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]Serious question: Why would BASIS parents fight this? If the BASIS model is so great and successful, why would parents be upset that BASIS provide additional supports for SN kids?[/quote]

Fight what? No one is saying they shouldn't provide more supports or attract more kids with special needs. I think Basis parents are reacting to the idea that a school that has a different approach -- lots of work, no social promotion-- is problematic on its face.

I think the other thing is that all Basis parents know that the school isn't for everyone and doesn't try to be-- special needs or not. I have two kids, neither of them have special needs. Basis was a great fit for one and a terrible fit for the other. We pulled the second kid after 5th. It's a weird school. Because of that I think there is a worry that what posters are saying on this thread is that the Basis model isn't a viable option; that all schools have to suit (not be open to, but suit) all kids equally.

Additionally, (and I am speaking theoretically here) It's hard to imagine that a familiy with kid with academic struggles would knowingly choose the school. If a kid's disabilities, for instance, mean that the accomodations are, say, additional time with assignments and tests, Basis' already heavy workload might be impossible. A kid could have all the support in the world, but if the 2 hours of homework in middle school turns into 4 for your kid every night, why would you choose that?[/quote]

Well maybe Basis parents need to educate themselves a little on federal disability law.  The obligation to provide an education for kids with disabilities is NOT excused on the basis of being a poor "fit."  For non-charters, it's clear that schools are not obligated to place children with disabilities in special programs that they don't otherwise qualify for. But Basis is an entire LEA, so it has no other program it can send kids to on the basis of "fit."  Basis choses to be a charter and parents chose to attend a charter.  That means the charter is an LEA and has to provide an education for all comers.  BTW IEP accomodations can include reduced homework.  [/quote]

You keep saying that. No one is saying they don't have an obligation to educate nor is anyone, including the Charter Board, saying that they aren't or shouldn't be doing so.

"For non-charters, it's clear that schools are not obligated to place children with disabilities in special programs that they don't otherwise qualify for" What does this mean?[/quote]

DP, but if DCPS can provide SN kids with an appropriate education or accommodations at another school, that's what they will do. (How well this happens is another topic.) BASIS and other charters only have one school in their LEA, so they need to accommodate the kids at that school.[/quote]

So DCPS can deny a kid with SN attend a certain school but Charters can't? Hm.[/quote]

Ok let me be patient with you.  DCPS isn and LEA.  Basis its an LEA.  DCPS (while observing all IDEA requirement) has multiple possible placements for children with disabilities.  However, this does not free DCPS from the obligation of providing sufficient services to children so that they can access the curriculum in general ed.  It is a high bar to provide a more restrictive environment or remove a child from their school.  Basis as an LEA has no other programs to send kids to.  It's just Basis.  At some point they can try to do a private placement that OSSE pays for, but they can't do that just because they believe their "niche" makes Basis a "poor fit." [/quote]

No, charters are able to kick out students. That’s actually an issue admins in dcps bring up, that they get kids from charter in November after the budget has been set. Meaning the charter gets the money for that student’s enrollment rather than the dcps school. I have also received students from charters because the charter could not serve the student’s needs much like how the majority of NW schools get away with that by not having a self contained program.[/quote]

that’s how it probably works in a lot of cases with no IEP. but with an IEP it seems like the next step would be private placement. [/quote]

I’m sure that happens, however students from charters can be placed in a DCPS school if the charter doesn’t have the resources, regardless of an IEP. I should note this is when the child needs self-contained.

Private placement is generally never the next step from being primarily in gen ed.[/quote]

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