Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you not research transportation when looking at and applying to schools?

www.wmata.com
or call the school

google the address and click "directions"....driving, walking, and public transportation

Anonymous wrote:How do you not research transportation when looking at and applying to schools?

www.wmata.com
or call the school

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The reason that these posts seem mean is because of the entitlement of the OP. If OP had come on and asked, "Does anyone have any suggestions about how to handle transportation?" the response would have been much different. She didn't do that. She was appalled that it wasn't taken care of for her. It clearly hadn't played any role at all in her decision making process. Moreover, she dismissed any possibility that she actually be involved in the transportation, one way or the other, car or public transportation. She sounds like a spoiled brat.

Oh, please.

She said, " I clearly wasn't too with it about this. So now I'm scrambling trying to figure this out come August. What do people do?"

Calling her a spoiled brat is complete overkill.

NP, OP also said, "I was stricken dumbfounded to hear that the city doesn't provide busing service to school"

That tells me that OP is a little entitled and/or ingnorant. It is clear that the city cannot bus kids to every different and new charter that sprouts up around the city. To the PP that says you don't want to send your kid to a school that is failing, that is your choice. Many inner city schools are failing, what do you want vouchers and a personal driver for you to send your kid to a private school?

This happens in Detroit, New Orleans, LA, Chicago, and NYC. If the parents don't want to send their kids to failing school in the neighborhood they live in, then they do what it takes to send them to a better school. Whether it means moving, sleeping overnight for lottery application, having their kid take 2 metros, 2 buses and walking etc. As mentioned already, the city now provides free city bus service for DC students. I think that is more than anyone can ask for.

You certainly can't think that the city will foot the cost to send your LO to every OOB DCPS and Charter in the city.

How do you not research transportation when looking at and applying to schools?

Sorry, still think this is a troll. I live in Virginia and even I know that DC doesn't bus kids to school. And to expect any jurisdiction to bus kids to a gazillion CHARTER school across town? Gotta stick with "she's a dumbass".

Anonymous wrote:The reason that these posts seem mean is because of the entitlement of the OP. If OP had come on and asked, "Does anyone have any suggestions about how to handle transportation?" the response would have been much different. She didn't do that. She was appalled that it wasn't taken care of for her. It clearly hadn't played any role at all in her decision making process. Moreover, she dismissed any possibility that she actually be involved in the transportation, one way or the other, car or public transportation. She sounds like a spoiled brat.

Oh, please.

She said, " I clearly wasn't too with it about this. So now I'm scrambling trying to figure this out come August. What do people do?"

Calling her a spoiled brat is complete overkill.

The reason that these posts seem mean is because of the entitlement of the OP. If OP had come on and asked, "Does anyone have any suggestions about how to handle transportation?" the response would have been much different. She didn't do that. She was appalled that it wasn't taken care of for her. It clearly hadn't played any role at all in her decision making process. Moreover, she dismissed any possibility that she actually be involved in the transportation, one way or the other, car or public transportation. She sounds like a spoiled brat.

If you attend a charter school, you should demand that they provide transportation, not the city.

Anonymous wrote:DCPS has a huge fleet of school buses that just sits idle. What's up with that?

This. Anyone know anything about this?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow! People are really miserable to be so hateful and mean based upon a simple question about transportation and request for advice. I know that people are jealous of parents with kids in charters, but damn, is it really worth this level of hatred? I agree with other posters who discussed the school list-serve. Most important- this is a minor problem, which there is plenty of time to get figured out. Also, as far as the "entitlement" accusations. What a crock! Other school districts assist parents with transportation. DC doesn't get a pass because of how horribly it's been managed. The attitude of tax paying parents should just accept being SOL is the same attitude that has kept the city from moving forward in a positive direction. When I didn't get my trash picked up and rats started invading our alleyway, I contacted the city and demanded service. Guess I have an entitlement attitude, huh. If so, too bad!!!

You are off base in so many ways. The city does not provide bus service as almost everyone has a neighborhood school that is walking distance. If you dismiss your neighborhood school and opt to go to a charter across town that is your prerogative but you can't expect the city to now create a new bus system to bus your kid to YuYing and when you get into MV after two weeks of school starting change routes. The school choices we have are awesome but it' really is ludicrous to have the expectation that you will be bussed. I have no hatred or ill-will w/ OP, no jealousy here as my kids are at one of the best charters in the city (yes, we drive across town too).

I'm not sure which thread you read, but it wasn't this one. Most of the comments on here were mean-spirited and nasty for no reason whatsoever. A parent who's new to the process merely asked for suggestions regarding transporting their LO to and from school. Based upon OP's admitted ignorance, he/she was ripped a new one. Completely unnecessary and unhelpful. I'm sure many parents have the same questions/concerns and are seeking the same advice. Not everyone on here can afford a private car service, a driver or a babysitter who can transport. Some are working parents who need to get to work early in the morning and leave late to make ends meet. Many of these same parents have their child's education as the top priority and so have chosen the charter they were luckily enough to lottery in to. They do not deserve the nastiness of people who are mad. Plain and simple. I, for one, will not be sending my DC to a school where most of the kids can't read or do simple math. I am a tax payer like everyone else and my children deserve the same quality education others demand. The city should provide transportation. This is not entitlement. Unless demanding lunch in schools is entitlement. Unless demanding bathroom facilities is entitlement. These are basic things in other school districts.

Anonymous wrote:DCPS has a huge fleet of school buses that just sits idle. What's up with that?

Not enough buses and drivers for 40k kids across the city to hundred charters.

DCPS has a huge fleet of school buses that just sits idle. What's up with that?

Anonymous wrote:Wow! People are really miserable to be so hateful and mean based upon a simple question about transportation and request for advice. I know that people are jealous of parents with kids in charters, but damn, is it really worth this level of hatred? I agree with other posters who discussed the school list-serve. Most important- this is a minor problem, which there is plenty of time to get figured out. Also, as far as the "entitlement" accusations. What a crock! Other school districts assist parents with transportation. DC doesn't get a pass because of how horribly it's been managed. The attitude of tax paying parents should just accept being SOL is the same attitude that has kept the city from moving forward in a positive direction. When I didn't get my trash picked up and rats started invading our alleyway, I contacted the city and demanded service. Guess I have an entitlement attitude, huh. If so, too bad!!!

You are off base in so many ways. The city does not provide bus service as almost everyone has a neighborhood school that is walking distance. If you dismiss your neighborhood school and opt to go to a charter across town that is your prerogative but you can't expect the city to now create a new bus system to bus your kid to YuYing and when you get into MV after two weeks of school starting change routes. The school choices we have are awesome but it' really is ludicrous to have the expectation that you will be bussed. I have no hatred or ill-will w/ OP, no jealousy here as my kids are at one of the best charters in the city (yes, we drive across town too).

Wow! People are really miserable to be so hateful and mean based upon a simple question about transportation and request for advice. I know that people are jealous of parents with kids in charters, but damn, is it really worth this level of hatred? I agree with other posters who discussed the school list-serve. Most important- this is a minor problem, which there is plenty of time to get figured out. Also, as far as the "entitlement" accusations. What a crock! Other school districts assist parents with transportation. DC doesn't get a pass because of how horribly it's been managed. The attitude of tax paying parents should just accept being SOL is the same attitude that has kept the city from moving forward in a positive direction. When I didn't get my trash picked up and rats started invading our alleyway, I contacted the city and demanded service. Guess I have an entitlement attitude, huh. If so, too bad!!!

OP, you don't deserve all this hate. Talk to your school about early and aftercare. See if there is a parent listserv that you can join. Some charters DO provide bus service to certain parts of the city, and some charters have parent-funded buses. If worse comes to worst, you can take your child to school for the first several weeks and see if there are other parents coming from your area. Columbia Heights --> Northeast is a popular route.

We drive our child to and from our charter and had to adjust our work schedules a bit so that one parent goes to work a little earlier and the other stays at work a little later. I know other families who hire a babysitter to do drop-offs and/or pick-ups. Good luck.