Anonymous
10/06/2024 18:39
Subject: Does anyone know the status of the Proposed BASIS Expansion
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I have a kid at BASIS now, and another one at a Montessori elementary school. I cannot imagine having an elementary school experience that is as rigid as BASIS. I think that would suck all the joy out of learning far too early.
Do your research.
They don’t run their ES like they do MS and HS.
Who is "they" - BASIS corporate? Because I am familiar with how the DC BASIS administration runs its MS/HS. There's nothing wrong with the BASIS model. There are, however, distinct downsides to how the BASIS model is implemented in DC (weak admin, inexperienced teachers, crappy building, etc.). There are some very real consequences to those weaknesses, like poor quality teaching (at times), lack of extracurriculars, arbitrary decision-making and an overly harsh atmosphere.
It is because I have seen how BASIS DC runs its MS/HS that I would not send an elementary school kid to BASIS.
You are “familiar” with the Basis model? How so?
By having multiple children attending their school over a period of years.
Anonymous
10/06/2024 17:46
Subject: Does anyone know the status of the Proposed BASIS Expansion
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I have a kid at BASIS now, and another one at a Montessori elementary school. I cannot imagine having an elementary school experience that is as rigid as BASIS. I think that would suck all the joy out of learning far too early.
Do your research.
They don’t run their ES like they do MS and HS.
Who is "they" - BASIS corporate? Because I am familiar with how the DC BASIS administration runs its MS/HS. There's nothing wrong with the BASIS model. There are, however, distinct downsides to how the BASIS model is implemented in DC (weak admin, inexperienced teachers, crappy building, etc.). There are some very real consequences to those weaknesses, like poor quality teaching (at times), lack of extracurriculars, arbitrary decision-making and an overly harsh atmosphere.
It is because I have seen how BASIS DC runs its MS/HS that I would not send an elementary school kid to BASIS.
You are “familiar” with the Basis model? How so?
Anonymous
10/06/2024 16:37
Subject: Does anyone know the status of the Proposed BASIS Expansion
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I have a kid at BASIS now, and another one at a Montessori elementary school. I cannot imagine having an elementary school experience that is as rigid as BASIS. I think that would suck all the joy out of learning far too early.
Do your research.
They don’t run their ES like they do MS and HS.
Who is "they" - BASIS corporate? Because I am familiar with how the DC BASIS administration runs its MS/HS. There's nothing wrong with the BASIS model. There are, however, distinct downsides to how the BASIS model is implemented in DC (weak admin, inexperienced teachers, crappy building, etc.). There are some very real consequences to those weaknesses, like poor quality teaching (at times), lack of extracurriculars, arbitrary decision-making and an overly harsh atmosphere.
It is because I have seen how BASIS DC runs its MS/HS that I would not send an elementary school kid to BASIS.
Anonymous
10/06/2024 15:40
Subject: Does anyone know the status of the Proposed BASIS Expansion
The question to me isn't "What would make BASIS middle and high school even better?" Or "What would be easiest for BASIS (cookie cutter schools I guess)?" The question is what does DC most need, for our limited supply of school buildings and our limited number of kids to attend those schools. And I would say DC has pretty decent elementary schools in the areas BASIS is willing to locate, to the point where another elementary school is not a pressing need. If BASIS were willing to make a firm commitment to opening in a Ward 7 or 8 location that would be different. Or if BASIS were looking for a building to expand the enrollment of their existing program, that would be different, because we certainly do need more quality middle and high school seats. The idea of an elementary school to rescue those poor children who are currently attending.. Ross and Brent and Maury... just doesn't move me.
Anonymous
10/06/2024 14:06
Subject: Does anyone know the status of the Proposed BASIS Expansion
Anonymous wrote:BASIS has a K-12 learning model. Currently DC is an outlier in providing only the second half of the model. Based on this thread, some parents think students come in “better balanced” from a “normal” ES or “better understood” by their as being a good candidate for academic rigor when they are entering 5th grade. But the current school is just simply not following the complete model of the curriculum.
Contrary to the sentiments on this thread, BASIS is not opening an ES to “screw over” Capitol Hill families, nor is it starting at K (instead of preK) to “prevent” lower SES or at risk students from entering. There is no such conspiracy taking place. It’s simply a learning model that they are trying to implement in its entirety as they do everywhere else.
Maybe DC should or must be different from other BASIS schools for other reasons. But it’s not unreasonable for the school to want to try to improve student outcomes and attrition by having students start at the beginning rather than entering at half time.
+1. It makes sense for BASIS DC to want to use their entire model, like every other BASIS school does.
As for the elementary school meaning that there would be less of a chance to get into middle school, people just need to deal with that, the way they deal with all the other randomness in this city. Maybe they can beg Latin to open a third campus, since that's where everyone wants to be anyway.
Anonymous
10/06/2024 13:44
Subject: Does anyone know the status of the Proposed BASIS Expansion
You know, the entire September hearing at which the Board discussed and voted on BASIS's expansion proposal is available for anyone to watch. It will answer a lot of these questions. https://dcpcsb.org/board-meeting-september-2024
Anonymous
10/06/2024 13:29
Subject: Does anyone know the status of the Proposed BASIS Expansion
I don’t begrudge BASIS for wanting to open a K-4, but I don’t think DC needs it. I think most kids would come from already successful ESes and NOT from failing ones, and that’s supposed to be a factor the Board takes into account in considering whether to grant a new charter.
Anonymous
10/06/2024 12:59
Subject: Does anyone know the status of the Proposed BASIS Expansion
Anonymous wrote:BASIS has a K-12 learning model. Currently DC is an outlier in providing only the second half of the model. Based on this thread, some parents think students come in “better balanced” from a “normal” ES or “better understood” by their as being a good candidate for academic rigor when they are entering 5th grade. But the current school is just simply not following the complete model of the curriculum.
Contrary to the sentiments on this thread, BASIS is not opening an ES to “screw over” Capitol Hill families, nor is it starting at K (instead of preK) to “prevent” lower SES or at risk students from entering. There is no such conspiracy taking place. It’s simply a learning model that they are trying to implement in its entirety as they do everywhere else.
Maybe DC should or must be different from other BASIS schools for other reasons. But it’s not unreasonable for the school to want to try to improve student outcomes and attrition by having students start at the beginning rather than entering at half time.
Thank you for this reasonable response.
To continue sticking with the topic, I'm a parent with a kid in BASIS and one in elementary, I would be very stressed if my younger child had less of a chance to get in, but I also completely understand why BASIS wants to build the school as the model exists everywhere else and I do think it would decrease attrition. I also love having our kids in DCPS for elementary and think it's cool that they grew so close to their neighbors that way. But I get it. The same way KIPP goes from K-12, so should BASIS. It's actually pretty similar, except that BASIS accelerates more and is more appealing to the bourgeoisie.
Anonymous
10/06/2024 12:18
Subject: Does anyone know the status of the Proposed BASIS Expansion
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The basis way works well for my child. I totally get how it wouldn’t for most. But we could have gone almost anywhere for high school (private, accepted at walls, inbound JR, and actually would have been an easy move to a “great” school district). But the kid was thriving and has a great cohort, so I wasn’t moving her. I haven’t regretted the decision for a moment.
Pp from this post. I was responding to recent posts. But I forgot to be on topic. I’m opposed to the Basis expansion to elementary. I’m very happy we had a different experience for elementary. It helped create a more balanced person.
You are happy with your choice. Why do you want to deny other parents a different choice?
Because the consequence of allowing that choice renders the choice I made unavailable. If the elementary school is formed, it will be the only (or majority) path to the middle school. I’m happy with basis for my high schooler, as I was for my middle schooler, but I’m so glad I had a chance to get to know my child educationally first. As everyone knows, basis isn’t right for all children, and I wouldn’t have sent mine if I didn’t think it would be a good fit. I certainly wouldn’t have known that answer when she started elementary school.
There's really no reason that kids who attend BASIS ES should get a preference to go to the MS. If the preference doesn't exist, then I'm fine with the ES I guess. But with a preference, totally agree with you that it will force people to go to get the MS spot.
Anonymous
10/06/2024 12:17
Subject: Does anyone know the status of the Proposed BASIS Expansion
BASIS has a K-12 learning model. Currently DC is an outlier in providing only the second half of the model. Based on this thread, some parents think students come in “better balanced” from a “normal” ES or “better understood” by their as being a good candidate for academic rigor when they are entering 5th grade. But the current school is just simply not following the complete model of the curriculum.
Contrary to the sentiments on this thread, BASIS is not opening an ES to “screw over” Capitol Hill families, nor is it starting at K (instead of preK) to “prevent” lower SES or at risk students from entering. There is no such conspiracy taking place. It’s simply a learning model that they are trying to implement in its entirety as they do everywhere else.
Maybe DC should or must be different from other BASIS schools for other reasons. But it’s not unreasonable for the school to want to try to improve student outcomes and attrition by having students start at the beginning rather than entering at half time.
Contrary to the sentiments on this thread, BASIS is not opening an ES to “screw over” Capitol Hill families, nor is it starting at K (instead of preK) to “prevent” lower SES or at risk students from entering. There is no such conspiracy taking place. It’s simply a learning model that they are trying to implement in its entirety as they do everywhere else.
Maybe DC should or must be different from other BASIS schools for other reasons. But it’s not unreasonable for the school to want to try to improve student outcomes and attrition by having students start at the beginning rather than entering at half time.
Anonymous
10/06/2024 10:26
Subject: Does anyone know the status of the Proposed BASIS Expansion
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I have a kid at BASIS now, and another one at a Montessori elementary school. I cannot imagine having an elementary school experience that is as rigid as BASIS. I think that would suck all the joy out of learning far too early.
Two kids at BASIS and I completely agree. I would never give BASIS an elementary school kid.
Like PP said ES is totally different.
Every BASIS school in the world but BASIS DC has an ES and there are plenty of students.
I don't see why being similar to other BASIS schools should be a priority for DC. I certainly don't care.
Anonymous
10/06/2024 10:26
Subject: Does anyone know the status of the Proposed BASIS Expansion
Anonymous wrote:Agree with the above. As far as I can tell, the new BASIS leadership isn't cultivating a happier environment as much as letting things slip a bit.
If somebody jumps on to call you a troll with an axe to grind who's maligning the school based on outdated info, they can stuff it.
Sock puppet.
Anonymous
10/06/2024 10:24
Subject: Does anyone know the status of the Proposed BASIS Expansion
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I have a kid at BASIS now, and another one at a Montessori elementary school. I cannot imagine having an elementary school experience that is as rigid as BASIS. I think that would suck all the joy out of learning far too early.
Two kids at BASIS and I completely agree. I would never give BASIS an elementary school kid.
Like PP said ES is totally different.
Every BASIS school in the world but BASIS DC has an ES and there are plenty of students.
Anonymous
10/06/2024 09:59
Subject: Re:Does anyone know the status of the Proposed BASIS Expansion
Anonymous wrote:So getting back to the actual topic of this thread, are there any updates on a Basis elementary school?
I really do not think there is any update.
Anonymous
10/06/2024 09:09
Subject: Re:Does anyone know the status of the Proposed BASIS Expansion
So getting back to the actual topic of this thread, are there any updates on a Basis elementary school?