Being an activist PTA member is very different from running a school. Getting proven leadership with charter and urban school experience will be more challenging than policy debates with parents.

If this were MoCo, politics over charters would probably be more of an obstacle. But this is DC. Almost every charter gets money from Walton, Gates and every foundation in between. It would be financial suicide to politicize the school.

(Besides, Libertarian charter school would be a bit of an oxymoron, no? )

Explain how the director of the school being conservative would affect the curriculum or the way the school is run. What are you afraid of?

I'm liberal and I'm pro-basis, so far....a way to provide high quality education to anyone who can get a slot

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've read enough to be curious and have a child who is a potential applicant, but I have a few questions:

Why does the "interest form" ask for parents' employers and job titles?

Several of the members of the management and Board of Trustees have Republican and/or libertarian political leanings. Will this influence the curriculum or the way the school is run?

Definitely! If you have ever spent any time with Mary Siddall you will know she views her political leanings as simply factual, and everyone else is wrong. It occurred to me that there may really be a place for BASIS -- a home for conservative families in an overwhelmingly liberal DCPS.

Our family is considering Basis and I will put my liberal bona fides up against anyone.

Anonymous wrote:I've read enough to be curious and have a child who is a potential applicant, but I have a few questions:

Why does the "interest form" ask for parents' employers and job titles?

Several of the members of the management and Board of Trustees have Republican and/or libertarian political leanings. Will this influence the curriculum or the way the school is run?

Definitely! If you have ever spent any time with Mary Siddall you will know she views her political leanings as simply factual, and everyone else is wrong. It occurred to me that there may really be a place for BASIS -- a home for conservative families in an overwhelmingly liberal DCPS.

Anonymous wrote:I've read enough to be curious and have a child who is a potential applicant, but I have a few questions:

Several of the members of the management and Board of Trustees have Republican and/or libertarian political leanings. Will this influence the curriculum or the way the school is run?

I have attended a few info sessions, and I asked about politics. Being a liberal Democrat, the idea of Charter for my 4th grader takes getting used to. I have contacted people familiar with Basis (critics and boosters alike), and I may visit AZ (with other prospective parents) in January to see Basis schools in person. Thus far I am not dissuaded.

With regard to the question of Basis leadership and politics. Basis management and trustees also have progressive credentials: Trustee David Hedgepeth worked at the American Federation of Teachers; Trustee Marie-Laure Parke “is an advocate, activist and speaker on issues including peace education;” Trustee Craig Barrett, former CEO of Intel, is part of the Clinton Global Initiative. From my perspective the country is half conservative and that is represented in their leadership.

If there is a philosophy that runs through the school, as best I can discern it is “best practices.” The school aims to use time efficiently and productively in pursuit of an accelerated liberal arts curriculum. Scheduling and planning are key student activities. I’m guessing for most kids Basis is simply where they go to school.

Know nothing about Basis but having filled out lots of charter applications last year, asking for employer and job title is not unusual.

I've read enough to be curious and have a child who is a potential applicant, but I have a few questions:

Why does the "interest form" ask for parents' employers and job titles?

Several of the members of the management and Board of Trustees have Republican and/or libertarian political leanings. Will this influence the curriculum or the way the school is run?

What building have they signed a lease on?

I went to the event last night. It looks like Basis will be in Chinatown - on the Green & Red Line.

I'm guessing that Basis will acquire a 600 capacity building in south DuPont or Chinatown.

From the website:
The building will consist of the following: 9-12 general classrooms, 4-6 science-specific classrooms, art rooms, music rooms, a gym/exercise room, and a large multipurpose room which will be used as a cafeteria.

Basis Public Charter School is conducting information sessions this week. The lottery is approaching and if you have children in grades 5, 6, 7 & 8 and if you are considering charter middle schools, now is the time to act:

Monday - Ward 7 – 7:00pm – 500 Central Ave SE (Capitol View Library)
Tuesday – Southwest – 6:30pm – 400 Eye St SW – (Westminster Presbyterian)
Wednesday – Downtown lunch – Noon – 1016 16th St NW (7th Fl)
Wednesday – Ward 8 – 7:00pm - 1901 Mississippi Ave SE (THEARC)
Thursday – Shaw – 6:30pm –900 Massachusetts Ave NW (Methodist Church)

Basis is an internationally competitive school coming to DC. Basis in Tucson was ranked the #3 high school in the nation in 2011. With raised academic expectations, implemented through an accelerated curriculum, BASIS prepares middle and high school students to compete with their peers in countries with highly performing educational systems, such as Finland, Canada, Japan, and Korea. The BASIS educational philosophy, which is quite straightforward, rests on three legs: A rigorous curriculum, student accountability, and knowledgeable and effective teachers

BASIS is an open enrollment school that does not require entrance examinations and does not charge tuition. Any student can attend if there is space available; a registration lottery determines admission if there are more students interested than the school can accommodate.

For more info: www.basisdc.org

*** The name Basis is used because the five founders had names that began with B-A-S-I-S.