Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

If BASIS had a selective admissions policy, they would only admit those kids that were ready to tackle the rigorous college prep curriculum on day 1. Only families that were confident that their kids could handle the coursework would invest time studying for the entrance exam. Furthermore, a cottage industry would probably spring up offering test prep services for the BASIS entrance exam, placing poor children at a disadvantage. As a result, the bright kid from the failing elementary school would never have the chance to succeed there.

Strongly disagree. That's certainly not now NYC runs its famous selective admissions schools, which start in K and run through 12th. I attended Bronx Science and an Ivy, coming from a low-income family and a "failing" ES, so you can trust me on this point.

NYC makes a great effort to identify and nurture low-SES talent at a young age, while this city effectively makes none. You certainly aren't admitted, or rejected by, selective admissions schools in NYC solely on the basis of a test score (a common enough assumption in DC, but not factually correct) - there is an applicant interview, parents interview, teacher recommendations etc., followed by special support for low-SES kids after enrollment. In the upper elementary grades, I attended excellent city run test prep programs geared to low-SES kids to prep for middle school entrance exams, which I then aced.

In NYC, poor children who are truly bright and disciplined accrue the benefit of a system which actively identifies academic talent, as is done for sporting talent in this country. As a society we don't say "anybody who wants to play in the NBA, MLB or NFL who works hard enough can cut it, so go for it!"

What Basis will start doing after a year or two, once it has a lottery, is rejecting many kids who could and would handle the work in favor of taking those who can't and won't but who bring lottery luck to the equation, the sole criterion for admission. It's a grim policy that will hurt droves of the best and brightest, given the poor quality of most DCPS middle schools, but hardly anybody on DCUM seems to agree. This is surely because very few of the parents interested in Basis ever attended a well-run selective admissions public school program, at least before high school. Most of you either grew up in middle-class enclaves far from DC, or poor ones within the District, and never the twain shall meet until Basis. Now you're sold on short-sighted open lottery admissions, and so is the DC Charter Board. Bully for you, but don't expect NYC or Arizona quality programs to result.

Anonymous wrote:

If BASIS had a selective admissions policy, they would only admit those kids that were ready to tackle the rigorous college prep curriculum on day 1. Only families that were confident that their kids could handle the coursework would invest time studying for the entrance exam. Furthermore, a cottage industry would probably spring up offering test prep services for the BASIS entrance exam, placing poor children at a disadvantage. As a result, the bright kid from the failing elementary school would never have the chance to succeed there.

Anonymous wrote:
23:47, you can't possibly say BASIS doesn't "bait and switch" after less than a week of school. Actually, you can't affirm anything positive about BASIS at this time, so knock off your spin and let people engage in an open dialogue about BASIS as their experience unfolds.

You have absolutely no proof to assert whether there is a "story to be told" or if BASIS is at all what DC schoolchildren need.

The evidence simply isn't there to say BASIS is a good model in DC.


LOL! Take a look in the mirror.

You can't possibly say that BASIS WILL "bait and switch" after less than a week of school (as was suggested above with the "intention of culling" and "used as fodder" suggestions). And actually, you can't affirm anything negative about BASIS at this time, so knock off your own spin.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When I applied to PhD programs, the programs to which I applied were competitive, and it was difficult to get into them. Passing comprehensive exams was generally not considered difficult.

One university (to which I didn't apply) had a reputation of taking a lot of people initially (so it was less difficult to get into), and then failing a lot of people on the comprehensive exams after two years. A lot of top students weren't willing to apply, because they preferred to get a yea or nay at the outset, rather than investing two years in a school and then having to leave.

Keep in mind, PP, that there is a dearth of public middle schools in DC. It's not as if BASIS is luring kids away from viable alternatives only to fail them in two years.

Anonymous wrote:When I applied to PhD programs, the programs to which I applied were competitive, and it was difficult to get into them. Passing comprehensive exams was generally not considered difficult.

One university (to which I didn't apply) had a reputation of taking a lot of people initially (so it was less difficult to get into), and then failing a lot of people on the comprehensive exams after two years. A lot of top students weren't willing to apply, because they preferred to get a yea or nay at the outset, rather than investing two years in a school and then having to leave.

Anonymous wrote:23:47, you can't possibly say BASIS doesn't "bait and switch" after less than a week of school. Actually, you can't affirm anything positive about BASIS at this time, so knock off your spin and let people engage in an open dialogue about BASIS as their experience unfolds.

You have absolutely no proof to assert whether there is a "story to be told" or if BASIS is at all what DC schoolchildren need.

The evidence simply isn't there to say BASIS is a good model in DC.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I'm not justifying anything, I'm just pointing out the reality that the whole system has to fight over children in order to get funded and remain sustainable. If anything, schools like BASIS help to close the gaps in that flawed system by meeting more of the unmet needs. From the time I started tracking BASIS early in the spring until now, BASIS has never sold anything other than a vision of hard work, rigor, comprehensive exams, high performance and high expectations, there's no "bait and switch" for students who might wash out down the road - they knew the expectations at the outset, there isn't any story to be told of "kids being used" in any way other than what they and their families chose for them.

So, at least from your perspective, it’s parents’ and students’ own damn fault if BASIS doesn’t work out for them. After all, BASIS was up-front from the beginning about the work required and if students can’t/won’t do it, then they deserve to flunk out.

It’s my perspective that this is not a good model for a public school with open admissions.

Anonymous wrote:
I'm not justifying anything, I'm just pointing out the reality that the whole system has to fight over children in order to get funded and remain sustainable. If anything, schools like BASIS help to close the gaps in that flawed system by meeting more of the unmet needs. From the time I started tracking BASIS early in the spring until now, BASIS has never sold anything other than a vision of hard work, rigor, comprehensive exams, high performance and high expectations, there's no "bait and switch" for students who might wash out down the road - they knew the expectations at the outset, there isn't any story to be told of "kids being used" in any way other than what they and their families chose for them.

Anonymous wrote:LATIN. But main reason is too much reliance on parents to keep the kid on track.

Anonymous wrote:Oh c'mon---21:15---that's a little rough on Latin. Latin did not "throw roadblocks" in the way; rather, out of the limited number of available venues, Latin went after the one which offered a decent size building, playing fields, and reasonable proximity to metro. Rudolph is NOT in "far northeast". It is in northwest. Is Latin's current location an easier commute for my family? Yes, but I am excited at the prospect of their actually having a real facility.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sure, not every kid will have the academic chops to make it at BASIS - which is why it's great that there are so many options and alternatives available in the District to choose from. None of the schools in the District are truly "one-size-fits-all", and it's probably better that way.

too bad, though, for the kids that are used for fodder to keep charter schools going according to the current rules that don't allow testing for admittance.

And, your point is... what? Bottom line is, those kids will be used "for fodder" somewhere in the system regardless, it's all about the funding, whether charters, DCPS or privates. And who knows - that might actually be some other charter that caters to their needs. There's already examples all across the spectrum. There's Options, catering to troubled youth, St. Coletta, catering to seriously disabled children, and so on. Bottom line is, if DCPS isn't meeting the need, someone else will meet that need. For the kids who aren't into academics, how about technical schools to teach other skills? Not everyone is destined for academics and there are lots of highly valued professions out there that are in demand.

really - you're justifying using kids as fodder?

It's nice if there are schools that meet the various needs of different kinds of kids. Too bad if the self-selection process includes using kids as fodder to cover flaws in the system.