Reply to BASIS under federal investigation

Forum Index » DC Public and Public Charter Schools

Reply to "BASIS under federal investigation"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]

But no one is asking every single school to meet the needs of every single student. Every single PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM has to do this.  The fact that there are many "school systems" that consist of only one school is somewhat inconsequential.  Folks who want to start a charter know this going into the game.  When they apply for a charter, they understand that these are the rules. BASIS knew that it would have to provide a "free and appropriate education" to any student who applied through the lottery and was selected.  If a blind student drew number one in the lottery and decided to go to BASIS, then the school is under a legal obligation to provide appropriate services and accommodations either at BASIS or at another school with whom they make arrangements.  If a blind student lives in the neighborhood near Stoddert ES, then the child [i]may possibly[/i] attend Stoddert.  But the IEP team could determine that the child's needs would best be met at [i]another DCPS school where services could be delivered[/i]. If that happens, then DCPS has met its obligation to provide a free and appropriate education. [/quote]

Then perhaps the law should be changed to reflect the reality that individual charter schools are [b]not[/b] school systems. It is ludicrous IMO to equate an actual school district with often billion dollar budgets with individual charter schools with much smaller budgets. This is also a reason to enforce the DC laws which call for equal funding between charter schools and public schools which currently are not enforced at all.[/quote]

Look, it's not like charters aren't getting benefits from this set-up.  In fact, it's quite the contrary.  For example, charters can close their admissions when the lottery is over and funding for each student is provided.  No one enters after they decide.   BUT if a kid moves into the neighborhood [i]at any point in the year[/i] DCPS has to provide a space for that student in that neighborhood school.  NO charter has to take a kid mid year.  That's a huge issue for a teacher and school to deal with.

And if a charter decides to kick a kid out for absences, they can do so.  That kid is out of the school AND the system.  BUT DCPS cannot just kick a kid out of their system.  A kid may be kicked out of a particular school, but the system is still responsible for finding another school. The bar is pretty high to expel a kid from an entire system.

And don't forget, charters enjoy a great deal of autonomy in their hiring. NO dealings with the union, with their resources and equipment and with the curriculum choices are just a few advantages.  Charters can decide to pay their teachers whatever they want.  They can fire at will.  So while it may seem "ludicrous" to hold charter to the same standards as a larger school system, note that charters enjoy MANY benefits that the leaders within the schools of a large school system do not have.

What's ludicrous" is to provide public funding for charters to run themselves however they see fit and NOT hold them accountable to the same obligations that public schools have around special education.  You do not get public money, autonomy and then get to cherry pick which students you'd like to educate. 
[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics