BASIS DC will seek to expand to include K to 4th grade

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07/12/2023 12:09

Subject: BASIS DC will seek to expand to include K to 4th grade

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Anonymous wrote:I’m also concerned with attracting and retaining teachers for the ES. 2-4 grades can be tough from a classroom management standpoint and charters typically pay less and have less resources making it tough to retain. We have seen the impact that has had at other charter ES in the target area (TR and MV). Would hate to see a downward spiral for BASIS knowing that teacher retention is already a concern for the HS.

2nd grade teachers and HS teachers are not the same pool. These two things have nothing to do with each other. The "low pay" boogeyman doesn't play here; BASIS is matching DCPS scale. As has been explained, TR and MV are inapt analogies since they duplicated existing schools as matters of first impression. BASIS proposed to add K-4, something they have done across the country.

Other than that, you nailed it!

I am aware that they will be matching DCPS salaries, which is fantastic, I’m just waiting to see what resources they will have to scale back on and how much more families will have to contribute in fundraising. I understand that BASIS has K-4 in other states but I worry that they underestimate the dynamics in DC. While TR and MV differ from BASIS in their manner of expansion, they are still ES charters and at least from what is posted on DCUM, classroom management and retaining teachers in upper ES at several charters has been a challenge. I don’t see how this would not also be a challenge for BASIS ES. As we even see at the MS level (and likely even at other BASIS location) not every kid is a good fit for the BASIS model. Since acceptance is based on the lottery there will definitely be kids that won’t respond well in a more rigorous and structured classroom and will cause disruptions in class. Hopefully they will at least have dedicated aides for every upper ES classroom to assist the lead teachers so there are 2 teachers in the class at all times. There does not appear to be a surplus of qualified ES school teachers in the area so unless they will be filling the school with teachers from the other locations, staffing may still be a challenge. I hope my concerns are unfounded though, because I support school choice.

BASIS has the lowest percentage of students at-risk, the lowest percentage of students with disabilities and the lowest percentage of African American students of any charter high school operating in the District and the BASIS middle school is in the lowest three or four charters in each of those categories. They are serving a very distinct population. One can assume that there will be a similar self-selection among elementary families for those who are choosing BASIS elementary. Every kid won't be a good fit but shouldn't families be the judge of that?

Wow, is it an assumption or intention that the BASIS ES will not serve these populations. UMC white families have other options so I don’t see a demonstrated need for another public charter school that caters to the privileged class. This also alludes to BASIS DC doing well based on demographics rather than the actual curriculum. I most definitely want my kids in classrooms with other high performers and I was optimistic that the BASIS ES would help bring in some more socioeconomic and racial diversity by giving families the opportunity to lay the educational foundation sooner so they don’t self-select out of MS due to concerns of being behind. For those families that will be making the decision for their 4 or 5 year olds to start K, they have ideas for the level of rigor they would like for their child but no actual idea how their child will actually perform in the BASIS environment. We also haven’t had any families with experience at BASIS ES so how can they truly know what it will be like since the ES is different from the MS and HS.

Yes but is there a need for a school that caters to academically gifted students with parents motivated/prepared to support those students?

For BASIS ES to work the way you dream, perhaps they use the equitable access preference to ensure they have the average city-wide at-risk percentage of 50% at the proposed school. That would show that the BASIS ES model works to prepare all children well as long as they start early enough.

We already have BASIS MS that caters to the academically gifted with parents motivated/prepared to support. This past year’s 90s club % along with the overall average needed to make Honor Roll indicate the ESs these students are coming from are doing a good job preparing these students for success. The 2023 PCSB charter application guidelines talk about equity and inclusiveness being factors that will be evaluated during the review process. If the BASIS ES has to commit to a more diverse student body that more closely resembles the city, the concern is that they will encounter similar challenges that the other charters that were once highly regarded faced.

Yes but if you believe that the BASIS ES model works because getting kids into a rigorous program earlier ensures they are ready for a rigorous middle program -- regardless of that kid's background -- then more closely resembling the city isn't a problem. In fact, it's a huge benefit and ideal. Committing to equitable access seats allows BASIS ES (and others) to meet the priorities of the PCSB for equity and inclusiveness that are part of the guidelines for a new charter.

If BASIS wanted inclusiveness and equity it wouldn't start by locating in a high-income area.

This. I am actually fine with BASIS expanding to K-4 and showing the model can work for everyone... but only if they actually locate in an area that will get them a more diverse student body. That is demonstrably not what they want based on where they've picked. You don't get to pick the location that will get you the Capitol Hill kids earlier and then tout that the model works & that you are committed to equity. If they had picked another location right near BASIS I, I probably could have swallowed it because there are economies of scale to sharing facilities, but they weren't even that subtle! They picked a (functionally) Capitol Hill location.... and after their last application was withdrawn because of equity and sped concerns. Whoever is advising them forgot to tell them not to say the quiet part out loud too early.