Anonymous wrote: Basis is hiring a remedial English teacher, which they don't do in Arizona, because they've found that too many kids lack grade-level reading and writing skills to handle their curiculum.

BASIS 5th grade parent here -- I'm on the Yahoo Listserv, and I know a bunch of BASIS families and we obviously talk about the school and share stories of our experiences. That being said, I haven't heard that a new remedial English teacher is coming on. I feel a bit out of touch, I guess. How do you know that this new person is starting? What grades are they teaching? What's the long term plan for the kids needing remedial English?

Anonymous wrote:I thought now we're all supposed to have diverse schools and classrooms, and we don't label anyone TAG anymore. We just wait until MS & HS and then let them take advanced classes. (At least we can still do that, right? And not have the teacher instructing both Calculus and Pre-Algebra in the same room in the name of "differentiated instruction"?)

My point being, if that is correct (which I'm not saying that it is - I'm just asking) it seems that there are two hurdles to clear. The Ed Policy types will be all about the anti-labeling and anti-tracking as it is out-of-fashion in academic circles. That's in addition to the local political fall-out, which we are all already familiar with.

Or am I wrong?

But there are basically no advanced classes at Deal (or Hardy, or Stuart Hobson) outside 7th and 8th grade math. There are in most MoCo and Fairfax middle schools, including self-contained test-in magnet programs (e.g. Takoma Park MD math/science and Eastern MS in Sliver Spring humanitie, each taking around 16% of applicants county-wide). Basis is hiring a remedial English teacher, which they don't do in Arizona, because they've found that too many kids lack grade-level reading and writing skills to handle their curiculum.

Anti-labeling and anti-tracking may be out of fashion but more challenge for middle-class kids is about to become all the rage in DC as more parents come into elementary schools EotP and want to stay in the public system. Call challenge what you like, the chorus clamoring for it isn't going anywhere.

You are right. But education policy swings on a pendulum that is often tied to politics, not solid research. Seems really smart education officials could come up with a way to flexibly group students in a way that avoids the truly bad side effects of hard core tracking. I see this with the fights over reading instruction that focuses on phonics versus whole language. The pendulum has been to both extremes and has currently settled somewhere in the middle. I imagine the same could happen with so-called tracking if politicians get out of the way.

Correct me if I'm wrong (the most unnecessary string of letters I have ever typed on DCUM), but isn't tracking considered sort of passe in academic circles?

I'm not taking a stand, I'm asking a question.

I thought now we're all supposed to have diverse schools and classrooms, and we don't label anyone TAG anymore. We just wait until MS & HS and then let them take advanced classes. (At least we can still do that, right? And not have the teacher instructing both Calculus and Pre-Algebra in the same room in the name of "differentiated instruction"?)

My point being, if that is correct (which I'm not saying that it is - I'm just asking) it seems that there are two hurdles to clear. The Ed Policy types will be all about the anti-labeling and anti-tracking as it is out-of-fashion in academic circles. That's in addition to the local political fall-out, which we are all already familiar with.

Or am I wrong?

Anonymous wrote:It is ridiculous 11:28 but with Basis tracking not only for middle school math but for English (not clear for which grades yet) and 8th grade science, Latin and Deal, and maybe even Stuart Hobson and Hardy, will come under pressure to follow suit within 2 or 3 years. Watch for it. Competition, the American way

Deal parent who has enjoyed reading through this thought-provoking thread. I know fellow parents who would LOVE more tracking, in English in particular, but we tend to keep quiet on the subject. Speaking out invites the stress associated with making oneself unpopular with school stakeholders with somewhat different values and incentives than one's own, often those with less academic children. If Deal does start to track outside math to keep up with Basis, it will be too late for us. Deal has been "just OK" from the first day. If we'd known what was in store for us this year, we might have moved to Rockville last year, but then hindsight is 20-20.

I,too, hope that "political" threads related to advaned learners start springing up here, a la on the MD boards. DC parents of advanced learners only settle for less than the burbs offer for lack of organization and momentum. The critical mass of DC parents who want and deserve more challenge is already there and the politicians need the wake-up call, guys and gals.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, since BASIS hasn't been open long enough to have administered their famous comps, we have no idea if they *should* have kids "doing" Algebra II or Pre-Calc in 8th grade.

Mostly, the BASIS PR machine needs to slow itself down until it can prove it's a good school. Right now, it can't.

Nonsense. The eight kids in Algebra II this year (ranging from 6th to 8th grade) are all doing well. Most, if not all, will pass the comp.

Stop right there. TMI. The only people who would, or should, know this much detail on the 8 kids are teachers or staff. It is unprofessional and inappropriate to post this type of comment with easily identifiable information. If PP I'd a parent, then this is speculation. And also irresponsible.

Find another way to boost.

I'm a parent, not the teacher. The Algebra II teacher stated clearly at the start of the year that he reserves the right to send kids who are not doing well back to Algebra I. No kids were sent back to Algebra I after the first grading period. Also, DC reports on how other kids are doing. Finally, I'm pretty sure that off of the Algebra II kids in DC's class (half the class) made the "90%" club and the Honor Roll.

Meant "all of".

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, since BASIS hasn't been open long enough to have administered their famous comps, we have no idea if they *should* have kids "doing" Algebra II or Pre-Calc in 8th grade.

Mostly, the BASIS PR machine needs to slow itself down until it can prove it's a good school. Right now, it can't.

Nonsense. The eight kids in Algebra II this year (ranging from 6th to 8th grade) are all doing well. Most, if not all, will pass the comp.

Stop right there. TMI. The only people who would, or should, know this much detail on the 8 kids are teachers or staff. It is unprofessional and inappropriate to post this type of comment with easily identifiable information. If PP I'd a parent, then this is speculation. And also irresponsible.

Find another way to boost.

I'm a parent, not the teacher. The Algebra II teacher stated clearly at the start of the year that he reserves the right to send kids who are not doing well back to Algebra I. No kids were sent back to Algebra I after the first grading period. Also, DC reports on how other kids are doing. Finally, I'm pretty sure that off of the Algebra II kids in DC's class (half the class) made the "90%" club and the Honor Roll.

+1

It is ridiculous 11:28 but with Basis tracking not only for middle school math but for English (not clear for which grades yet) and 8th grade science, Latin and Deal, and maybe even Stuart Hobson and Hardy, will come under pressure to follow suit within 2 or 3 years. Watch for it. Competition, the American way