Last resort plan if DCPS / WTU doesn't do full-time IPL after all?

[Anonymous]

We moved to MD and are doing private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I will rent an apartment in a jurisdiction where schools are open and live there for a year.

That’s what we would do if school is fully remote. Did it for part of last year in a different country, and will do it somewhere closer this year if necessary, even if it sucks and will be financially difficult. Last year, we were able to cover most of the cost from the stimulus checks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lawsuit. Lots of parents were talking about it last year, in theory. If DCPS tries to keep schools closed again this coming year, they have more than ample grounds to file one.

Really? What is the legal basis in your view, counselor?

LOL, seriously. I would love to hear it. -lawyer

Failure to educate; violation of equal access to education (since some schools managed to reopen while others refused, meaning some students were denied an education while others were not). Arbitrary and capricious application of non-scientific restrictions on children who are at low risk of COVID.

Also, denial of children's constitutional right to a basic, minimum education (which NJ parents used as reasoning for suing their school districts successfully in federal court)

minor point of clarification: it's not a constitutional right, but it IS a civil right. it's my understanding that it's only a constitutional right for students with IEPs and English language learners.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We already moved. Enough with the totally unscientific school closures, thanks. Best thing we ever did. People are warmer and kinder, our housing is practically free, and our income is the same or more due to remote work. Vote with your feet.

Where'd you move?

[Anonymous]

freak out

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We already moved. Enough with the totally unscientific school closures, thanks. Best thing we ever did. People are warmer and kinder, our housing is practically free, and our income is the same or more due to remote work. Vote with your feet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's a really bad thing that could happen - if delta or other variants increase, low-income wards vax rates stay low, COVID spreads and schools in those wards must close, for the sake of equity DCPS/WTU will not keep all DCPS schools open for IPL. What is your last resort plan? If you can afford it, are there shitty private schools that will have slots available and you could put your kid there? I have a rising K who did all of PK "online" and it sucked. I have a rising 4th grader who loves learning and cannot do another year of 2 hours per day in person. HELP.

LOL I posted this scenario 3 weeks ago and got shot down with "DCPS says schools will reopen". My how the worm turns. Are you applying more pressure to Bowser and the Council to get more ward innoculated, or that they come up with a plan B for those that won't and not for the rest of us?

Three weeks ago there weren't 30,000 or more positive cases each day. This delta variant is making me nervous and the OP has a very valid point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's a really bad thing that could happen - if delta or other variants increase, low-income wards vax rates stay low, COVID spreads and schools in those wards must close, for the sake of equity DCPS/WTU will not keep all DCPS schools open for IPL. What is your last resort plan? If you can afford it, are there shitty private schools that will have slots available and you could put your kid there? I have a rising K who did all of PK "online" and it sucked. I have a rising 4th grader who loves learning and cannot do another year of 2 hours per day in person. HELP.

First. That’s never going to happen. Schools in upper NW opened 4 full days a week. No one central office or Bowser gave a crap that schools in other wards didn’t open.

Elementary schools opened. Middle/HS did not.

Nor did all elementary schools in Upper NW open for four full days a week.

+1. And the ones that did prioritized students “furthest from opportunity” for IPL seats.

[Anonymous]

Talk me down. Last night I woke up at 2am worried about this and never went back to sleep. We are a PK family and never got an IPL spot last year. Our school was among the worst in the city in terms of IPL last year (I am specifically not naming it because it's a struggling school for a variety of reasons and the failure is not necessarily about incompetence but more some terrible circumstances). We tried to lottery out of the school but have failed thus far and our numbers are not looking good. Our kid spent the second half of last year in a part time PK program that was great in many ways but really only a few hours a week and just not sufficient for our childcare needs. We can't afford that plus childcare, and we need childcare, so we didn't re-enroll this year. We're waitlisted at another private PK with a more comprehensive schedule that we think we can swing on our budget (it will be tight) but no guarantees we'll get in.

I am so scared things are going to shut down again. I think it will finally break me. We would have moved last year but we are in a condo and the market is not great -- we have a neighbor who has been on the market for months and we were hoping that would sell quickly and then we'd list but now I don't know. I am holding onto my job by a thread but I don't think I can do this another year. I feel like it's all going to happen again -- the last minute announcement of closure, the pointless DL for kids who can't really do it, the promises of reopening and it never materializing. I feel so stuck. Our families live very far away and don't have room for us if we went there. We'd have to rent something near them and I don't know how we'd do that if we couldn't rent our place out as well, which is no guarantee.

I'm just venting. It feels like it's all happening again.

[Anonymous]

You guys are so easily trolled. This isn’t going to happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Talk me down. Last night I woke up at 2am worried about this and never went back to sleep. We are a PK family and never got an IPL spot last year. Our school was among the worst in the city in terms of IPL last year (I am specifically not naming it because it's a struggling school for a variety of reasons and the failure is not necessarily about incompetence but more some terrible circumstances). We tried to lottery out of the school but have failed thus far and our numbers are not looking good. Our kid spent the second half of last year in a part time PK program that was great in many ways but really only a few hours a week and just not sufficient for our childcare needs. We can't afford that plus childcare, and we need childcare, so we didn't re-enroll this year. We're waitlisted at another private PK with a more comprehensive schedule that we think we can swing on our budget (it will be tight) but no guarantees we'll get in.

I am so scared things are going to shut down again. I think it will finally break me. We would have moved last year but we are in a condo and the market is not great -- we have a neighbor who has been on the market for months and we were hoping that would sell quickly and then we'd list but now I don't know. I am holding onto my job by a thread but I don't think I can do this another year. I feel like it's all going to happen again -- the last minute announcement of closure, the pointless DL for kids who can't really do it, the promises of reopening and it never materializing. I feel so stuck. Our families live very far away and don't have room for us if we went there. We'd have to rent something near them and I don't know how we'd do that if we couldn't rent our place out as well, which is no guarantee.

I'm just venting. It feels like it's all happening again.

The vast majority of US parents have no access to free pre-K.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Talk me down. Last night I woke up at 2am worried about this and never went back to sleep. We are a PK family and never got an IPL spot last year. Our school was among the worst in the city in terms of IPL last year (I am specifically not naming it because it's a struggling school for a variety of reasons and the failure is not necessarily about incompetence but more some terrible circumstances). We tried to lottery out of the school but have failed thus far and our numbers are not looking good. Our kid spent the second half of last year in a part time PK program that was great in many ways but really only a few hours a week and just not sufficient for our childcare needs. We can't afford that plus childcare, and we need childcare, so we didn't re-enroll this year. We're waitlisted at another private PK with a more comprehensive schedule that we think we can swing on our budget (it will be tight) but no guarantees we'll get in.

I am so scared things are going to shut down again. I think it will finally break me. We would have moved last year but we are in a condo and the market is not great -- we have a neighbor who has been on the market for months and we were hoping that would sell quickly and then we'd list but now I don't know. I am holding onto my job by a thread but I don't think I can do this another year. I feel like it's all going to happen again -- the last minute announcement of closure, the pointless DL for kids who can't really do it, the promises of reopening and it never materializing. I feel so stuck. Our families live very far away and don't have room for us if we went there. We'd have to rent something near them and I don't know how we'd do that if we couldn't rent our place out as well, which is no guarantee.

I'm just venting. It feels like it's all happening again.

I don’t have any answers or advice but please know you are not alone. I’m getting teary eyed because I too I struggled to sleep the last few days. Sunday night I didn’t sleep at all. I have a kinder and a third grader and had big dreams for this year — getting marriage and career back on track. It all feels in jeopardy.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't panic in a city with a high vaccination rate. The Delta Variant is only striking fast and hard in areas of this country where at least half, maybe two-thirds, of adults aren't vaccinated, mainly down South.

DCPS hasn't backed off its position of reopening full-time in the fall. I don't see cause to worry that they won't. You guys are going to existential funks for no good reason. Relax, have a little faith.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Talk me down. Last night I woke up at 2am worried about this and never went back to sleep. We are a PK family and never got an IPL spot last year. Our school was among the worst in the city in terms of IPL last year (I am specifically not naming it because it's a struggling school for a variety of reasons and the failure is not necessarily about incompetence but more some terrible circumstances). We tried to lottery out of the school but have failed thus far and our numbers are not looking good. Our kid spent the second half of last year in a part time PK program that was great in many ways but really only a few hours a week and just not sufficient for our childcare needs. We can't afford that plus childcare, and we need childcare, so we didn't re-enroll this year. We're waitlisted at another private PK with a more comprehensive schedule that we think we can swing on our budget (it will be tight) but no guarantees we'll get in.

I am so scared things are going to shut down again. I think it will finally break me. We would have moved last year but we are in a condo and the market is not great -- we have a neighbor who has been on the market for months and we were hoping that would sell quickly and then we'd list but now I don't know. I am holding onto my job by a thread but I don't think I can do this another year. I feel like it's all going to happen again -- the last minute announcement of closure, the pointless DL for kids who can't really do it, the promises of reopening and it never materializing. I feel so stuck. Our families live very far away and don't have room for us if we went there. We'd have to rent something near them and I don't know how we'd do that if we couldn't rent our place out as well, which is no guarantee.

I'm just venting. It feels like it's all happening again.

I'm sorry you are feeling this. Totally understand what you are going through. I think that DCPS could do many different things and be creative about this. In the midst of delta, I don't think reopening all elementary schools for everyone, having 30 person classrooms, full cafeterias is a good idea. That said, why can't DCPS reopen for PK-2 because this is really the group that virtual makes the least sense (kids 3, 4, 5, 6 don't have the attention span or the maturity to sit through these virtual classes). Then DCPS can have a more flexible virtual/in-person for 3-5 to alleviate the crowding at elementary schools. Middle school and High schools should all be open because kids have access to vaccines. That is just one thought and there are probably many more, but DCSP is not thinking of alternate plans and burying their heads in the sand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Talk me down. Last night I woke up at 2am worried about this and never went back to sleep. We are a PK family and never got an IPL spot last year. Our school was among the worst in the city in terms of IPL last year (I am specifically not naming it because it's a struggling school for a variety of reasons and the failure is not necessarily about incompetence but more some terrible circumstances). We tried to lottery out of the school but have failed thus far and our numbers are not looking good. Our kid spent the second half of last year in a part time PK program that was great in many ways but really only a few hours a week and just not sufficient for our childcare needs. We can't afford that plus childcare, and we need childcare, so we didn't re-enroll this year. We're waitlisted at another private PK with a more comprehensive schedule that we think we can swing on our budget (it will be tight) but no guarantees we'll get in.

I am so scared things are going to shut down again. I think it will finally break me. We would have moved last year but we are in a condo and the market is not great -- we have a neighbor who has been on the market for months and we were hoping that would sell quickly and then we'd list but now I don't know. I am holding onto my job by a thread but I don't think I can do this another year. I feel like it's all going to happen again -- the last minute announcement of closure, the pointless DL for kids who can't really do it, the promises of reopening and it never materializing. I feel so stuck. Our families live very far away and don't have room for us if we went there. We'd have to rent something near them and I don't know how we'd do that if we couldn't rent our place out as well, which is no guarantee.

I'm just venting. It feels like it's all happening again.

OP, not sure where you are in the city but I think Sela and Military Road have PK4 spots (or short waitlists). Sela especially seems committed to in-person and may be more so than your IB.