Reply to What's with all the Basis hate?

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Reply to "What's with all the Basis hate?"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]My thought, as a long-time white District resident, is that much of the hate stems from the unapologetic fact that BASIS challenges the status quo of the "soft bigotry of low expectations."

SOME posters (and therefore DC residents) believe that all schools accepting taxpayer funds should be for all students.   That all schools have to take what they get on opening day and tailor their curriculum accordingly --- because they're accepting taxpayer funding, of course.

This is bullshit, of course.   Nobody would urge Roots PCS to amend its curriculum to begin studying WASPy Mayflower immigrants because a lot of pale, blonde New Englanders decided to apply next year and get in.   St. Coletta's is not expected to offer a new track for highly gifted kids who are 2 grades ahead, just because several kids of that description get in since it was more convenient to their address.

Yet -- say the haters -- BASIS is supposed to offer curriculum and academic concessions (called "accommodations" to carry legal heft) to kids who cannot keep it with the clearly stated curriculum expectations.  Since, in their words, "that's what charters are required to do under the law, educate ALL students."   With the exception of all the other specialty charters mentioned above and many more. [/quote]

Following on.  i just wonder how people who hold this view square that with application high schools and specialty programs like McKinley and Duke Ellington within DCPS.  My guess is that they would argue that these special schools are one piece of a larger system ( DCPS ) so it is acceptable to specifically target students with a special skill, need or interest.  However, the thinking might go, each Charter school is considered its own school district or LEA and therefore must see to each and everyone's special needs and interests no matter the stated mission or focus of the school.   This strikes me as an unfair expectation ( beyond the laws around special education and equal access ) and an anti-charter stance.  School choice should put the burden on parents to research and find the best program and approach for their particular student.  All the programs within DCPS and the charter sector combined should provide that.
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