Reply to BASIS DC will seek to expand to include K to 4th grade

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Reply to "BASIS DC will seek to expand to include K to 4th grade"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I’m also concerned with attracting and retaining teachers for the ES. 2-4 grades can be tough from a classroom management standpoint and charters typically pay less and have less resources making it tough to retain. We have seen the impact that has had at other charter ES in the target area (TR and MV). Would hate to see a downward spiral for BASIS knowing that teacher retention is already a concern for the HS.[/quote]

2nd grade teachers and HS teachers are not the same pool. These two things have nothing to do with each other. The "low pay" boogeyman doesn't play here; BASIS is matching DCPS scale. As has been explained, TR and MV are inapt analogies since they duplicated existing schools as matters of first impression. BASIS proposed to add K-4, something they have done across the country.

Other than that, you nailed it![/quote]

I am aware that they will be matching DCPS salaries, which is fantastic, I’m just waiting to see what resources they will have to scale back on and how much more families will have to contribute in fundraising. I understand that BASIS has K-4 in other states but I worry that they underestimate the dynamics in DC. While TR and MV differ from BASIS in their manner of expansion, they are still ES charters and at least from what is posted on DCUM, classroom management and retaining teachers in upper ES at several charters has been a challenge. I don’t see how this would not also be a challenge for BASIS ES.  As we even see at the MS level (and likely even at other BASIS location) not every kid is a good fit for the BASIS model. Since acceptance is based on the lottery there will definitely be kids that won’t respond well in a more rigorous and structured classroom and will cause disruptions in class.  Hopefully they will at least have dedicated aides for every upper ES classroom to assist the lead teachers so there are 2 teachers in the class at all times. There does not appear to be a surplus of qualified ES school teachers in the area so unless they will be filling the school with teachers from the other locations, staffing may still be a challenge. I hope my concerns are unfounded though, because I support school choice. [/quote]

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