Reply to Could BASIS DC be closed for lower enrollment and higher academic demands?

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Reply to "Could BASIS DC be closed for lower enrollment and higher academic demands?"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote]Listen -- I know Basis may not like the rules but the rules are in place so either abide by them or bece subject to problems. There are specialized charter schools (mentioned above) because they were approved to serve those populations. BASIS didnt apply to be a charter which only serves a certain population, they applied to be like Latin or Two Rivers or any of the other schools which have a more general enrollment goal with a different curriculum. Unlike the pp BASIS parent which thinks it is for GT type children, that isn't what their application was approved to serve. Yes, DC probably should have a GT program or two or three. That is a great idea. Too bad BASIS didnt try for that because they may have actually been able to get it done. But since they have to live up to their current charter they can't simply act like a GT program (not saying they are but clearly some BASIIs parents think they should) and try to "encourage" those who aren't GT to "find" a different program. [/quote]

This.

Also, one of the most disturbing and insidious things about the extreme BASIS boosters is that they bully posters who raise any concerns about the school with suggestions they leave. BASIS isn't a private school and it isn't a GT substitute clubhouse. It is a public charter school that sought a charter in DC knowing full well the rules. If they fail to abide by the terms of their charter, they should be shut down. Although, I don't know anyone who wants to see that happen. What does need to happen is that BASIS needs to address the needs of its students and raise the achievement of all children in the school, just as they promised.[/quote]

Incorrect assertions keep being made about the law, about specialization and who can or can't specialize.  The fact is that virtually EVERY charter in DC is specialized, and is targeting a specific need and specific segment of the DC student populace.  St. Colettas does special needs.  Carlos Rosario does adult immigrant education.  Roots does Afrocentrism.  Mundo Verde does Spanish language and Environmentalism.  Latin is college prep.  Options does "hard cases".  Yu Ying does Chinese Immersion, and on and on and on.  Those missions and specializations were all presented to the Charter Board, and those schools with those stated missions and specializations were all approved by the Charter board with their full knowledge and consent and adherence to the law.  As for being able to meet the needs of *every* child, frankly there is not one school in the entire District of Columbia that can do that, whether DCPS or charter, so that is one area where the law falls on its face - and you can't just decide you are going to single out one charter and selectively enforce it there while giving DCPS failings in that area a complete pass, as that is discriminatory practice.

As for the suggestion that BASIS is "trying to be a private" is complete nonsense.  Likewise, BASIS isn't "trying to be a G&T school" either - they are not doing IQ tests, selective admission or any of the other standard pieces inherent to a G&T program.  Anyone who wants to can apply for admission, it is not selective other than luck of the draw on a lottery.  What BASIS *is* doing is providing a very robust and challenging curriculum, however that entails students and families making a serious investment of time and energy toward meeting that challenge.  And, there's nothing whatsoever wrong with that.  In fact, many families like ours find it to be a very refreshing and welcome addition.[/quote]

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