Preparation for Basis Exam

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Exactly! Saying private schools and test-in suburban GT magnet schools are better is not comparing apples to apples. BASIS is FREE and takes anyone who gets a seat from a RANDOM LOTTERY. It’s hard to compete with the quality of education provided by the private and suburban schools and yet BASIS does on a certain level and under a much more challenging set of circumstances.

I think it's fair to point out that top privates and test-in suburban GT magnets are better when one DCUM poster after another claims that a BASIS DC education is fantastic, world-class, unrivaled, a USNWR rankings star. Just not the whole story. If you're determined to be mired in relativism, go for it.

I'm one of many Basis parents who's posted here acknowledging the shortcomings of the school, but still stating that we feel lucky that our kids are learning and are generally happy and secure in a public DC school that goes through high school. I'm also glad that they are in a school that is much more economically and racially diverse than many suburban schools, even as I know that it's way richer and whiter than the DC school population as a whole.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The reason that BASIS DC doesn't backfill after 5th grade is not of the franchise's making. The BASIS Arizona campuses have always backfilled at every grade. Politicians there don't mind if entering students are giving tough placement exams. Most students who enter BASIS after 6th grade in Arizona must repeat a great, sometimes two, to join the program. In DC, such an admissions system would be considered discriminatory, opening the door to litigation, so none exists.

This. The problem is not that BASIS isn't willing to take in kids, it is that DC (in the name of "equity" or some nonsense) has decided that having kids meet a firm standard is...discrimination? Instead of lowering expectations and standards to DC's level, BASIS says "Nah, we're good."

Every BASIS family wishes that the school was bigger and had more space. If I had a free $60k/yr sitting around I'd send my kid to Sidwell. That isn't an option. What drives so many of us mad about DCUM is the posters who act like (i) there is a perfect school (ii) the limitations at BASIS (or any school) can be easily solved or (iii) seem really oddly invested in BASIS's deficiencies. That third one is just weird. These people spend more time and energy on a school they dislike than they do working to improve whatever school they eventually attend. Just seems weird and personal to spend so much time, energy and anger on something you pretend to not care about.

A big part of public school is meeting *all* students where they are. It is hard teaching a classroom where some kids are above grade level, some kids are below grade level, and some kids might have attended 5 schools last year. That difficulty is part of why public school teachers get paid more than private school teachers. It's fine if basis doesn't want to do that and if basis students are thriving in classes where that doesn't need to be done. But then basis doesn't get to be treated the same as other public schools for funding.

?? Every public school in DC gets funding based on how many students they have. By choosing not to backfill, Basis is giving up money.

The poster was complaining that basis (and other charters?) were underfunded.

They don't backfill because the city council and the DCPCSB never signed off on the franchise doing so in the District, as they'd always done in Arizona. The BASIS charter doesn't permit them to backfill after 6th grade. They asked to backfill per Arizona procedures and were told no by the DC ed powers that be.

Huh? Then why do other DC charters backfill.

Stop spreading misinformation.

[Sigh] NP here. You seem not so bright so let me try this again in a different way. BASIS would like to backfill open slots like the AZ campuses do. The problem is that the way those campuses backfill if by giving kids a test and then putting them in the class they should be in based on performance, not based on age. DC will not allow BASIS (or any school) to require kids to be placed into grade level appropriate grades. That leaves BASIS (and all other schools) with two options: either backfill with kids who are going to be behind all the other kids or decide not to backfill. BASIS chose option 2. As someone with a kid in those classes I am thrilled that my kid (and all the other kids) who have been excelling in math, English, etc. (see, scores) are not going to have resources diverted to support kids who would be better served in a grade down where they'd be at grade level.

Get it? Because they aren't allowed to place kids where they should be and they refuse to compromise their standards.

You totally misinterpreted the comment. You seem dumb. Work on your reading comprehension.

PP (probably you) posted “The BASIS charter doesn't permit them to backfill after 6th grade.” That is false. All charters in DC can backfill if they want.

NP then posted, “Huh? Then why do other DC charters backfill.”

You then went off on an unhinged rant attacking the NP. Here is the actual situation:

-Basis and other charters in DC can backfill.
-Basis chooses not too because kids are working at well beyond grade level (especially at the upper levels) and new transferees would have trouble keeping up.
-In Arizona, Basis can test transferees and assign them to a lower grade level. So, a 6th grader could be admitted but assigned to 5th grade. Not surprisingly, not many kids transfer in, and these are almost always very advanced kids.
-Basis DC cannot do the above. They would have to admit kids to upper grades through the lottery and put them in those upper grades. Most of these kids would not be able to handle the curriculum and would need to drop out.
-Therefore, they generally don’t backfill, unlike other charters.

Maybe think before you post next time. You just sound like an a**.

[Anonymous]

BASIS really crushed Latin in the PARCC scores. There are selection effects at work, but that will be overlooked on this board!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:BASIS really crushed Latin in the PARCC scores. There are selection effects at work, but that will be overlooked on this board!

what are the numbers?

[Anonymous]

ELA

90.38 BASIS DC PCS English I
63.83 Washington Latin PCS English I

81.25 BASIS DC PCS English II
51.19 Washington Latin PCS English II

58.59 BASIS DC PCS Grade 5
44.68 Washington Latin PCS Grade 5

57.27 BASIS DC PCS Grade 6
60.42 Washington Latin PCS Grade 6

87.63 BASIS DC PCS Grade 7
68.13 Washington Latin PCS Grade 7

85.23 BASIS DC PCS Grade 8
59.14 Washington Latin PCS Grade 8

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The reason that BASIS DC doesn't backfill after 5th grade is not of the franchise's making. The BASIS Arizona campuses have always backfilled at every grade. Politicians there don't mind if entering students are giving tough placement exams. Most students who enter BASIS after 6th grade in Arizona must repeat a great, sometimes two, to join the program. In DC, such an admissions system would be considered discriminatory, opening the door to litigation, so none exists.

This. The problem is not that BASIS isn't willing to take in kids, it is that DC (in the name of "equity" or some nonsense) has decided that having kids meet a firm standard is...discrimination? Instead of lowering expectations and standards to DC's level, BASIS says "Nah, we're good."

Every BASIS family wishes that the school was bigger and had more space. If I had a free $60k/yr sitting around I'd send my kid to Sidwell. That isn't an option. What drives so many of us mad about DCUM is the posters who act like (i) there is a perfect school (ii) the limitations at BASIS (or any school) can be easily solved or (iii) seem really oddly invested in BASIS's deficiencies. That third one is just weird. These people spend more time and energy on a school they dislike than they do working to improve whatever school they eventually attend. Just seems weird and personal to spend so much time, energy and anger on something you pretend to not care about.

A big part of public school is meeting *all* students where they are. It is hard teaching a classroom where some kids are above grade level, some kids are below grade level, and some kids might have attended 5 schools last year. That difficulty is part of why public school teachers get paid more than private school teachers. It's fine if basis doesn't want to do that and if basis students are thriving in classes where that doesn't need to be done. But then basis doesn't get to be treated the same as other public schools for funding.

?? Every public school in DC gets funding based on how many students they have. By choosing not to backfill, Basis is giving up money.

The poster was complaining that basis (and other charters?) were underfunded.

They don't backfill because the city council and the DCPCSB never signed off on the franchise doing so in the District, as they'd always done in Arizona. The BASIS charter doesn't permit them to backfill after 6th grade. They asked to backfill per Arizona procedures and were told no by the DC ed powers that be.

Huh? Then why do other DC charters backfill.

Stop spreading misinformation.

[Sigh] NP here. You seem not so bright so let me try this again in a different way. BASIS would like to backfill open slots like the AZ campuses do. The problem is that the way those campuses backfill if by giving kids a test and then putting them in the class they should be in based on performance, not based on age. DC will not allow BASIS (or any school) to require kids to be placed into grade level appropriate grades. That leaves BASIS (and all other schools) with two options: either backfill with kids who are going to be behind all the other kids or decide not to backfill. BASIS chose option 2. As someone with a kid in those classes I am thrilled that my kid (and all the other kids) who have been excelling in math, English, etc. (see, scores) are not going to have resources diverted to support kids who would be better served in a grade down where they'd be at grade level.

Get it? Because they aren't allowed to place kids where they should be and they refuse to compromise their standards.

You totally misinterpreted the comment. You seem dumb. Work on your reading comprehension.

PP (probably you) posted “The BASIS charter doesn't permit them to backfill after 6th grade.” That is false. All charters in DC can backfill if they want.

NP then posted, “Huh? Then why do other DC charters backfill.”

You then went off on an unhinged rant attacking the NP. Here is the actual situation:

-Basis and other charters in DC can backfill.
-Basis chooses not too because kids are working at well beyond grade level (especially at the upper levels) and new transferees would have trouble keeping up.
-In Arizona, Basis can test transferees and assign them to a lower grade level. So, a 6th grader could be admitted but assigned to 5th grade. Not surprisingly, not many kids transfer in, and these are almost always very advanced kids.
-Basis DC cannot do the above. They would have to admit kids to upper grades through the lottery and put them in those upper grades. Most of these kids would not be able to handle the curriculum and would need to drop out.
-Therefore, they generally don’t backfill, unlike other charters.

Maybe think before you post next time. You just sound like an a**.

NP here. You and PP said the exact same thing except it sounds like you have an anger management problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let me guess, your BASIS charter has outdoor space, a library, a gym, a cafeteria with windows, an abundance of natural light, maybe even a strong instrumental music program (well-trained orchestra on a school stage!). Has your BASIS branch had 9 heads in 12 years? The DC campus has none of the above. Sure you want to defend the arrangement?

Do you just keep the same post on your notepad and copy/paste once or twice a day. Serious question: what happened to your kid at BASIS that you feel such animosity. It is not healthy. I mean for you. The rest of us think your single minded hatred is sad and funny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The reason that BASIS DC doesn't backfill after 5th grade is not of the franchise's making. The BASIS Arizona campuses have always backfilled at every grade. Politicians there don't mind if entering students are giving tough placement exams. Most students who enter BASIS after 6th grade in Arizona must repeat a great, sometimes two, to join the program. In DC, such an admissions system would be considered discriminatory, opening the door to litigation, so none exists.

This. The problem is not that BASIS isn't willing to take in kids, it is that DC (in the name of "equity" or some nonsense) has decided that having kids meet a firm standard is...discrimination? Instead of lowering expectations and standards to DC's level, BASIS says "Nah, we're good."

Every BASIS family wishes that the school was bigger and had more space. If I had a free $60k/yr sitting around I'd send my kid to Sidwell. That isn't an option. What drives so many of us mad about DCUM is the posters who act like (i) there is a perfect school (ii) the limitations at BASIS (or any school) can be easily solved or (iii) seem really oddly invested in BASIS's deficiencies. That third one is just weird. These people spend more time and energy on a school they dislike than they do working to improve whatever school they eventually attend. Just seems weird and personal to spend so much time, energy and anger on something you pretend to not care about.

A big part of public school is meeting *all* students where they are. It is hard teaching a classroom where some kids are above grade level, some kids are below grade level, and some kids might have attended 5 schools last year. That difficulty is part of why public school teachers get paid more than private school teachers. It's fine if basis doesn't want to do that and if basis students are thriving in classes where that doesn't need to be done. But then basis doesn't get to be treated the same as other public schools for funding.

?? Every public school in DC gets funding based on how many students they have. By choosing not to backfill, Basis is giving up money.

The poster was complaining that basis (and other charters?) were underfunded.

They don't backfill because the city council and the DCPCSB never signed off on the franchise doing so in the District, as they'd always done in Arizona. The BASIS charter doesn't permit them to backfill after 6th grade. They asked to backfill per Arizona procedures and were told no by the DC ed powers that be.

Huh? Then why do other DC charters backfill.

Stop spreading misinformation.

[Sigh] NP here. You seem not so bright so let me try this again in a different way. BASIS would like to backfill open slots like the AZ campuses do. The problem is that the way those campuses backfill if by giving kids a test and then putting them in the class they should be in based on performance, not based on age. DC will not allow BASIS (or any school) to require kids to be placed into grade level appropriate grades. That leaves BASIS (and all other schools) with two options: either backfill with kids who are going to be behind all the other kids or decide not to backfill. BASIS chose option 2. As someone with a kid in those classes I am thrilled that my kid (and all the other kids) who have been excelling in math, English, etc. (see, scores) are not going to have resources diverted to support kids who would be better served in a grade down where they'd be at grade level.

Get it? Because they aren't allowed to place kids where they should be and they refuse to compromise their standards.

You totally misinterpreted the comment. You seem dumb. Work on your reading comprehension.

PP (probably you) posted “The BASIS charter doesn't permit them to backfill after 6th grade.” That is false. All charters in DC can backfill if they want.

NP then posted, “Huh? Then why do other DC charters backfill.”

You then went off on an unhinged rant attacking the NP. Here is the actual situation:

-Basis and other charters in DC can backfill.
-Basis chooses not too because kids are working at well beyond grade level (especially at the upper levels) and new transferees would have trouble keeping up.
-In Arizona, Basis can test transferees and assign them to a lower grade level. So, a 6th grader could be admitted but assigned to 5th grade. Not surprisingly, not many kids transfer in, and these are almost always very advanced kids.
-Basis DC cannot do the above. They would have to admit kids to upper grades through the lottery and put them in those upper grades. Most of these kids would not be able to handle the curriculum and would need to drop out.
-Therefore, they generally don’t backfill, unlike other charters.

Maybe think before you post next time. You just sound like an a**.

You just reposted all of the things I said...in a post ostensibly disagreeing with what I wrote. Tell me who is acting like an a**?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The reason that BASIS DC doesn't backfill after 5th grade is not of the franchise's making. The BASIS Arizona campuses have always backfilled at every grade. Politicians there don't mind if entering students are giving tough placement exams. Most students who enter BASIS after 6th grade in Arizona must repeat a great, sometimes two, to join the program. In DC, such an admissions system would be considered discriminatory, opening the door to litigation, so none exists.

This. The problem is not that BASIS isn't willing to take in kids, it is that DC (in the name of "equity" or some nonsense) has decided that having kids meet a firm standard is...discrimination? Instead of lowering expectations and standards to DC's level, BASIS says "Nah, we're good."

Every BASIS family wishes that the school was bigger and had more space. If I had a free $60k/yr sitting around I'd send my kid to Sidwell. That isn't an option. What drives so many of us mad about DCUM is the posters who act like (i) there is a perfect school (ii) the limitations at BASIS (or any school) can be easily solved or (iii) seem really oddly invested in BASIS's deficiencies. That third one is just weird. These people spend more time and energy on a school they dislike than they do working to improve whatever school they eventually attend. Just seems weird and personal to spend so much time, energy and anger on something you pretend to not care about.

A big part of public school is meeting *all* students where they are. It is hard teaching a classroom where some kids are above grade level, some kids are below grade level, and some kids might have attended 5 schools last year. That difficulty is part of why public school teachers get paid more than private school teachers. It's fine if basis doesn't want to do that and if basis students are thriving in classes where that doesn't need to be done. But then basis doesn't get to be treated the same as other public schools for funding.

?? Every public school in DC gets funding based on how many students they have. By choosing not to backfill, Basis is giving up money.

The poster was complaining that basis (and other charters?) were underfunded.

They don't backfill because the city council and the DCPCSB never signed off on the franchise doing so in the District, as they'd always done in Arizona. The BASIS charter doesn't permit them to backfill after 6th grade. They asked to backfill per Arizona procedures and were told no by the DC ed powers that be.

Huh? Then why do other DC charters backfill.

Stop spreading misinformation.

[Sigh] NP here. You seem not so bright so let me try this again in a different way. BASIS would like to backfill open slots like the AZ campuses do. The problem is that the way those campuses backfill if by giving kids a test and then putting them in the class they should be in based on performance, not based on age. DC will not allow BASIS (or any school) to require kids to be placed into grade level appropriate grades. That leaves BASIS (and all other schools) with two options: either backfill with kids who are going to be behind all the other kids or decide not to backfill. BASIS chose option 2. As someone with a kid in those classes I am thrilled that my kid (and all the other kids) who have been excelling in math, English, etc. (see, scores) are not going to have resources diverted to support kids who would be better served in a grade down where they'd be at grade level.

Get it? Because they aren't allowed to place kids where they should be and they refuse to compromise their standards.

You totally misinterpreted the comment. You seem dumb. Work on your reading comprehension.

PP (probably you) posted “The BASIS charter doesn't permit them to backfill after 6th grade.” That is false. All charters in DC can backfill if they want.

NP then posted, “Huh? Then why do other DC charters backfill.”

You then went off on an unhinged rant attacking the NP. Here is the actual situation:

-Basis and other charters in DC can backfill.
-Basis chooses not too because kids are working at well beyond grade level (especially at the upper levels) and new transferees would have trouble keeping up.
-In Arizona, Basis can test transferees and assign them to a lower grade level. So, a 6th grader could be admitted but assigned to 5th grade. Not surprisingly, not many kids transfer in, and these are almost always very advanced kids.
-Basis DC cannot do the above. They would have to admit kids to upper grades through the lottery and put them in those upper grades. Most of these kids would not be able to handle the curriculum and would need to drop out.
-Therefore, they generally don’t backfill, unlike other charters.

Maybe think before you post next time. You just sound like an a**.

NP here. You and PP said the exact same thing except it sounds like you have an anger management problem.

I'm glad you chimed in. I'm PP at whom that man (you just know it was a man) raged while basically restating everything I wrote. I had to read it three times to try and figure out where he disagreed or why he was so angry at me for agreeing with him.

Agree also that he exhibits anger management problems.

[Anonymous]

My thoughts exactly - someone had to “mansplain” what everyone already understood from the initial explanation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ugh, BASIS, exceptionalism rears its ugly head. Yes, BASIS knocks it out of the park academically for an open lottery DC public school. Unfortunately, that's not saying much in this particular Metro area.

I taught a humanities subject in the BASIS DC middle school for one school year, 5 years ago. I've also taught in a couple suburban GT programs in this Metro area.

BASIS DC just isn't what it's cracked up to be on these threads. The program just doesn't have the resources to begin to compete with suburban GT. Admin and teacher pay isn't too hot, meaning that faculty and staff members are disproportionately inexperienced, minimally trained and disinclined to stick around. Many of the students are a poor fit for the curriculum and facilities are abysmal in relative terms.

Sorry to bring up an old thread, but I was interested in learning what resources are in suburban GT programs that are lacking at BASIS. I know about the lack of fields, library, and art programs, but is there more? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ugh, BASIS, exceptionalism rears its ugly head. Yes, BASIS knocks it out of the park academically for an open lottery DC public school. Unfortunately, that's not saying much in this particular Metro area.

I taught a humanities subject in the BASIS DC middle school for one school year, 5 years ago. I've also taught in a couple suburban GT programs in this Metro area.

BASIS DC just isn't what it's cracked up to be on these threads. The program just doesn't have the resources to begin to compete with suburban GT. Admin and teacher pay isn't too hot, meaning that faculty and staff members are disproportionately inexperienced, minimally trained and disinclined to stick around. Many of the students are a poor fit for the curriculum and facilities are abysmal in relative terms.

Sorry to bring up an old thread, but I was interested in learning what resources are in suburban GT programs that are lacking at BASIS. I know about the lack of fields, library, and art programs, but is there more? Thanks.

The number of sports teams is smaller, which is a result of the limited sports facilities and the smaller school size.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a good school but it's ridiculous to claim that you've got a "great" public school in a program with no:

instrumental music program
playing fields or outdoor space
library or media center
stage
gym
serious art instruction
serious sports teams
wide hallways
group study spaces with natural light
cafeteria with windows
head of school who lasts more than 2 years
foreign language instruction before 8th grade

Try again.

We get it! Your kid washed out. You post the same things every year. My favorite part is that the current Head of School has been there more than 2 years!

Honestly, pipe down. I haven't spotted this particular list on any other BASIS thread, but it's a good comprehensive one. Welcome new poster, we like your list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a good school but it's ridiculous to claim that you've got a "great" public school in a program with no:

instrumental music program
playing fields or outdoor space
library or media center
stage
gym
serious art instruction
serious sports teams
wide hallways
group study spaces with natural light
cafeteria with windows
head of school who lasts more than 2 years
foreign language instruction before 8th grade

Try again.

We get it! Your kid washed out. You post the same things every year. My favorite part is that the current Head of School has been there more than 2 years!

Honestly, pipe down. I haven't spotted this particular list on any other BASIS thread, but it's a good comprehensive one. Welcome new poster, we like your list.

You obviously don't spend much time on these threads.

This comes from a parent who kid washed out of BASIS DC. Apparently, she has nothing better to do then troll the BASIS threads and bash the school.

If you don't like an urban school that offers the most rigorous curriculum in DC and the highest test scores, then move to the burbs and enjoy your "cafeteria with windows."