Anonymous wrote:Exactly! Saying private schools and test-in suburban GT magnet schools are better is not comparing apples to apples. BASIS is FREE and takes anyone who gets a seat from a RANDOM LOTTERY. It’s hard to compete with the quality of education provided by the private and suburban schools and yet BASIS does on a certain level and under a much more challenging set of circumstances.

I think it's fair to point out that top privates and test-in suburban GT magnets are better when one DCUM poster after another claims that a BASIS DC education is fantastic, world-class, unrivaled, a USNWR rankings star. Just not the whole story. If you're determined to be mired in relativism, go for it.

Let me guess, your BASIS charter has outdoor space, a library, a gym, a cafeteria with windows, an abundance of natural light, maybe even a strong instrumental music program (well-trained orchestra on a school stage!). Has your BASIS branch had 9 heads in 12 years? The DC campus has none of the above. Sure you want to defend the arrangement?

My kids were in FCPS AAP. Now, they're at a BASIS charter outside of the DC area. The Basis education has been substantially much better than FCPS AAP, and my kids are much happier.

Exactly! Saying private schools and test-in suburban GT magnet schools are better is not comparing apples to apples. BASIS is FREE and takes anyone who gets a seat from a RANDOM LOTTERY. It’s hard to compete with the quality of education provided by the private and suburban schools and yet BASIS does on a certain level and under a much more challenging set of circumstances.

Anonymous wrote:Ugh, BASIS, exceptionalism rears its ugly head. Yes, BASIS knocks it out of the park academically for an open lottery DC public school. Unfortunately, that's not saying much in this particular Metro area.

I taught a humanities subject in the BASIS DC middle school for one school year, 5 years ago. I've also taught in a couple suburban GT programs in this Metro area.

BASIS DC just isn't what it's cracked up to be on these threads. The program just doesn't have the resources to begin to compete with suburban GT. Admin and teacher pay isn't too hot, meaning that faculty and staff members are disproportionately inexperienced, minimally trained and disinclined to stick around. Many of the students are a poor fit for the curriculum and facilities are abysmal in relative terms.

So BASIS is a very good school based on DC schools but not based on schools located outside of DC? Even assuming that was accurate, and...? The weather in Southern California is nicer than DC and the beaches in the Caribbean are nicer than Rehobeth. We don't live there so that's not really relevant.

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Anonymous wrote:The reason that BASIS DC doesn't backfill after 5th grade is not of the franchise's making. The BASIS Arizona campuses have always backfilled at every grade. Politicians there don't mind if entering students are giving tough placement exams. Most students who enter BASIS after 6th grade in Arizona must repeat a great, sometimes two, to join the program. In DC, such an admissions system would be considered discriminatory, opening the door to litigation, so none exists.

This. The problem is not that BASIS isn't willing to take in kids, it is that DC (in the name of "equity" or some nonsense) has decided that having kids meet a firm standard is...discrimination? Instead of lowering expectations and standards to DC's level, BASIS says "Nah, we're good."

Every BASIS family wishes that the school was bigger and had more space. If I had a free $60k/yr sitting around I'd send my kid to Sidwell. That isn't an option. What drives so many of us mad about DCUM is the posters who act like (i) there is a perfect school (ii) the limitations at BASIS (or any school) can be easily solved or (iii) seem really oddly invested in BASIS's deficiencies. That third one is just weird. These people spend more time and energy on a school they dislike than they do working to improve whatever school they eventually attend. Just seems weird and personal to spend so much time, energy and anger on something you pretend to not care about.

A big part of public school is meeting *all* students where they are. It is hard teaching a classroom where some kids are above grade level, some kids are below grade level, and some kids might have attended 5 schools last year. That difficulty is part of why public school teachers get paid more than private school teachers. It's fine if basis doesn't want to do that and if basis students are thriving in classes where that doesn't need to be done. But then basis doesn't get to be treated the same as other public schools for funding.

?? Every public school in DC gets funding based on how many students they have. By choosing not to backfill, Basis is giving up money.

The poster was complaining that basis (and other charters?) were underfunded.

They don't backfill because the city council and the DCPCSB never signed off on the franchise doing so in the District, as they'd always done in Arizona. The BASIS charter doesn't permit them to backfill after 6th grade. They asked to backfill per Arizona procedures and were told no by the DC ed powers that be.

Huh? Then why do other DC charters backfill.

Stop spreading misinformation.

[Sigh] NP here. You seem not so bright so let me try this again in a different way. BASIS would like to backfill open slots like the AZ campuses do. The problem is that the way those campuses backfill if by giving kids a test and then putting them in the class they should be in based on performance, not based on age. DC will not allow BASIS (or any school) to require kids to be placed into grade level appropriate grades. That leaves BASIS (and all other schools) with two options: either backfill with kids who are going to be behind all the other kids or decide not to backfill. BASIS chose option 2. As someone with a kid in those classes I am thrilled that my kid (and all the other kids) who have been excelling in math, English, etc. (see, scores) are not going to have resources diverted to support kids who would be better served in a grade down where they'd be at grade level.

Get it? Because they aren't allowed to place kids where they should be and they refuse to compromise their standards.

Anonymous wrote:Ugh, BASIS, exceptionalism rears its ugly head. Yes, BASIS knocks it out of the park academically for an open lottery DC public school. Unfortunately, that's not saying much in this particular Metro area.

I taught a humanities subject in the BASIS DC middle school for one school year, 5 years ago. I've also taught in a couple suburban GT programs in this Metro area.

BASIS DC just isn't what it's cracked up to be on these threads. The program just doesn't have the resources to begin to compete with suburban GT. Admin and teacher pay isn't too hot, meaning that faculty and staff members are disproportionately inexperienced, minimally trained and disinclined to stick around. Many of the students are a poor fit for the curriculum and facilities are abysmal in relative terms.

Correct that you taught in one of the lower grades? My sense is that kids generally become a better "fit" for the curriculum in upper grades -- at least, that seems to be the perception of my BASIS kids.

In any case, I don't think anyone here argues that BASIS has the resources, level of teacher experience, or incoming student body of a suburban GT program. But the correct comparison is what it offers compared to other DC publics.

Problem is, the teacher who moved on (sounds like for acceptable pay) isn't wrong. Stubbornly denying reality only works so well.

Anonymous wrote:Ugh, BASIS, exceptionalism rears its ugly head. Yes, BASIS knocks it out of the park academically for an open lottery DC public school. Unfortunately, that's not saying much in this particular Metro area.

I taught a humanities subject in the BASIS DC middle school for one school year, 5 years ago. I've also taught in a couple suburban GT programs in this Metro area.

BASIS DC just isn't what it's cracked up to be on these threads. The program just doesn't have the resources to begin to compete with suburban GT. Admin and teacher pay isn't too hot, meaning that faculty and staff members are disproportionately inexperienced, minimally trained and disinclined to stick around. Many of the students are a poor fit for the curriculum and facilities are abysmal in relative terms.

You taught there for 1 year 5 years ago? In other words, you are a disgruntled teacher with limited, dated knowledge of Basis who washed out after 1 year.

Yet you continue to post here. Time to move on.

Anonymous wrote:These posts are absurd. Those of us at BASIS know the facts about enrollment from the town hall meeting this evening. We also know BASIS knocked it out of the PARKK with its most recent scores, yet to be released (see what I did there?!). It’s incredible to have an option like BASIS in a city full of schools with a small fraction of kids at or above grade level. BASIS achieves its academic goals with flying colors. We figure it’s much easier to supplement ECs and sports than it is to try to supplement every academic subject, which is basically what I hear people have to do at all the “well-rounded schools”. To each their own.

No more absurd than your smugness.

Ugh, BASIS, exceptionalism rears its ugly head. Yes, BASIS knocks it out of the park academically for an open lottery DC public school. Unfortunately, that's not saying much in this particular Metro area.

I taught a humanities subject in the BASIS DC middle school for one school year, 5 years ago. I've also taught in a couple suburban GT programs in this Metro area.

BASIS DC just isn't what it's cracked up to be on these threads. The program just doesn't have the resources to begin to compete with suburban GT. Admin and teacher pay isn't too hot, meaning that faculty and staff members are disproportionately inexperienced, minimally trained and disinclined to stick around. Many of the students are a poor fit for the curriculum and facilities are abysmal in relative terms.

These posts are absurd. Those of us at BASIS know the facts about enrollment from the town hall meeting this evening. We also know BASIS knocked it out of the PARKK with its most recent scores, yet to be released (see what I did there?!). It’s incredible to have an option like BASIS in a city full of schools with a small fraction of kids at or above grade level. BASIS achieves its academic goals with flying colors. We figure it’s much easier to supplement ECs and sports than it is to try to supplement every academic subject, which is basically what I hear people have to do at all the “well-rounded schools”. To each their own.

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Anonymous wrote:Can't disagree with the above.

9th grade cohort is 60 or 65. Admins tell you they're expecting at least 80 each spring, but the numbers don't materialize. Most families still quietly leave for other programs. They're aren't enough choices in the BASIS high school to retain the majority. They're not teaching nearly as many languages or electives as the better hs programs in the area and don't have the facilities, focus or resources for serious ECs. DC charters just don't get the per capita funding or buildings they should.

Where did the "missing" 15+ kids go?

Private school, Walls, Wilson/JR, move, etc. Many people may not have the money to spring for better middle schools, but can scrape enough together to afford private high school.

9th grade cohort is actually 80, per data shared just now during the BASIS town hall…

80 enrolled, not all turned up. Not all who turned up have stayed into the 3rd week of school.

Actually they ALSO included number of kids who have showed up for each day - 1 9th grader out of that 90 was out today. Please stop making stuff up

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Anonymous wrote:The reason that BASIS DC doesn't backfill after 5th grade is not of the franchise's making. The BASIS Arizona campuses have always backfilled at every grade. Politicians there don't mind if entering students are giving tough placement exams. Most students who enter BASIS after 6th grade in Arizona must repeat a great, sometimes two, to join the program. In DC, such an admissions system would be considered discriminatory, opening the door to litigation, so none exists.

This. The problem is not that BASIS isn't willing to take in kids, it is that DC (in the name of "equity" or some nonsense) has decided that having kids meet a firm standard is...discrimination? Instead of lowering expectations and standards to DC's level, BASIS says "Nah, we're good."

Every BASIS family wishes that the school was bigger and had more space. If I had a free $60k/yr sitting around I'd send my kid to Sidwell. That isn't an option. What drives so many of us mad about DCUM is the posters who act like (i) there is a perfect school (ii) the limitations at BASIS (or any school) can be easily solved or (iii) seem really oddly invested in BASIS's deficiencies. That third one is just weird. These people spend more time and energy on a school they dislike than they do working to improve whatever school they eventually attend. Just seems weird and personal to spend so much time, energy and anger on something you pretend to not care about.

A big part of public school is meeting *all* students where they are. It is hard teaching a classroom where some kids are above grade level, some kids are below grade level, and some kids might have attended 5 schools last year. That difficulty is part of why public school teachers get paid more than private school teachers. It's fine if basis doesn't want to do that and if basis students are thriving in classes where that doesn't need to be done. But then basis doesn't get to be treated the same as other public schools for funding.

?? Every public school in DC gets funding based on how many students they have. By choosing not to backfill, Basis is giving up money.

The poster was complaining that basis (and other charters?) were underfunded.

They don't backfill because the city council and the DCPCSB never signed off on the franchise doing so in the District, as they'd always done in Arizona. The BASIS charter doesn't permit them to backfill after 6th grade. They asked to backfill per Arizona procedures and were told no by the DC ed powers that be.

Huh? Then why do other DC charters backfill.

Stop spreading misinformation.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can't disagree with the above.

9th grade cohort is 60 or 65. Admins tell you they're expecting at least 80 each spring, but the numbers don't materialize. Most families still quietly leave for other programs. They're aren't enough choices in the BASIS high school to retain the majority. They're not teaching nearly as many languages or electives as the better hs programs in the area and don't have the facilities, focus or resources for serious ECs. DC charters just don't get the per capita funding or buildings they should.

Where did the "missing" 15+ kids go?

Private school, Walls, Wilson/JR, move, etc. Many people may not have the money to spring for better middle schools, but can scrape enough together to afford private high school.

9th grade cohort is actually 80, per data shared just now during the BASIS town hall…

80 enrolled, not all turned up. Not all who turned up have stayed into the 3rd week of school.

Are you an 8th grade teacher?

You don’t know anything. Just shut up.