DC charters - which ones are open? hybrid model? plans of reopening?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:MV parent of PK4’er here. I’m really starting to regret our decision to go with a language immersion school at this point. Our son has lost an entire year of immersion now, and I’m concerned that they won’t be open full time in the fall now. We may join the lottery again last-minute just to have some options.

They should be able to catch up next year in K.

Funny, I just lotteried for MV because I think our immersion school is doing DL poorly and won’t open!

They haven’t said they aren’t reopening, but they haven’t provided a reopening date or details. We have missed out on the full year of immersion and will have to look in to other ways to get our son some Spanish exposure. Kindergarten isn’t full immersion. The updates from the school are all very vague and don’t have any specifics

What is most concerning about MV is, in their latest communications, seem not to have changed anything about their approach despite the impact of the vaccine and its availability to teachers/staff. By the looks of things, they are keeping to an approach to reopening based on transmission metrics which may or may not improve in time for fall. And even when these metrics improve, they haven't committed to opening for non-SES disadvantaged kids.

Within our household we're now debating on whether to put our rising K kid in the local Title I DCPS or a private school or moving because this past year has been awful for our kids social and academic progress. We can't take another year of this.

PP here... just wanted to say we’re right there with you. This year has been incredibly frustrating. We were so thrilled to get a spot at MV after the lottery, and we are incredibly frustrated with how reopening is going. They seem to be sticking to these metrics despite other schools moving forward. Our child is having such a hard time right now it’s very disheartening. We plan to stop participating in DL for now.

I saw a chart where covid rate has to go below 15 - is that what you mean?

Yes, they are referring to metrics from the city. Some of these include the percent of positive cases who are contacted by contact tracers. Other schools are figuring out ways to move forward despite city monitoring of metrics. There is plenty of space at the school to open up additional classrooms too. They should have been working on reopening this whole time.

MV8 family here. First of all whoever said K isn’t full immersion obviously is a troll and don’t have a child at the school. It is full immersion in Spanish in K.

Also MV has been transparent with families what they have done with the school in regards to hvac changes and ventilation system for the past 6 months. These changes are now done.

There will be an update later in the week from this past weekly bulletin about more definitive plans for timeline for hybrid, etc., so hang tight.

MV8 parent here- do you happen to know whether they will simply expand the on-site distance learning program that is ongoing? Or will they be bringing students on campus for in-person instruction? My kid is struggling big time and is not learning a thing from zoom.

[Anonymous]

Same boat with Creative Minds... they keep sending "reopening emails" that provide very little information that latest stated "On November 18, I said that January would be our next check-in point for reopening, and my update for you today is that Creative Minds is staying on an all-remote schedule, for now. We will check in again in early February."

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:When we went for meals pick up last week at staff at ITDS said something about the kids coming back soon. I am not sure if they just assumed because DCPS is supposed to open some classes in February ITDS will be doing the same. I have not yet heard any dates or times frame for opening. Last I heard anything it was the "when it is safe" response they have had all year.
I know there are issues with most of the teachers living and working in different cities, counties or states than they teach. Which apparently makes it difficult to get a vaccines in a timely manner given each has their own time line and priorities.

Did you see the message from the Head of School this weekend? They are opening with learning pods for a small number of students staffed by the Y, with non teaching staff (counselors, leadership, building staff) and teachers keeping up with DL lessons. Then hopefully building on that to welcome more students and trying to get their staff vaccinated. It’s a small step but one I’ve been hoping for

I did not see this message. I also do not consider "learning pods" staffed by aftercare staff and not teachers as being back in school. Call it what it is free babysitting or free childcare supervision for those that require it.

Sure it is in line with the DCPS cares classrooms. However, neither are actually in school with teachers so it is just distance learning at a daycare.

Given vaccines are going so slow in DC and many teachers can't get vaccines we will be lucky to be back in full time by fall at this rate. Who knows if children need vaccines before returning.

It is what it is. But all thai talk of cares class and such as if schools are really opening is frustrating.

[Anonymous]

I am curious about folks experience with Haynes. They were on our short list. Like the year round schedule but not the larger size of 5 graders being with the middle school.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:When we went for meals pick up last week at staff at ITDS said something about the kids coming back soon. I am not sure if they just assumed because DCPS is supposed to open some classes in February ITDS will be doing the same. I have not yet heard any dates or times frame for opening. Last I heard anything it was the "when it is safe" response they have had all year.
I know there are issues with most of the teachers living and working in different cities, counties or states than they teach. Which apparently makes it difficult to get a vaccines in a timely manner given each has their own time line and priorities.

Did you see the message from the Head of School this weekend? They are opening with learning pods for a small number of students staffed by the Y, with non teaching staff (counselors, leadership, building staff) and teachers keeping up with DL lessons. Then hopefully building on that to welcome more students and trying to get their staff vaccinated. It’s a small step but one I’ve been hoping for

I did not see this message. I also do not consider "learning pods" staffed by aftercare staff and not teachers as being back in school. Call it what it is free babysitting or free childcare supervision for those that require it.

Sure it is in line with the DCPS cares classrooms. However, neither are actually in school with teachers so it is just distance learning at a daycare.

Given vaccines are going so slow in DC and many teachers can't get vaccines we will be lucky to be back in full time by fall at this rate. Who knows if children need vaccines before returning.

It is what it is. But all thai talk of cares class and such as if schools are really opening is frustrating.

It is similar to CARES except it's for a much smaller percentage of the population and starts a lot later. So DCPS definitely did better by its families that are in need of this.

[Anonymous]

Yu Yu going a hybrid Feb 16. But only if you selected the hybrid choice in a survey a long time ago 🤔 otherwise it's distance learning

[Anonymous]

Any stokes parents here? It seems most kids will not be going back at all this year (except for nwea testing). Did I read that correctly?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any stokes parents here? It seems most kids will not be going back at all this year (except for nwea testing). Did I read that correctly?

Sisters kids go to stokes. She said they called it early and made it clear early on that they would not see a classroom this year (although there are kids with IEPs etc on site)

[Anonymous]

I saw an article recently about schools in the U.S. that have figured out how to do outdoor learning (yes, even in cold climates). One school in nyc had older kids learning on the roof of the school building. I really don't understand why DC charters can't figure out something for at least the spring outdoors.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Any stokes parents here? It seems most kids will not be going back at all this year (except for nwea testing). Did I read that correctly?

Sisters kids go to stokes. She said they called it early and made it clear early on that they would not see a classroom this year (although there are kids with IEPs etc on site)

Yeah, what I remember them calling early was that they would not go back until there's a vaccine. Now that there's a vaccine, I was hoping they would at least have a plan to bring some more kids back, but it does not look like there is anything.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Any stokes parents here? It seems most kids will not be going back at all this year (except for nwea testing). Did I read that correctly?

Sisters kids go to stokes. She said they called it early and made it clear early on that they would not see a classroom this year (although there are kids with IEPs etc on site)

Yeah, what I remember them calling early was that they would not go back until there's a vaccine. Now that there's a vaccine, I was hoping they would at least have a plan to bring some more kids back, but it does not look like there is anything.

But the plan now is to return teachers before the vaccine takes effect. DCPS says they have safety taken care of but some schools don’t have running water.

One would have thought over the last 10 months of wfh for DCPS staff

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Any stokes parents here? It seems most kids will not be going back at all this year (except for nwea testing). Did I read that correctly?

Sisters kids go to stokes. She said they called it early and made it clear early on that they would not see a classroom this year (although there are kids with IEPs etc on site)

Stokes parent here. Just clarify because pp makes it sound like a they have a CARES type classroom open the school just announced 36 kids total (at risk) will return to the building at the start of the third trimester. This overdue and I’m glad they are finally helping a few at risk kids. The rest of scholars will remain DL. They have devised a plan to bring kids in to do testing (not sure why there is so much emphasis on this and not a real reopening plan). At the presentation to the board in January there was discussion of a plan to bring back pk-k which makes zero sense since PK is not mandatory. No idea why they wouldn’t start with K and work up to 5 first but there has been little transparency about anything. I think DL for fall 2021 - maybe the whole year. There doesn’t seem to be any energy or desire by the administration to go back to in person 😔.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The public charter schools are proving that their claim that they are more flexible and nimble than regular public schools is absolutely false. They have failed to come up with plans for providing in-person learning because the staff simply does not want to provide in-person learning and their leadership supports them above everything else. They are not following the the science and the data even though they proclaim to be doing so. For reasons I do not understand, DC parents/guardians are complacent. I support public education 100%, but this has made me seriously waiver and I have lost a lot of respect for public school teachers and their leadership. The research is in: distance learning is no good so stop acting like it is a way to provide a quality education. It is crap. And stop acting like you care about the disadvantaged students because you don’t - if you did, the teachers would be double-masked and wearing face shields and the charter schools would be open. We are at a charter and it is one big disappointment. And before you all start making assumptions: we are African-American, with some health issues that worry us, but we would have our kids doing some hybrid program in a second if offered the opportunity because they are suffering academically and in terms of mental health. But according to the charters, my type of family does not want in-person learning. That is complete BS - I know that my brown kids who are already disadvantaged in this society will only be set back even further because of the schools’ failure to actually give a damn and follow the science.

Nobody has said that ALL black kids elect DL. But in most surveys, more have elected DL than in person. Fact.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:My son is at Two Rivers 4th Street. They have not been good at communicating what plans, if any, they have for in-person instruction beyond general aspirations that it will happen some day. They have talked about increasing “in person opportunities” but all we’ve seen so far is an in person, outdoor social event for my son’s class. The school is apparently offering a very small Cares-like class but only for the few kids who weren’t logging in to any of the online classes and wouldn’t/couldn’t do so after the school followed up with them. They have not announced any metric for what rate of infection would trigger a shift from DL to in person learning. HTH.

Maybe post on DCUM less, read more of the TR emails and attend some of the meetings and Q&A the school does every two weeks (same meetings they have done since school began). There is a big difference between not liking the outcome and not being told the outcome. TR has clearly communicated in advance of each term what their plans are. They have done surveys and published those survey results. In fact, the only part of your post that is accurate is that they have not set a metric.

I agree that TR sends a significant volume of communication, but its of very little substance. Teachers and staff will be able to get vaccinated beginning Jan. 25, there should be a reopening plan in place, beyond the CARES accommodation, even if its to say, we’re doing DL for the rest of the year (which is what they will likely do).

You aren't asking for more substantive communication. You are asking them to communicate the outcome you want. Also, funny how you ignore the survey data from the TR community that shows a clear preference for DL this year even with a vaccine.

You are entitled to your opinion. You are entitled to want to return in person. But please stop conflating a lack of communication with not getting what you want.

+1,000

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:My son is at Two Rivers 4th Street. They have not been good at communicating what plans, if any, they have for in-person instruction beyond general aspirations that it will happen some day. They have talked about increasing “in person opportunities” but all we’ve seen so far is an in person, outdoor social event for my son’s class. The school is apparently offering a very small Cares-like class but only for the few kids who weren’t logging in to any of the online classes and wouldn’t/couldn’t do so after the school followed up with them. They have not announced any metric for what rate of infection would trigger a shift from DL to in person learning. HTH.

Maybe post on DCUM less, read more of the TR emails and attend some of the meetings and Q&A the school does every two weeks (same meetings they have done since school began). There is a big difference between not liking the outcome and not being told the outcome. TR has clearly communicated in advance of each term what their plans are. They have done surveys and published those survey results. In fact, the only part of your post that is accurate is that they have not set a metric.

I agree that TR sends a significant volume of communication, but its of very little substance. Teachers and staff will be able to get vaccinated beginning Jan. 25, there should be a reopening plan in place, beyond the CARES accommodation, even if its to say, we’re doing DL for the rest of the year (which is what they will likely do).

You aren't asking for more substantive communication. You are asking them to communicate the outcome you want. Also, funny how you ignore the survey data from the TR community that shows a clear preference for DL this year even with a vaccine.

You are entitled to your opinion. You are entitled to want to return in person. But please stop conflating a lack of communication with not getting what you want.

I have to disagree, and please note that I didn't indicate "the outcome" I want. That's not my issue at all--my issue is that there should be more detailed information about the outlook for the rest of the year. If it's DL for the remainder of the year, that is fine, but please announce that and be clear about what metrics informed that decision. Is it driven primarily by the staff and parent survey findings, or is that just one metric amongst a host of other factors. And the vaccine will be offered to staff and teachers beginning Jan. 25--how does this impact future planning? Will TR require staff to be vaccinated?

These are pretty basic issues to have resolved for future planning.

I'm sorry, what does "basic" mean in that sentence? Whether to open schools? When to make that decision? What changed circumstances might appear this week, next week, next month? How community spread will occur? Whether variants of COVID will appear? How fast vaccines will be deployed and how widely they will be accepted? So sad that TR is struggling with that when every other school, school system, town, city, state and country seems to have so easily dispensed with such "basic" issues.

Implicit in what you typed was that you wanted schools open. It is beyond me why you are denying that. Nothing wrong with wanting that outcome; why not own it? TR has explained ad nauseum the data and information they have and will use in consideration of the past and future outcomes. It's on every deck that explains each decision. If you choose not to read it that is not their fault. That decision matrix does not include hard COVID transmission metrics for a "go/no-go" decision. I get that you wish it did; it doesn't. Get over it. Even if it did it would not result in the certainty you now claim to desire. You continue to confuse and conflate the difference between disagreeing with the decision (or the methodology) and whether or not is was explained to you (over and over and over again). Also, let me note you are SOOOO creative moving the goalpost saying that now all you want is to know what they will do for Term 4 now so you can plan. The situation is quite fluid across the US. Why on earth would they make a decision now? Even if they made the decision to return in-person for Term 4, things could change (read: spikes and city shut down again) and they would change that decision. Furthermore. they have always said that no one is going to be required to go back in person this year of they are not comfortable doing so, which means if you must plan you can of course plan for DL through the year and check that off your list.

You got called out (by not just me) for spewing BS about lack of communication when your issue is not liking the outcome. You are behaving like an ES kid who keeps whining "but why" long after someone has explained why. My 9 year-old knows the difference between "I'm not happy with that outcome" and "please explain why". I'm done with you.

Hello TR administrator.

You're absurd.

Neither teacher nor administrator, but agree with the poster you quoted.