Anonymous wrote:
This part is crazy, but also confirms the feeling I got after I heard Ms. Cruz's presentation at an open house earlier this year. She said that the parent(s) have to be in the interview (which differs from Diego's experience, but that's what I heard), that kids who learned their Spanish from nannies are not who they want, and that these Spanish-dominant spots are meant for English language learners (so, I suppose, disqualifying bilingual kids). Not going to debate the merits of what she said, as these points have been debated ad nauseam and with much vitriol on other threads, but the overall vibe I got from her is that ethnic/national origin, and not language ability, is the test, even though she can't say so. I found it very off-putting, especially as the parent of non-Hispanic kids who wake up screaming in Spanish from their nightmares and have meltdowns in Spanish, and as such have a good faith belief that they are, in the commonsensical sense of the term, Spanish dominant.

Anyhow, I agree with whoever said in another thread that DCPS should define the term more clearly, and legally. I have a feeling that this would only affect Oyster, though, since every other DCPS immersion starts at PK3, and it may be hard to test at PK3 because many kids still don't talk all that much when they're 3 in any language.

Good luck, Diego. At least you're IB, so you have that option at K if that's still what you want.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you still would take the spot if accepted, i agree with posters who said raise it with MSDC and ombudsman. I would demand to see the actual results rather than just brig told she failed. I'd ask for redacted info on who purportedly passed. I might contact local officials. If you really think something is off here, you could pursue (or threaten to pursue) legal action on due process and other grounds. It wouldn't be an easy case to win because courts are loathe to second guess things like school evaluations, but even threat might get some traction if your daughter's Spanish is as good as you say.

This isn’t good advice. Proceed with caution if you intend to burn bridges before your child’s first day of school.

What's bridges are there to burn, his daughter won't be able to attend the school?

He said that he/his child lives IB for OA. Therefore, his child is guaranteed a spot for K. He can threaten a lawsuit if he likes, but that’s not how I would start my child’s education. Obviously, he can do whatever he pleases. Good luck with all of this OP.

The school should understand his position. I am disturbed that parents can’t advocate for their kids at oyster, but unsurprised.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you still would take the spot if accepted, i agree with posters who said raise it with MSDC and ombudsman. I would demand to see the actual results rather than just brig told she failed. I'd ask for redacted info on who purportedly passed. I might contact local officials. If you really think something is off here, you could pursue (or threaten to pursue) legal action on due process and other grounds. It wouldn't be an easy case to win because courts are loathe to second guess things like school evaluations, but even threat might get some traction if your daughter's Spanish is as good as you say.

This isn’t good advice. Proceed with caution if you intend to burn bridges before your child’s first day of school.

What's bridges are there to burn, his daughter won't be able to attend the school?

He said that he/his child lives IB for OA. Therefore, his child is guaranteed a spot for K. He can threaten a lawsuit if he likes, but that’s not how I would start my child’s education. Obviously, he can do whatever he pleases. Good luck with all of this OP.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you still would take the spot if accepted, i agree with posters who said raise it with MSDC and ombudsman. I would demand to see the actual results rather than just brig told she failed. I'd ask for redacted info on who purportedly passed. I might contact local officials. If you really think something is off here, you could pursue (or threaten to pursue) legal action on due process and other grounds. It wouldn't be an easy case to win because courts are loathe to second guess things like school evaluations, but even threat might get some traction if your daughter's Spanish is as good as you say.

This isn’t good advice. Proceed with caution if you intend to burn bridges before your child’s first day of school.

What's bridges are there to burn, his daughter won't be able to attend the school?

Anonymous wrote:An update:

I spoke to the principal Mayra Cruz. She had actually assumed my daughter only spoke English before the interview even took place. Definitely, the process is rigged. I would not trust her with my daughter. Will look at other options.

Thanks!

Diego

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you still would take the spot if accepted, i agree with posters who said raise it with MSDC and ombudsman. I would demand to see the actual results rather than just brig told she failed. I'd ask for redacted info on who purportedly passed. I might contact local officials. If you really think something is off here, you could pursue (or threaten to pursue) legal action on due process and other grounds. It wouldn't be an easy case to win because courts are loathe to second guess things like school evaluations, but even threat might get some traction if your daughter's Spanish is as good as you say.

This isn’t good advice. Proceed with caution if you intend to burn bridges before your child’s first day of school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you still would take the spot if accepted, i agree with posters who said raise it with MSDC and ombudsman. I would demand to see the actual results rather than just brig told she failed. I'd ask for redacted info on who purportedly passed. I might contact local officials. If you really think something is off here, you could pursue (or threaten to pursue) legal action on due process and other grounds. It wouldn't be an easy case to win because courts are loathe to second guess things like school evaluations, but even threat might get some traction if your daughter's Spanish is as good as you say.

This isn’t good advice. Proceed with caution if you intend to burn bridges before your child’s first day of school.

Anonymous wrote:If you still would take the spot if accepted, i agree with posters who said raise it with MSDC and ombudsman. I would demand to see the actual results rather than just brig told she failed. I'd ask for redacted info on who purportedly passed. I might contact local officials. If you really think something is off here, you could pursue (or threaten to pursue) legal action on due process and other grounds. It wouldn't be an easy case to win because courts are loathe to second guess things like school evaluations, but even threat might get some traction if your daughter's Spanish is as good as you say.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks everyone for your responses! It helps knowing different perspectives.

As for some of your questions: While we were in Panama, we had Spanish speaking nannies, Spanish speaking dance classes and Spanish speaking friends. She came to DC with very strong Spanish. Of course, the exposure has shifted since we moved, but she still receives quite good exposure. Even our neighbors and other people we know around here thought she was more than qualified for the Spanish dominant program. Oyster was in-boundary for us and we live close to the school, so we could have opted for the English program. Unfortunately, this also meant that my daughter was not wait-listed in any other school.

As for me, I am fully fluent in English to the point that it's hard for people to tell where I am from. Nevertheless, Spanish is my native language.

Anyway, appreciate the support (and the hate).

Thanks,

Diego

Please point out one post that was hateful. Not agreeing with you 100 percent is not the same as being hateful.

If your kid is IB, she can just go when she's in K anyway.

Anonymous wrote:Thanks everyone for your responses! It helps knowing different perspectives.

As for some of your questions: While we were in Panama, we had Spanish speaking nannies, Spanish speaking dance classes and Spanish speaking friends. She came to DC with very strong Spanish. Of course, the exposure has shifted since we moved, but she still receives quite good exposure. Even our neighbors and other people we know around here thought she was more than qualified for the Spanish dominant program. Oyster was in-boundary for us and we live close to the school, so we could have opted for the English program. Unfortunately, this also meant that my daughter was not wait-listed in any other school.

As for me, I am fully fluent in English to the point that it's hard for people to tell where I am from. Nevertheless, Spanish is my native language.

Anyway, appreciate the support (and the hate).

Thanks,

Diego

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First, I would record your child conversing with you in Spanish and share it with the school principal. Write to the principal in Spanish so it's obvious that your child is being raised in a Spanish-speaking household. Ask what the process is to appeal.

If you don't get a satisfactory response, DC has a school ombudsperson: https://sboe.dc.gov/page/office-of-the-ombudsman-for-public-education

At the same time, I would suggest putting your child on the waitlist for every Spanish bilingual school you're not already on that you would attend--you can do this through the MySchoolDC website. They are:

Bancroft
Bruce-Monroe
Cleveland
DC Bilingual
Stoke Brookland
Stokes East End
Houston (this is your best chance but furthest from you)
Marie Reed
Bethune Brookland
Bethune 16th Street
Mundo Verde 8th Street
Mundo Verde P Street
Powell
Tyler

I bet at one of the DCPS schools they will think your child speaks Spanish well enough to qualify for Spanish dominance (at charter schools they don't consider language dominance). You could practice having friends over and letting your child speak with them, having your child speak to the pediatrician, librarian, supermarket cashier, etc. so they're more prepared for any future evaluations.

I would also put yourself on the waitlist for Appletree Columbia Heights and other Appletrees since their waitlists tend to move faster.

Also look at these (private schools that offer free PK): https://www.myschooldc.org/find-schools/school-options-outside-my-school-dc Communikids and CentroNia and Jubilee Jumpstart are all bilingual. There are also tuition-charging day cares that will have spots when their 3 year olds go to PK in August, so that can be your final option if needed.

Indeed, I know folks who rave about one of these (cannot recall which?) so I would call them up right away to add to their possible list. Your child will get a good bilingual PK for free if they can get a spot (no idea how tough that is).

Anonymous wrote:An update:

I spoke to the principal Mayra Cruz. She had actually assumed my daughter only spoke English before the interview even took place. Definitely, the process is rigged. I would not trust her with my daughter. Will look at other options.

Thanks!

Diego