade entry. Since Basis can't do anything at all to ensure that the kid would have a reasonable shot of succeeding at Basis, they don't admit in the higher grades. Take it up with DC politicians if you disagree with the laws governing charter schools.

No one should have to roll the dice like this. If you get into BASIS in 5th, the school should have to teach to your level. Which means if a kid needs a slower pace of math, the school should offer it. Think how damaging that could be to a perfectly bright kid who enters BASIS with the right foundations but simply cannot keep up with the pace, is then told that rather than just moving to a slower paced math track, they must repeat the same higher paced math, and that the math acceleration will never let up while they are at the school so it's sink or swim.

To say "oh well that 10/11 year old couldn't hack it, tough luck kid" is an unserious attitude that does not belong in public education. We're not even talking about a kid with a learning disorder or other disability (though BASIS wants nothing to do with those kids unless they can medicate the issues away so they don't impact the BASIS approach to education in any way). We're talking about a kid who may be perfectly intelligent, on grade level in math coming into BASIS, but simply not able to keep up with the accelerated pathway. And we are acting like it's fine for the school to chew up that kid and spit them back out (no consideration to the impact that could have on that child's confidence academically moving forward, a child who isn't even in 6th grade yet).

That's messed up. BASIS is not an applications school but they act like they are, and that's the problem. If you want an application school, get DC to change the rules to permit a charter to be application only. But the current situation serves a tiny number of students *at the expense* of other students. That is not in keeping with the goals of the system.

BASIS has high standards. If you prefer low standards, there's lots of DCPS schools to choose from.

This. If Basis lowered its standards and offered slower math tracks, even more average kids whose needs would be met anywhere would take spots away from the advanced kids who need what Basis has to offer. There are so many schools catering to kids who are at or below grade level. Why is it such a problem for you for one school to cater to advanced learners?

It also isn't rolling the dice. 3rd and 4th grade testing should give parents a pretty good clue about their kid's optimal math placement. Too many parents have overinflated views of their kids' abilities or have too much wishful thinking when they apply to Basis. If your kid is not testing at the 90th percentile or higher in math ability, they are unlikely to belong in 7th grade Algebra at any school. It's foolish to place a kid in a 7th grade Algebra program like Basis if the kid does not have enough math aptitude to be on that track.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But PPs who are Basis parents compare it to their regular public school growing up. It can’t be so very difficult that no kid coming in via the lottery could handle it. It’s too bad no one even gets the chance.

Really, it's the math. Basis 7th graders take Algebra. Basis 9th graders take pre-calc, etc. If a kid is trying to enter in 7th, and they were already on a track to take Algebra in 7th, they would be fine at Basis. A lot of kids in DC are on that track and would be fine. A lot aren't, and entering Basis would entail completely skipping pre-algebra and then likely failing Algebra because they weren't ready. Almost all of the kids who are academic wash-outs from Basis either entered in 5th with extremely shaky math foundations, or needed a slower pace of math instruction and were not going to be ready for Algebra in 7th anywhere.

Not only is basis prohibited from using any admissions tests in the upper grades, but also they're not allowed to admit or not based on transcripts from previous schools. So they can't even set "passing pre-algebra in a previous school" as a criterion for 7th grade entry. Since Basis can't do anything at all to ensure that the kid would have a reasonable shot of succeeding at Basis, they don't admit in the higher grades. Take it up with DC politicians if you disagree with the laws governing charter schools.

No one should have to roll the dice like this. If you get into BASIS in 5th, the school should have to teach to your level. Which means if a kid needs a slower pace of math, the school should offer it. Think how damaging that could be to a perfectly bright kid who enters BASIS with the right foundations but simply cannot keep up with the pace, is then told that rather than just moving to a slower paced math track, they must repeat the same higher paced math, and that the math acceleration will never let up while they are at the school so it's sink or swim.

To say "oh well that 10/11 year old couldn't hack it, tough luck kid" is an unserious attitude that does not belong in public education. We're not even talking about a kid with a learning disorder or other disability (though BASIS wants nothing to do with those kids unless they can medicate the issues away so they don't impact the BASIS approach to education in any way). We're talking about a kid who may be perfectly intelligent, on grade level in math coming into BASIS, but simply not able to keep up with the accelerated pathway. And we are acting like it's fine for the school to chew up that kid and spit them back out (no consideration to the impact that could have on that child's confidence academically moving forward, a child who isn't even in 6th grade yet).

That's messed up. BASIS is not an applications school but they act like they are, and that's the problem. If you want an application school, get DC to change the rules to permit a charter to be application only. But the current situation serves a tiny number of students *at the expense* of other students. That is not in keeping with the goals of the system.

BASIS has high standards. If you prefer low standards, there's lots of DCPS schools to choose from.

“BASIS: Our model is sacrosanct. Your children are disposable.”

More like:
"BASIS: For once, advanced and motivated kids are not disposable."
"You/DCPS: Nonsense. Those advanced kids are perfectly fine being ignored by the teacher and twiddling their thumbs all day while the teachers spend all of their time with the many below grade level kids."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But PPs who are Basis parents compare it to their regular public school growing up. It can’t be so very difficult that no kid coming in via the lottery could handle it. It’s too bad no one even gets the chance.

Really, it's the math. Basis 7th graders take Algebra. Basis 9th graders take pre-calc, etc. If a kid is trying to enter in 7th, and they were already on a track to take Algebra in 7th, they would be fine at Basis. A lot of kids in DC are on that track and would be fine. A lot aren't, and entering Basis would entail completely skipping pre-algebra and then likely failing Algebra because they weren't ready. Almost all of the kids who are academic wash-outs from Basis either entered in 5th with extremely shaky math foundations, or needed a slower pace of math instruction and were not going to be ready for Algebra in 7th anywhere.

Not only is basis prohibited from using any admissions tests in the upper grades, but also they're not allowed to admit or not based on transcripts from previous schools. So they can't even set "passing pre-algebra in a previous school" as a criterion for 7th grade entry. Since Basis can't do anything at all to ensure that the kid would have a reasonable shot of succeeding at Basis, they don't admit in the higher grades. Take it up with DC politicians if you disagree with the laws governing charter schools.

No one should have to roll the dice like this. If you get into BASIS in 5th, the school should have to teach to your level. Which means if a kid needs a slower pace of math, the school should offer it. Think how damaging that could be to a perfectly bright kid who enters BASIS with the right foundations but simply cannot keep up with the pace, is then told that rather than just moving to a slower paced math track, they must repeat the same higher paced math, and that the math acceleration will never let up while they are at the school so it's sink or swim.

To say "oh well that 10/11 year old couldn't hack it, tough luck kid" is an unserious attitude that does not belong in public education. We're not even talking about a kid with a learning disorder or other disability (though BASIS wants nothing to do with those kids unless they can medicate the issues away so they don't impact the BASIS approach to education in any way). We're talking about a kid who may be perfectly intelligent, on grade level in math coming into BASIS, but simply not able to keep up with the accelerated pathway. And we are acting like it's fine for the school to chew up that kid and spit them back out (no consideration to the impact that could have on that child's confidence academically moving forward, a child who isn't even in 6th grade yet).

That's messed up. BASIS is not an applications school but they act like they are, and that's the problem. If you want an application school, get DC to change the rules to permit a charter to be application only. But the current situation serves a tiny number of students *at the expense* of other students. That is not in keeping with the goals of the system.

BASIS has high standards. If you prefer low standards, there's lots of DCPS schools to choose from.

Definitely one BASIS troll in particular on this post who is keeping it alive with their crappy remarks about all other DC schools and the kids who don't find BASIS appealing. The same person is also making similar remarks on the waitlist data post. You have too much time on your hands and a lot of anger. Go touch grass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But PPs who are Basis parents compare it to their regular public school growing up. It can’t be so very difficult that no kid coming in via the lottery could handle it. It’s too bad no one even gets the chance.

Really, it's the math. Basis 7th graders take Algebra. Basis 9th graders take pre-calc, etc. If a kid is trying to enter in 7th, and they were already on a track to take Algebra in 7th, they would be fine at Basis. A lot of kids in DC are on that track and would be fine. A lot aren't, and entering Basis would entail completely skipping pre-algebra and then likely failing Algebra because they weren't ready. Almost all of the kids who are academic wash-outs from Basis either entered in 5th with extremely shaky math foundations, or needed a slower pace of math instruction and were not going to be ready for Algebra in 7th anywhere.

Not only is basis prohibited from using any admissions tests in the upper grades, but also they're not allowed to admit or not based on transcripts from previous schools. So they can't even set "passing pre-algebra in a previous school" as a criterion for 7th grade entry. Since Basis can't do anything at all to ensure that the kid would have a reasonable shot of succeeding at Basis, they don't admit in the higher grades. Take it up with DC politicians if you disagree with the laws governing charter schools.

No one should have to roll the dice like this. If you get into BASIS in 5th, the school should have to teach to your level. Which means if a kid needs a slower pace of math, the school should offer it. Think how damaging that could be to a perfectly bright kid who enters BASIS with the right foundations but simply cannot keep up with the pace, is then told that rather than just moving to a slower paced math track, they must repeat the same higher paced math, and that the math acceleration will never let up while they are at the school so it's sink or swim.

To say "oh well that 10/11 year old couldn't hack it, tough luck kid" is an unserious attitude that does not belong in public education. We're not even talking about a kid with a learning disorder or other disability (though BASIS wants nothing to do with those kids unless they can medicate the issues away so they don't impact the BASIS approach to education in any way). We're talking about a kid who may be perfectly intelligent, on grade level in math coming into BASIS, but simply not able to keep up with the accelerated pathway. And we are acting like it's fine for the school to chew up that kid and spit them back out (no consideration to the impact that could have on that child's confidence academically moving forward, a child who isn't even in 6th grade yet).

That's messed up. BASIS is not an applications school but they act like they are, and that's the problem. If you want an application school, get DC to change the rules to permit a charter to be application only. But the current situation serves a tiny number of students *at the expense* of other students. That is not in keeping with the goals of the system.

Please save your outrage to the vast majority of school in DC, which don't meet the needs of advanced students.

As in 20 out of the 25 public middle schools would be completely deficient and inappropriate for a student who needs advanced math. Thos kid would get it in the suburbs, or Deal/Hardy/BASIS/Latin/DCI but not in the MAJORITY of public middle schools in DC.

That's the failure of our system, and the point of this thread.

Kids are failed by the system, which includes BASIS.

Some of you are dividing kids into two groups: (1) smart, capable kids who respond well to the BASIS approach and are failed by other schools, (2) unintelligent, unmotivated kids who can't hack it at BASIS so should be left for the substandard options in DCPS.

You are missing that this city has tons of smart, capable kids who are not well served by BASIS, and not well served by DCPS, but still need a place to go to school. In fact I'd argue that group is probably a lot larger than those that are well-served by BASIS. And yet no one seems to have any interested in meeting their educational needs. It's deeply frustrating, and that is what this thread is actually about. The "gap" BASIS fills shouldn't exist AND also it doesn't even fill it particularly well.

[Anonymous]

And now to bring this thread full circle...
There is none of the Basis agita in Arizona, because Arizona has so much more school choice. Many districts let you pupil place into any public. There are a lot of magnet school options. It's rare to be shut out of any charter that you wanted. Private schools tend to be much more affordable.

The weird Basis boosting/hating dynamic in DC is because people have so few decent options. If you're unlucky in the lottery, you're shut out from Basis completely. If you wanted Latin or didn't think Basis would be a good fit, but were only somewhat lucky in the lottery, you might be stuck at Basis and resentful that you couldn't get what you wanted. If you try Basis and it's a bad fit, your options to leave are much more limited. Private schools are prohibitively expensive for many.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But PPs who are Basis parents compare it to their regular public school growing up. It can’t be so very difficult that no kid coming in via the lottery could handle it. It’s too bad no one even gets the chance.

Really, it's the math. Basis 7th graders take Algebra. Basis 9th graders take pre-calc, etc. If a kid is trying to enter in 7th, and they were already on a track to take Algebra in 7th, they would be fine at Basis. A lot of kids in DC are on that track and would be fine. A lot aren't, and entering Basis would entail completely skipping pre-algebra and then likely failing Algebra because they weren't ready. Almost all of the kids who are academic wash-outs from Basis either entered in 5th with extremely shaky math foundations, or needed a slower pace of math instruction and were not going to be ready for Algebra in 7th anywhere.

Not only is basis prohibited from using any admissions tests in the upper grades, but also they're not allowed to admit or not based on transcripts from previous schools. So they can't even set "passing pre-algebra in a previous school" as a criterion for 7th grade entry. Since Basis can't do anything at all to ensure that the kid would have a reasonable shot of succeeding at Basis, they don't admit in the higher grades. Take it up with DC politicians if you disagree with the laws governing charter schools.

No one should have to roll the dice like this. If you get into BASIS in 5th, the school should have to teach to your level. Which means if a kid needs a slower pace of math, the school should offer it. Think how damaging that could be to a perfectly bright kid who enters BASIS with the right foundations but simply cannot keep up with the pace, is then told that rather than just moving to a slower paced math track, they must repeat the same higher paced math, and that the math acceleration will never let up while they are at the school so it's sink or swim.

To say "oh well that 10/11 year old couldn't hack it, tough luck kid" is an unserious attitude that does not belong in public education. We're not even talking about a kid with a learning disorder or other disability (though BASIS wants nothing to do with those kids unless they can medicate the issues away so they don't impact the BASIS approach to education in any way). We're talking about a kid who may be perfectly intelligent, on grade level in math coming into BASIS, but simply not able to keep up with the accelerated pathway. And we are acting like it's fine for the school to chew up that kid and spit them back out (no consideration to the impact that could have on that child's confidence academically moving forward, a child who isn't even in 6th grade yet).

That's messed up. BASIS is not an applications school but they act like they are, and that's the problem. If you want an application school, get DC to change the rules to permit a charter to be application only. But the current situation serves a tiny number of students *at the expense* of other students. That is not in keeping with the goals of the system.

Please save your outrage to the vast majority of school in DC, which don't meet the needs of advanced students.

As in 20 out of the 25 public middle schools would be completely deficient and inappropriate for a student who needs advanced math. Thos kid would get it in the suburbs, or Deal/Hardy/BASIS/Latin/DCI but not in the MAJORITY of public middle schools in DC.

That's the failure of our system, and the point of this thread.

Kids are failed by the system, which includes BASIS.

Some of you are dividing kids into two groups: (1) smart, capable kids who respond well to the BASIS approach and are failed by other schools, (2) unintelligent, unmotivated kids who can't hack it at BASIS so should be left for the substandard options in DCPS.

You are missing that this city has tons of smart, capable kids who are not well served by BASIS, and not well served by DCPS, but still need a place to go to school. In fact I'd argue that group is probably a lot larger than those that are well-served by BASIS. And yet no one seems to have any interested in meeting their educational needs. It's deeply frustrating, and that is what this thread is actually about. The "gap" BASIS fills shouldn't exist AND also it doesn't even fill it particularly well.

Aren't Latin and DCI serving this group well? I live EOTP, have many friends with kids in these two schools and they are all super happy. at a slight step down are SH and ITDS, but people seem generally happy (though universally they are stressed about high school).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But PPs who are Basis parents compare it to their regular public school growing up. It can’t be so very difficult that no kid coming in via the lottery could handle it. It’s too bad no one even gets the chance.

Really, it's the math. Basis 7th graders take Algebra. Basis 9th graders take pre-calc, etc. If a kid is trying to enter in 7th, and they were already on a track to take Algebra in 7th, they would be fine at Basis. A lot of kids in DC are on that track and would be fine. A lot aren't, and entering Basis would entail completely skipping pre-algebra and then likely failing Algebra because they weren't ready. Almost all of the kids who are academic wash-outs from Basis either entered in 5th with extremely shaky math foundations, or needed a slower pace of math instruction and were not going to be ready for Algebra in 7th anywhere.

Not only is basis prohibited from using any admissions tests in the upper grades, but also they're not allowed to admit or not based on transcripts from previous schools. So they can't even set "passing pre-algebra in a previous school" as a criterion for 7th grade entry. Since Basis can't do anything at all to ensure that the kid would have a reasonable shot of succeeding at Basis, they don't admit in the higher grades. Take it up with DC politicians if you disagree with the laws governing charter schools.

No one should have to roll the dice like this. If you get into BASIS in 5th, the school should have to teach to your level. Which means if a kid needs a slower pace of math, the school should offer it. Think how damaging that could be to a perfectly bright kid who enters BASIS with the right foundations but simply cannot keep up with the pace, is then told that rather than just moving to a slower paced math track, they must repeat the same higher paced math, and that the math acceleration will never let up while they are at the school so it's sink or swim.

To say "oh well that 10/11 year old couldn't hack it, tough luck kid" is an unserious attitude that does not belong in public education. We're not even talking about a kid with a learning disorder or other disability (though BASIS wants nothing to do with those kids unless they can medicate the issues away so they don't impact the BASIS approach to education in any way). We're talking about a kid who may be perfectly intelligent, on grade level in math coming into BASIS, but simply not able to keep up with the accelerated pathway. And we are acting like it's fine for the school to chew up that kid and spit them back out (no consideration to the impact that could have on that child's confidence academically moving forward, a child who isn't even in 6th grade yet).

That's messed up. BASIS is not an applications school but they act like they are, and that's the problem. If you want an application school, get DC to change the rules to permit a charter to be application only. But the current situation serves a tiny number of students *at the expense* of other students. That is not in keeping with the goals of the system.

Please save your outrage to the vast majority of school in DC, which don't meet the needs of advanced students.

As in 20 out of the 25 public middle schools would be completely deficient and inappropriate for a student who needs advanced math. Thos kid would get it in the suburbs, or Deal/Hardy/BASIS/Latin/DCI but not in the MAJORITY of public middle schools in DC.

That's the failure of our system, and the point of this thread.

Kids are failed by the system, which includes BASIS.

Some of you are dividing kids into two groups: (1) smart, capable kids who respond well to the BASIS approach and are failed by other schools, (2) unintelligent, unmotivated kids who can't hack it at BASIS so should be left for the substandard options in DCPS.

You are missing that this city has tons of smart, capable kids who are not well served by BASIS, and not well served by DCPS, but still need a place to go to school. In fact I'd argue that group is probably a lot larger than those that are well-served by BASIS. And yet no one seems to have any interested in meeting their educational needs. It's deeply frustrating, and that is what this thread is actually about. The "gap" BASIS fills shouldn't exist AND also it doesn't even fill it particularly well.

Aren't Latin and DCI serving this group well? I live EOTP, have many friends with kids in these two schools and they are all super happy. at a slight step down are SH and ITDS, but people seem generally happy (though universally they are stressed about high school).

Yes. The titular claim that “BASIS fills a gap,” as if there were no other college prep programming in DC public or charter schools, is simply false.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But PPs who are Basis parents compare it to their regular public school growing up. It can’t be so very difficult that no kid coming in via the lottery could handle it. It’s too bad no one even gets the chance.

Really, it's the math. Basis 7th graders take Algebra. Basis 9th graders take pre-calc, etc. If a kid is trying to enter in 7th, and they were already on a track to take Algebra in 7th, they would be fine at Basis. A lot of kids in DC are on that track and would be fine. A lot aren't, and entering Basis would entail completely skipping pre-algebra and then likely failing Algebra because they weren't ready. Almost all of the kids who are academic wash-outs from Basis either entered in 5th with extremely shaky math foundations, or needed a slower pace of math instruction and were not going to be ready for Algebra in 7th anywhere.

Not only is basis prohibited from using any admissions tests in the upper grades, but also they're not allowed to admit or not based on transcripts from previous schools. So they can't even set "passing pre-algebra in a previous school" as a criterion for 7th grade entry. Since Basis can't do anything at all to ensure that the kid would have a reasonable shot of succeeding at Basis, they don't admit in the higher grades. Take it up with DC politicians if you disagree with the laws governing charter schools.

No one should have to roll the dice like this. If you get into BASIS in 5th, the school should have to teach to your level. Which means if a kid needs a slower pace of math, the school should offer it. Think how damaging that could be to a perfectly bright kid who enters BASIS with the right foundations but simply cannot keep up with the pace, is then told that rather than just moving to a slower paced math track, they must repeat the same higher paced math, and that the math acceleration will never let up while they are at the school so it's sink or swim.

To say "oh well that 10/11 year old couldn't hack it, tough luck kid" is an unserious attitude that does not belong in public education. We're not even talking about a kid with a learning disorder or other disability (though BASIS wants nothing to do with those kids unless they can medicate the issues away so they don't impact the BASIS approach to education in any way). We're talking about a kid who may be perfectly intelligent, on grade level in math coming into BASIS, but simply not able to keep up with the accelerated pathway. And we are acting like it's fine for the school to chew up that kid and spit them back out (no consideration to the impact that could have on that child's confidence academically moving forward, a child who isn't even in 6th grade yet).

That's messed up. BASIS is not an applications school but they act like they are, and that's the problem. If you want an application school, get DC to change the rules to permit a charter to be application only. But the current situation serves a tiny number of students *at the expense* of other students. That is not in keeping with the goals of the system.

Please save your outrage to the vast majority of school in DC, which don't meet the needs of advanced students.

As in 20 out of the 25 public middle schools would be completely deficient and inappropriate for a student who needs advanced math. Thos kid would get it in the suburbs, or Deal/Hardy/BASIS/Latin/DCI but not in the MAJORITY of public middle schools in DC.

That's the failure of our system, and the point of this thread.

Kids are failed by the system, which includes BASIS.

Some of you are dividing kids into two groups: (1) smart, capable kids who respond well to the BASIS approach and are failed by other schools, (2) unintelligent, unmotivated kids who can't hack it at BASIS so should be left for the substandard options in DCPS.

You are missing that this city has tons of smart, capable kids who are not well served by BASIS, and not well served by DCPS, but still need a place to go to school. In fact I'd argue that group is probably a lot larger than those that are well-served by BASIS. And yet no one seems to have any interested in meeting their educational needs. It's deeply frustrating, and that is what this thread is actually about. The "gap" BASIS fills shouldn't exist AND also it doesn't even fill it particularly well.

Aren't Latin and DCI serving this group well? I live EOTP, have many friends with kids in these two schools and they are all super happy. at a slight step down are SH and ITDS, but people seem generally happy (though universally they are stressed about high school).

Sure, if you’re lucky enough in the lottery. Many smart, capable kids aren’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But PPs who are Basis parents compare it to their regular public school growing up. It can’t be so very difficult that no kid coming in via the lottery could handle it. It’s too bad no one even gets the chance.

Really, it's the math. Basis 7th graders take Algebra. Basis 9th graders take pre-calc, etc. If a kid is trying to enter in 7th, and they were already on a track to take Algebra in 7th, they would be fine at Basis. A lot of kids in DC are on that track and would be fine. A lot aren't, and entering Basis would entail completely skipping pre-algebra and then likely failing Algebra because they weren't ready. Almost all of the kids who are academic wash-outs from Basis either entered in 5th with extremely shaky math foundations, or needed a slower pace of math instruction and were not going to be ready for Algebra in 7th anywhere.

Not only is basis prohibited from using any admissions tests in the upper grades, but also they're not allowed to admit or not based on transcripts from previous schools. So they can't even set "passing pre-algebra in a previous school" as a criterion for 7th grade entry. Since Basis can't do anything at all to ensure that the kid would have a reasonable shot of succeeding at Basis, they don't admit in the higher grades. Take it up with DC politicians if you disagree with the laws governing charter schools.

No one should have to roll the dice like this. If you get into BASIS in 5th, the school should have to teach to your level. Which means if a kid needs a slower pace of math, the school should offer it. Think how damaging that could be to a perfectly bright kid who enters BASIS with the right foundations but simply cannot keep up with the pace, is then told that rather than just moving to a slower paced math track, they must repeat the same higher paced math, and that the math acceleration will never let up while they are at the school so it's sink or swim.

To say "oh well that 10/11 year old couldn't hack it, tough luck kid" is an unserious attitude that does not belong in public education. We're not even talking about a kid with a learning disorder or other disability (though BASIS wants nothing to do with those kids unless they can medicate the issues away so they don't impact the BASIS approach to education in any way). We're talking about a kid who may be perfectly intelligent, on grade level in math coming into BASIS, but simply not able to keep up with the accelerated pathway. And we are acting like it's fine for the school to chew up that kid and spit them back out (no consideration to the impact that could have on that child's confidence academically moving forward, a child who isn't even in 6th grade yet).

That's messed up. BASIS is not an applications school but they act like they are, and that's the problem. If you want an application school, get DC to change the rules to permit a charter to be application only. But the current situation serves a tiny number of students *at the expense* of other students. That is not in keeping with the goals of the system.

Please save your outrage to the vast majority of school in DC, which don't meet the needs of advanced students.

As in 20 out of the 25 public middle schools would be completely deficient and inappropriate for a student who needs advanced math. Thos kid would get it in the suburbs, or Deal/Hardy/BASIS/Latin/DCI but not in the MAJORITY of public middle schools in DC.

That's the failure of our system, and the point of this thread.

Kids are failed by the system, which includes BASIS.

Some of you are dividing kids into two groups: (1) smart, capable kids who respond well to the BASIS approach and are failed by other schools, (2) unintelligent, unmotivated kids who can't hack it at BASIS so should be left for the substandard options in DCPS.

You are missing that this city has tons of smart, capable kids who are not well served by BASIS, and not well served by DCPS, but still need a place to go to school. In fact I'd argue that group is probably a lot larger than those that are well-served by BASIS. And yet no one seems to have any interested in meeting their educational needs. It's deeply frustrating, and that is what this thread is actually about. The "gap" BASIS fills shouldn't exist AND also it doesn't even fill it particularly well.

My kid is fairly unhappy at BASIS but doing fine. Of course I want more options for her, but I'm not blaming BASIS for not providing that, I'm blaming DCPS.

[Anonymous]

The entire point is that they are in a cohort that remains similar so that they continue to be educated at the same level and don’t have to backtrack to reteach, which wastes the time of all the rest who can hack it the first time. If you don’t like that model or you don’t think it will work for your family, please choose something else. These are tiny classes, and some kids need the rigor to thrive.

[Anonymous]

It is ridiculous to blame a single school for the city’s failure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But PPs who are Basis parents compare it to their regular public school growing up. It can’t be so very difficult that no kid coming in via the lottery could handle it. It’s too bad no one even gets the chance.

Really, it's the math. Basis 7th graders take Algebra. Basis 9th graders take pre-calc, etc. If a kid is trying to enter in 7th, and they were already on a track to take Algebra in 7th, they would be fine at Basis. A lot of kids in DC are on that track and would be fine. A lot aren't, and entering Basis would entail completely skipping pre-algebra and then likely failing Algebra because they weren't ready. Almost all of the kids who are academic wash-outs from Basis either entered in 5th with extremely shaky math foundations, or needed a slower pace of math instruction and were not going to be ready for Algebra in 7th anywhere.

Not only is basis prohibited from using any admissions tests in the upper grades, but also they're not allowed to admit or not based on transcripts from previous schools. So they can't even set "passing pre-algebra in a previous school" as a criterion for 7th grade entry. Since Basis can't do anything at all to ensure that the kid would have a reasonable shot of succeeding at Basis, they don't admit in the higher grades. Take it up with DC politicians if you disagree with the laws governing charter schools.

No one should have to roll the dice like this. If you get into BASIS in 5th, the school should have to teach to your level. Which means if a kid needs a slower pace of math, the school should offer it. Think how damaging that could be to a perfectly bright kid who enters BASIS with the right foundations but simply cannot keep up with the pace, is then told that rather than just moving to a slower paced math track, they must repeat the same higher paced math, and that the math acceleration will never let up while they are at the school so it's sink or swim.

To say "oh well that 10/11 year old couldn't hack it, tough luck kid" is an unserious attitude that does not belong in public education. We're not even talking about a kid with a learning disorder or other disability (though BASIS wants nothing to do with those kids unless they can medicate the issues away so they don't impact the BASIS approach to education in any way). We're talking about a kid who may be perfectly intelligent, on grade level in math coming into BASIS, but simply not able to keep up with the accelerated pathway. And we are acting like it's fine for the school to chew up that kid and spit them back out (no consideration to the impact that could have on that child's confidence academically moving forward, a child who isn't even in 6th grade yet).

That's messed up. BASIS is not an applications school but they act like they are, and that's the problem. If you want an application school, get DC to change the rules to permit a charter to be application only. But the current situation serves a tiny number of students *at the expense* of other students. That is not in keeping with the goals of the system.

Please save your outrage to the vast majority of school in DC, which don't meet the needs of advanced students.

As in 20 out of the 25 public middle schools would be completely deficient and inappropriate for a student who needs advanced math. Thos kid would get it in the suburbs, or Deal/Hardy/BASIS/Latin/DCI but not in the MAJORITY of public middle schools in DC.

That's the failure of our system, and the point of this thread.

Kids are failed by the system, which includes BASIS.

Some of you are dividing kids into two groups: (1) smart, capable kids who respond well to the BASIS approach and are failed by other schools, (2) unintelligent, unmotivated kids who can't hack it at BASIS so should be left for the substandard options in DCPS.

You are missing that this city has tons of smart, capable kids who are not well served by BASIS, and not well served by DCPS, but still need a place to go to school. In fact I'd argue that group is probably a lot larger than those that are well-served by BASIS. And yet no one seems to have any interested in meeting their educational needs. It's deeply frustrating, and that is what this thread is actually about. The "gap" BASIS fills shouldn't exist AND also it doesn't even fill it particularly well.

Aren't Latin and DCI serving this group well? I live EOTP, have many friends with kids in these two schools and they are all super happy. at a slight step down are SH and ITDS, but people seem generally happy (though universally they are stressed about high school).

Yes. The titular claim that “BASIS fills a gap,” as if there were no other college prep programming in DC public or charter schools, is simply false.

I didn’t find a single other middle school that provided the rigor my child needed. We could have just wasted those years and then gone to Walls or Banneker. But our elementary was fully failing by 3rd grade by keeping kids who were reading at high school levels in classes with kids who still had problems with phonics. No way was I going to waste 5 years of my child’s life with them learning to hate school because of the boredom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But PPs who are Basis parents compare it to their regular public school growing up. It can’t be so very difficult that no kid coming in via the lottery could handle it. It’s too bad no one even gets the chance.

Really, it's the math. Basis 7th graders take Algebra. Basis 9th graders take pre-calc, etc. If a kid is trying to enter in 7th, and they were already on a track to take Algebra in 7th, they would be fine at Basis. A lot of kids in DC are on that track and would be fine. A lot aren't, and entering Basis would entail completely skipping pre-algebra and then likely failing Algebra because they weren't ready. Almost all of the kids who are academic wash-outs from Basis either entered in 5th with extremely shaky math foundations, or needed a slower pace of math instruction and were not going to be ready for Algebra in 7th anywhere.

Not only is basis prohibited from using any admissions tests in the upper grades, but also they're not allowed to admit or not based on transcripts from previous schools. So they can't even set "passing pre-algebra in a previous school" as a criterion for 7th grade entry. Since Basis can't do anything at all to ensure that the kid would have a reasonable shot of succeeding at Basis, they don't admit in the higher grades. Take it up with DC politicians if you disagree with the laws governing charter schools.

No one should have to roll the dice like this. If you get into BASIS in 5th, the school should have to teach to your level. Which means if a kid needs a slower pace of math, the school should offer it. Think how damaging that could be to a perfectly bright kid who enters BASIS with the right foundations but simply cannot keep up with the pace, is then told that rather than just moving to a slower paced math track, they must repeat the same higher paced math, and that the math acceleration will never let up while they are at the school so it's sink or swim.

To say "oh well that 10/11 year old couldn't hack it, tough luck kid" is an unserious attitude that does not belong in public education. We're not even talking about a kid with a learning disorder or other disability (though BASIS wants nothing to do with those kids unless they can medicate the issues away so they don't impact the BASIS approach to education in any way). We're talking about a kid who may be perfectly intelligent, on grade level in math coming into BASIS, but simply not able to keep up with the accelerated pathway. And we are acting like it's fine for the school to chew up that kid and spit them back out (no consideration to the impact that could have on that child's confidence academically moving forward, a child who isn't even in 6th grade yet).

That's messed up. BASIS is not an applications school but they act like they are, and that's the problem. If you want an application school, get DC to change the rules to permit a charter to be application only. But the current situation serves a tiny number of students *at the expense* of other students. That is not in keeping with the goals of the system.

Please save your outrage to the vast majority of school in DC, which don't meet the needs of advanced students.

As in 20 out of the 25 public middle schools would be completely deficient and inappropriate for a student who needs advanced math. Thos kid would get it in the suburbs, or Deal/Hardy/BASIS/Latin/DCI but not in the MAJORITY of public middle schools in DC.

That's the failure of our system, and the point of this thread.

Kids are failed by the system, which includes BASIS.

Some of you are dividing kids into two groups: (1) smart, capable kids who respond well to the BASIS approach and are failed by other schools, (2) unintelligent, unmotivated kids who can't hack it at BASIS so should be left for the substandard options in DCPS.

You are missing that this city has tons of smart, capable kids who are not well served by BASIS, and not well served by DCPS, but still need a place to go to school. In fact I'd argue that group is probably a lot larger than those that are well-served by BASIS. And yet no one seems to have any interested in meeting their educational needs. It's deeply frustrating, and that is what this thread is actually about. The "gap" BASIS fills shouldn't exist AND also it doesn't even fill it particularly well.

Aren't Latin and DCI serving this group well? I live EOTP, have many friends with kids in these two schools and they are all super happy. at a slight step down are SH and ITDS, but people seem generally happy (though universally they are stressed about high school).

Yes. The titular claim that “BASIS fills a gap,” as if there were no other college prep programming in DC public or charter schools, is simply false.

I didn’t find a single other middle school that provided the rigor my child needed. We could have just wasted those years and then gone to Walls or Banneker. But our elementary was fully failing by 3rd grade by keeping kids who were reading at high school levels in classes with kids who still had problems with phonics. No way was I going to waste 5 years of my child’s life with them learning to hate school because of the boredom.

The implicit message is that kids like your don’t matter and shouldn’t be given access to rigor that’s right-sized for them.