Reply to BASIS: PCSB staff recommends conditional continuance due to SWD

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]But is it discrimination against other SN to advertise that BASIS could be a very good fit for kids with SN that make them pretty rigid?  [/quote]

If they're advertising in a way that suggests they will only support specific disabilities or profiles, then yes, that would be extremely problematic.  You see private schools and camps advertise in that way and it's clearly meant to exclude kids with higher support/perceived higher support needs, as well as, frankly, kids with autism who are "too" autistic.

Remember just because Basis is a charter does not mean they are exempt from supporting kids with SN of all levels.  They can't just pick and chose.  The Charter Board pointed out that Basis has basically no higher-needs kids.  [/quote]

The SN boosters here are missing the point altogether in their zeal and assumptions.

The point is that Basis would likely make a great fit for any student who does well with structure, clear expectations, focus on individual work, lots of emphasis on organization and concrete curriculums. Many kids with HFA would fit the bill.

Emphasising those strengths and talking about how this kind of learning can benefit some students would be a way to message that out to families with all types of kids, including HFA or others and might encourage kids who otherwise wouldn't think to apply. [/quote]

"SN Booster"? Really?  Forgive me for having "zeal and assumptions" as I attempt to ensure my child with disabilities gets an education.

As much as you want Basis to be exempt from special education laws, it is not. It would be great if Basis established and funded an HFA program and advertised it.  That doesn't allow it to screen for certain disabilities and levels of disabilities.  Clearly Basis has a serious issue retaining and serving kids with disabilities.  Falling back on "oh the few we have do well" does not fix that problem.  [/quote]

Do you feel a school focused on AP test prep would benefit your SN child? If so, apply. I have a non SN child, and because of the above would skip Basis for our family. Different strokes for differenr folks.[/quote]

Sure, it could benefit him if it had the right supports in place.  That's the whole point of special education.  My SN kid likes tests.  But he also needs social skills support, some support with organization, a behavioral plan ... [/quote]

So he has something like Aspbergers, executive functioning challenges and needs an IEP? I would imagine most any school  in Basis tier can support him well (not solve,.since it's not a problem to be solved, but support). Does this otherwise describe him (from Basis website): "BASIS DC students are hungry for challenge, curious about the world around them, and unafraid of the extra effort required to meet and exceed the high standards of BASIS Curriculum Schools". If so, why not contact the school instead of going off a bunch of heresay?[/quote]

It's not "hearsay." It's the informed opinion of multiple therapists/medical professionals who talk to a lot of families on the  Hill, which is a main source of Basis students.  I'll go to the open houses, but the informed opinions plus the Charter Board's actions absolutely give me pause.  If Basis responses in a legitimate and transparent way and staffs up their special ed team, maybe.  As it stands now, I can't even find the name of the special ed coordinator on their website.  [/quote]

Why not contact the school and ask?.seems like you are willing to do a lot of legwork. and except the most obvious? [/quote]

Because the school will not tell you the truth.  Indeed it would be illegal for them to say anything that would deter SN parents from enrolling.[/quote]

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