Basis DC just withdrew its request to amend their charter and add elementary school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The cynic in me says it's because they just realized they can open basis private schools now in the district and get tuition voucher money AnD federal money.

Doubtful. Tuition vouchers will be too small. Their private tuition is $27K/year and they do and cannot have financial aid as a for-profit independent.

They can probably hustle up a low budget version of that. And plenty of Umc parents who'd chip in another 10k. Voucher programs will bring in a massive, massive funding of 15-20k/year tuition schools, all with almost no oversight. I'm sure some will be quite lovely.

And others will teach you that witches float.

[Anonymous]

Just like charter schools.

[Anonymous]

Many upper grades parents at our Cap Hill DCPS are relieved that the request has been withdrawn. If and when a BASIS ES opens, it will cream off some of our most education-minded families with our highest performing students. It will also pin down most of the BASIS MS spots for families who came up through the BASIS ES, spots our school community relies on so families can stay in the city. Call us self-serving, but we're relieved, praying that this baby never flies.

[Anonymous]

Yes, PP, you are self-serving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The cynic in me says it's because they just realized they can open basis private schools now in the district and get tuition voucher money AnD federal money.

Doubtful. Tuition vouchers will be too small. Their private tuition is $27K/year and they do and cannot have financial aid as a for-profit independent.

They can probably hustle up a low budget version of that. And plenty of Umc parents who'd chip in another 10k. Voucher programs will bring in a massive, massive funding of 15-20k/year tuition schools, all with almost no oversight. I'm sure some will be quite lovely.

And others will teach you that witches float.

Vouchers are not going to be issued to upper middle class parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many upper grades parents at our Cap Hill DCPS are relieved that the request has been withdrawn. If and when a BASIS ES opens, it will cream off some of our most education-minded families with our highest performing students. It will also pin down most of the BASIS MS spots for families who came up through the BASIS ES, spots our school community relies on so families can stay in the city. Call us self-serving, but we're relieved, praying that this baby never flies.

Yeah, I am in your demographic and think you are being wholly selfish. I don't think the Basis elementary plan was fully baked but I certainly would not begrudge it opening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if the board will ask about it at tonight's meeting

The Board voted to grant the existing BASIS another 5 year charter as expected.

The withdrawn application to expand did not come up.

Extended without condition. The DCPCSB simply does not have the issues with BASIS that some of you would like to imagine they do. I suspect BASIS withdrew the application because it needed more work.

As for Ward 7/8 yet another charter got approved to serve, let's also not pretend that schools aren't willing to serve those wards. BASIS already has students from 7 & 8. BASIS opened its current school with the intention of it being centrally located to serve students from all wards.

They'd been working on it for more than a year. Basically they just failed their own comprehensive exam. It is embarrassing.

Maybe that's your view but it isn't mine. It was always contingent on finding good facilities or a space that they could convert to being an appropriate school space. That's a circumstance that's beyond their control. They are still looking.

[Anonymous]

Spoke to a BDC board member. Facilities was an issue but not the only issue. 50:50 if they ever submit again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Spoke to a BDC board member. Facilities was an issue but not the only issue. 50:50 if they ever submit again.

Why? What were the other issues?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spoke to a BDC board member. Facilities was an issue but not the only issue. 50:50 if they ever submit again.

Why? What were the other issues?

The ones the PCSB raised and how to revise application to address them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, PP, you are self-serving.

Please. Much too easy to the point the finger when the system is needlessly built on zero sum games. We're all self serving on various levels (explaining why we've made it this far in life).

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't be surprised if Basis ends up wit a private ES in DC. there is a demand and if the kids in private were promised entry into the middle charter school it would probably raise the scores significantly because it would limit so many lottery options by 5th grade kids. Honestly if a decent private opened for 25k or less then I would be all over that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't be surprised if Basis ends up wit a private ES in DC. there is a demand and if the kids in private were promised entry into the middle charter school it would probably raise the scores significantly because it would limit so many lottery options by 5th grade kids. Honestly if a decent private opened for 25k or less then I would be all over that.

How would that be even remotely possible, either under DC law or ethically? One of the things that Basis was criticized for by the board was not being open to at-risk/poor students, so reserving spaces for kids coming from private school would be totally in the wrong direction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't be surprised if Basis ends up wit a private ES in DC. there is a demand and if the kids in private were promised entry into the middle charter school it would probably raise the scores significantly because it would limit so many lottery options by 5th grade kids. Honestly if a decent private opened for 25k or less then I would be all over that.

How would that be even remotely possible, either under DC law or ethically? One of the things that Basis was criticized for by the board was not being open to at-risk/poor students, so reserving spaces for kids coming from private school would be totally in the wrong direction.

It isn't possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Charter advocate and BASIS critic just blogged about the BASIS decision to withdraw its application to expand.

https://parentshaveschoolchoicekidswin.com/2016/11/21/basis-pcs-withdraws-application-to-expand/

One could argue that high achieving, higher income kids are left behind by the traditional school system in DCPS. Unless you can buy a million dollar house in upper NW or Cap Hill for Brent, then your kid is screwed.

Cry me a river. High achieving, high income kids are not at risk of being left behind. They are at a huge advantage academically, and statistically will be JUST FINE even if they are not challenged in school until later. They are not at risk of anything other than boredom and being spoiled rotten.

And, KIPP has proven to be adept at challenging my 99th percentile tester. They differentiate. If you could get past all the black faces, you might like it.