I think repeating the year is the norm but it is possible, though difficult, to get an exception (see previous thread on this). I heard they will be rolling back the cut-off to 9/30 for new students next year. I presume that those with late brays will repeat PK-4 though as is poss at other schools there may be exceptions (though I think it will be very difficult).

Anonymous wrote:My question is for Bridges parents whose children's birthdays fall between 9/30 and 12/31 (since the school accepts a late-fall birthday for admission) - what do you do when it's time to move to K in a Public school and your child isn't yet 5? Do you have to do an additional PK4 year or is there a waiver process like there is in MoCo? How will Bridges adding a K (and on up) affect children with a late birthday - will they still be allowed to start K if they don't turn 5 until December? And then how does that work if they want to transfer to another DCP or DCPC school?

I know a few children who went to Bridges with late fall birthdays - when they switched to another Charter / DCPS, in essence repeated a year.

KIPP's Shaw campus will open an elementary school next fall. They have pre-k and k, then 5th thru 8th right now.

My question is for Bridges parents whose children's birthdays fall between 9/30 and 12/31 (since the school accepts a late-fall birthday for admission) - what do you do when it's time to move to K in a Public school and your child isn't yet 5? Do you have to do an additional PK4 year or is there a waiver process like there is in MoCo? How will Bridges adding a K (and on up) affect children with a late birthday - will they still be allowed to start K if they don't turn 5 until December? And then how does that work if they want to transfer to another DCP or DCPC school?

Does Creative Minds have a location yet? It sounds pretty compelling.

Anonymous wrote:Bridges hopes to expand but expansion of charter has not yet happened. Mtg postponed from Nov to Jan, I believe. Will ultimAtely go to 5 but one grade at a time so K will be new next SY in addition to existing PS-3 and PK-4.

Do they have space to expand?

Bridges hopes to expand but expansion of charter has not yet happened. Mtg postponed from Nov to Jan, I believe. Will ultimAtely go to 5 but one grade at a time so K will be new next SY in addition to existing PS-3 and PK-4
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Capital City is expanding - in essence doubling the school and adding PreS as they move to their new facility in the fall of 2012

Anonymous wrote:I fail to see how Creative Minds is any different than about 25 other charter schools operating right now. Standards-based instruction in small classes? Yawn.

According to the proposal for Creative Minds that I found on the Internet, the school will integrate the approach to education developed by Dr. Greenspan, who developed Floortime. I do not know much about Floortime, but I have friends whose DC has sensory issues, and they found it helpful. Based on the very little I have heard about Floortime, it seems to be an approach that might also be useful in educating children who are developing typically. I wish I knew more about the school.

I fail to see how Creative Minds is any different than about 25 other charter schools operating right now. Standards-based instruction in small classes? Yawn.

Creative Minds
Will offer students a comprehensive education program that involves an international primary, project-based curriculum, including the arts, and integrates standards-based literacy and math instruction in small classrooms. While the school’s proposal was developed to serve pre-school through eighth grade, the PCSB felt that the application was stronger for pre-school through fifth grade and conditionally approved the application to serve those grades only, with the possibility of being approved to serve the middle school grades later.

The Latin American Youth Center (LAYC) Career Academy
Will provide young people between the ages of 16 and 24 who have not been successful in a traditional school setting with skills necessary to attain a GED certificate, vocational training in high-growth occupations, college-credit classes and preparation for success in college, postsecondary education, training programs or the workplace. LAYC has founded three successful public charter schools in the District: LAYC Youth Build, Next Step and Latin American Bilingual Montessori (LAMB). Board members noted their successful track record with these schools as a strong indicator of success with Career Academy.

DC Scholars
Will serve students in pre-school through the eighth grade partnering with Scholar Academies, a non-profit, school management organization that has been successful operating schools in Philadelphia and Washington, DC—including the highest performing charter middle school in Philadelphia.

Basis
Plans to provide a rigorous liberal arts college preparatory education to middle and high school students in grades 5 through 12. The BASIS school model has been successful in Arizona and the PCSB gave conditional approval pending the applicant’s demonstration of how this model will be adapted to the demographic profile of students in the District of Columbia.

Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/capital-land/2011/04/four-new-dc-charter-schools-approved-fall-2012#ixzz1eZ2kMTks

http://www.dcpubliccharter.com/news-room.aspx?id=198 describes all new charters opening next year

12:19 - where did you find this info? Do you know any info on the elementaries? Websites?

NEW CHARTERS FALL '12
Creative Minds - PS-5
DC Scholars PS-8
Basis 5-9
Latin American Youth Center Careeer Academy (age 16-24)

Mundo Verde and Inspired Teaching opened fall 2011. Does anyone know if there are another pair (or more?) opening in fall 2012?