Anonymous
Post 09/19/2016 10:20     Subject: BASIS DCPCSB to open two PK3-5 campuses
Anonymous wrote:Just read a lot of the proposal and think they are crazy to think that they will siphon off students from the top Elementaries, just as I still think the McLean private is misguided.

-- happy BASIS DC high school parent


Agree. But Basis McLean enrolled 300 students, across all grades, which was their goal. So maybe they're smarter than all of us.
Anonymous
Post 09/19/2016 10:11     Subject: BASIS DCPCSB to open two PK3-5 campuses
I'm chuckling at the idea of my K student learning note taking strategies. Pictorial notes perhaps? Though 3/4 of the time I still have to ask her to tell me what precisely it is she drew since a person and a dinosaur look essentially the same in her drawings.

The focus on test taking at such an early age holds no appeal to me personally, but maybe there are other parents who prefer that method.
Anonymous
Post 09/19/2016 10:01     Subject: BASIS DCPCSB to open two PK3-5 campuses
Just read a lot of the proposal and think they are crazy to think that they will siphon off students from the top Elementaries, just as I still think the McLean private is misguided.

-- happy BASIS DC high school parent
Anonymous
Post 09/19/2016 09:52     Subject: BASIS DCPCSB to open two PK3-5 campuses
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Another BASIS DC parent--+1000 to the post above.

Also, to all parents who may have signed the list of parents interested in getting more information on the plans for a Basis primary last year--even if your desire for info had nothing to do with sending your child to a Basis elementary and/or you were just concerned about how the primary school might impact your child who was already at BDC, the school is purporting in their proposal to the PCSB that you and all the other parents interested in information are in fact clamoring for them to create a BDC elementary. They are now also proposing that 20% more students be allowed to occupy their Penn Quarter building.


I would not believe everything you read on DCurbanmom. I was told otherwise in regards to the number of students so I will not believe this unless I see a link to a document saying otherwise.

As for the elementary school model, everyone is making assumptions that their model will be drill and kill and be age inappropriate. I will not make this assumption at all since I have found their middle school methods age appropriate for the most part. The only thing I would like to see is a shorter school day and 10 to 20% less homework. But otherwise, the content they have covered and the methods they have used I believe are very accessible. A student will have a harder time if they are years behind or have little exposure to academic content.

Our kid had a lot of exposure to the sort of things BASIS will most likely be covering in elementary school from what I can tell in age appropriate ways. Kids can actually learn a lot about history, grammar, science and so on at young ages in very fun ways. I think there is this notion that kids are unable to this which I think is wrong. Also, kids who go to a BASIS elementary school will most likely be more prepared for middle and high schools.


Project enrollment/capacity for 8th street building is on page 3 of the proposal http://www.dcpcsb.org/sites/default/files/report/2016-09-02%20BASIS%20DC%20ES%20Amendment%20Application%20REDACTED.compressed.pdf

Read pages 10-50 at the same link and decide for yourself if the approach is appropriate.

-BDC middle school parent who read 100+ pages of this and would vote NO


Anonymous
Post 09/19/2016 09:23     Subject: BASIS DCPCSB to open two PK3-5 campuses
Anonymous wrote:Another BASIS DC parent--+1000 to the post above.

Also, to all parents who may have signed the list of parents interested in getting more information on the plans for a Basis primary last year--even if your desire for info had nothing to do with sending your child to a Basis elementary and/or you were just concerned about how the primary school might impact your child who was already at BDC, the school is purporting in their proposal to the PCSB that you and all the other parents interested in information are in fact clamoring for them to create a BDC elementary. They are now also proposing that 20% more students be allowed to occupy their Penn Quarter building.


I would not believe everything you read on DCurbanmom. I was told otherwise in regards to the number of students so I will not believe this unless I see a link to a document saying otherwise.

As for the elementary school model, everyone is making assumptions that their model will be drill and kill and be age inappropriate. I will not make this assumption at all since I have found their middle school methods age appropriate for the most part. The only thing I would like to see is a shorter school day and 10 to 20% less homework. But otherwise, the content they have covered and the methods they have used I believe are very accessible. A student will have a harder time if they are years behind or have little exposure to academic content.

Our kid had a lot of exposure to the sort of things BASIS will most likely be covering in elementary school from what I can tell in age appropriate ways. Kids can actually learn a lot about history, grammar, science and so on at young ages in very fun ways. I think there is this notion that kids are unable to this which I think is wrong. Also, kids who go to a BASIS elementary school will most likely be more prepared for middle and high schools.
Anonymous
Post 09/19/2016 09:00     Subject: BASIS DCPCSB to open two PK3-5 campuses
Another BASIS DC parent--+1000 to the post above.

Also, to all parents who may have signed the list of parents interested in getting more information on the plans for a Basis primary last year--even if your desire for info had nothing to do with sending your child to a Basis elementary and/or you were just concerned about how the primary school might impact your child who was already at BDC, the school is purporting in their proposal to the PCSB that you and all the other parents interested in information are in fact clamoring for them to create a BDC elementary. They are now also proposing that 20% more students be allowed to occupy their Penn Quarter building.
Anonymous
Post 09/18/2016 19:45     Subject: BASIS DCPCSB to open two PK3-5 campuses
Anonymous wrote:I'm a BASIS parent who is VERY HAPPY with the school. I have found their to be LITTLE OR NO pressure (quiz every week but you can retake it so no big deal), LITTLE HOMEWORK (mostly 30-questions of math that take under 1 minute/question and fun reading), and LOTS of chances to make up work (extra credit, redo tests, etc). My child was coming from a homeschool experience and did NOT take any tests, do any homework, or have any pressure before BASIS and is still doing great.

HOWEVER --

My gut reaction is to be really wary of a BASIS ES app for 3 reasons:

1. It's a terrible model for elementary school (too much testing, too much expectation for organization, too much homework, and too much stress).

2. It's a terrible fit for young kids (even a socially stable kid in 5th grade isn't going to be stable enough to handle this pressure in K, and a kid with any issues will become a timebomb).

3. Depending on location, it will 100% change the BASIS demographic in the future. Certain locations will be less diverse one way (higher SES) and then there will be NO room come 5th for kids who commute to the Chinatown location for kids from SE (lots commute from there now). OR, it will ONLY get kids who aren't diverse another way (lower SES) and the school won't have the mix of higher SES. I do NOT think SES-only matters, but I do think it's best for kids, adults, and communities when there is a good mix of high SES, low SES, mid SES, white/black/asian/hispanic/etc.

HOWEVER

I am hesitant to actually write all those ideas to the board because maybe this is a great school for some family and they really want it and I'll mess it all up for them by writing.


I am also a BASIS parent and also am happy there (it works for us, doesn't work for everyone) -- and DS will (at least that's the plan) join big sister next year. Since I won't have any more kids in ES, the BASIS app for an amendment to their current charter doesn't apply directly to me (it doesn't seem like the ES will affect the MS/HS for us). I also wouldn't write -- maybe there are parents that want this for their kids and I believe in choice. BUT, my personal advice to close friends, family, and loved ones in DC is DO NOT CHOOSE THIS MODEL FOR ES. There is almost nothing on creativity (even art projects are very specific), play-based learning, or unstructured time. It is in exact contrast to everything that is being discovered about the best ways for the younger students to learn, thrive, and live. Social-emotional intelligence is the key to having well-balanced children. Having a kid re-do 1st grade over a test result seems like a sure-fire way to create life-long stresses, instability, and fear -- not a way to build up their confidence so they can succeed in a place like BASIS in the first place!
Anonymous
Post 09/18/2016 15:42     Subject: BASIS DCPCSB to open two PK3-5 campuses
What BASIS is looking for and what they will get are not necessarily the same.

Only 12% of all lottery applications come from Wards 1-2 already. BASIS seems to think all of these families will choose them. The PP and I disagree.

Parents in those wards have decent IB DCPS options, especially for the lower grades. Why would they choose a school with high-stakes testing starting in 1st and no playground or gym?



Anonymous
Post 09/18/2016 14:58     Subject: Re:BASIS DCPCSB to open two PK3-5 campuses
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:So if this goes through Bassis middle will become, demographically, akin to Kipp. The demographics who flock to HRCS will not flick to this elementary and they'll be less open slots at 5th and the slots open will be less attractive since, in oru heart fo hearts, we want a good number of middle ses people at our kids' school.

This demographic to be what Basis wants. It has to be their mission. Godo for them. I was never interested in Basis anyway, but it will make latin more competitive. Now, people, start working on middle school charter applications!!


I totally agree with you - and posted something similar upthread.

Oddly that is NOT the demographic they serve in Arizona for elementary or middle/high school. Quite the opposite. And in this proposal they say they anticipate a 20% economically disadvantaged student population. Maybe they just don't understand the climate here?



that is interesting. How can they not knwo that play-based, whole child, arty farty is all the range for middle to high ses east coast parents?! In fact, I want that through middle school (well, in middle school, replace "play based" with "challenging, individualized, student driven").


Why would it be akin to KIPP? KIPP serves 75% economically disadvantaged students, with some campuses being higher than that. Basis is looking for 17% economically disadvantaged.
Anonymous
Post 09/18/2016 13:52     Subject: BASIS DCPCSB to open two PK3-5 campuses
Anonymous wrote:So what are the chances of this application being approved? In it's first iteration or later? I don't know anything about the charter approval process.


Very few amendments for successful charter schools - which the middle and high school are - are rejected. But BASIS also tends to generate more than its share of controversy.

Anonymous
Post 09/18/2016 12:50     Subject: BASIS DCPCSB to open two PK3-5 campuses
So what are the chances of this application being approved? In it's first iteration or later? I don't know anything about the charter approval process.
Anonymous
Post 09/16/2016 22:03     Subject: BASIS DCPCSB to open two PK3-5 campuses
Anonymous wrote:Maybe they think that behind every parent who says they wants playbased secretly lives a tiger mom who cares about the PISA exam scores by country???

Or higher SES parents in Arizona don't want based, artsy fartsy?


I would say that play based arty farty is a coastal thing. You want academic savants in the middle states lest you be left behind. Childhood is a privilege, a luxury.
Anonymous
Post 09/16/2016 21:06     Subject: BASIS DCPCSB to open two PK3-5 campuses
Maybe they think that behind every parent who says they wants playbased secretly lives a tiger mom who cares about the PISA exam scores by country???

Or higher SES parents in Arizona don't want based, artsy fartsy?
Anonymous
Post 09/16/2016 17:42     Subject: Re:BASIS DCPCSB to open two PK3-5 campuses
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:So if this goes through Bassis middle will become, demographically, akin to Kipp. The demographics who flock to HRCS will not flick to this elementary and they'll be less open slots at 5th and the slots open will be less attractive since, in oru heart fo hearts, we want a good number of middle ses people at our kids' school.

This demographic to be what Basis wants. It has to be their mission. Godo for them. I was never interested in Basis anyway, but it will make latin more competitive. Now, people, start working on middle school charter applications!!


I totally agree with you - and posted something similar upthread.

Oddly that is NOT the demographic they serve in Arizona for elementary or middle/high school. Quite the opposite. And in this proposal they say they anticipate a 20% economically disadvantaged student population. Maybe they just don't understand the climate here?



that is interesting. How can they not knwo that play-based, whole child, arty farty is all the range for middle to high ses east coast parents?! In fact, I want that through middle school (well, in middle school, replace "play based" with "challenging, individualized, student driven").
Anonymous
Post 09/16/2016 16:34     Subject: Re:BASIS DCPCSB to open two PK3-5 campuses
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:So if this goes through Bassis middle will become, demographically, akin to Kipp. The demographics who flock to HRCS will not flick to this elementary and they'll be less open slots at 5th and the slots open will be less attractive since, in oru heart fo hearts, we want a good number of middle ses people at our kids' school.

This demographic to be what Basis wants. It has to be their mission. Godo for them. I was never interested in Basis anyway, but it will make latin more competitive. Now, people, start working on middle school charter applications!!


I totally agree with you - and posted something similar upthread.

Oddly that is NOT the demographic they serve in Arizona for elementary or middle/high school. Quite the opposite. And in this proposal they say they anticipate a 20% economically disadvantaged student population. Maybe they just don't understand the climate here?



From the application.

"As our search for a BASIS DC Primary school is still active, we continue to winnow the field of possible locations for further analysis. We know that charter schools in D.C. have a different demographic variation due to open enrollment and families/students who attend from every ward. We anticipate that our new primary school would reflect something similar to these schools (see footnote 11).

Applying this information, together with the current demographic information for BASIS DC grades 5-12, we anticipate that the student population at BASIS DC primary campuses will reflect approximately 7-10% special education, 3 percent ELL, and 17 percent Economically Disadvantaged. ...
Footnote 11 - The similar schools information provided in the Additional Materials (appendix H) shows E.L. Haynes in Ward 4 at 15 percent Special Education, 65 percent Economically Disadvantaged and 30 percent for English Language Learners. Two Rivers in Ward
6 shows 24 percent Special Education, 45 percent Economically Disadvantaged, and 4 percent English Language Learners. In Ward 5 for Charter Schools Yu Ying and Inspired Teaching Demonstration, the ranges are: 8-12 percent Special Education, 4-6
percent ELL, and 9-18 percent Economically Disadvantaged.