BASIS Expansion Proposal Suzanne Wells

Public Charter School Board Meeting

June 24, 2024

BASIS Expansion Proposal

Suzanne Wells

Testimony

Thank you for the opportunity to testify this evening.  My name is Suzanne Wells, and I am a resident of Ward 6.

In making a decision on the BASIS expansion proposal, the PCSB has a responsibility not only to consider the merits of the school’s application, but also to consider the impact of the BASIS expansion proposal on surrounding elementary schools and the overall sustainability of the DC school system. The PCSB assessed the number of already approved charter school seats with the projected student population growth through 2030.  Based on updated population growth data, the PCSB has already approved charter school growth for more students than DC anticipates having over the next 10 years[1]. Approving another elementary school will only make this situation worse.  In short,  a new elementary school is not needed in DC. 

Additionally, a new elementary school will disrupt current Ward 6 elementary schools and exacerbate the education spending situation in DC where the City is spreading its education dollars thinly across its schools.  The recent 2023 School Funding Study[2] acknowledges the diverse opportunities for school choice in DC, but says “…compared to other states there is generally a higher cost base in DC which can partially be attributed to the inefficiencies that a system of choice can lead to.”  The report goes on to state that school choice can drive up UPSFF costs by reducing efficiencies.  The City’s school choice approach is causing the city to  spend more on administrative, building and operations costs, and opening another elementary school will only exacerbate this inefficient spending.

If the PCSB is truly concerned with providing opportunities for students from underserved communities, the BASIS application is not the application to approve.

-          In a survey of families not affiliated with BASIS, forty four percent of the parents surveyed have a Master’s degree or higher,  and the BASIS application says they expect a high interest in their proposed elementary school program from “parents with advanced degrees.”[3]  Most at-risk families are not headed by parents with advanced degrees.

The survey that BASIS conducted  of its current families to forecast demand showed:

-          Almost 45% of the families who responded to a survey in May 2023, were in bounds for three schools in Ward 6:  Brent, Watkins and Maury.[4]  When the families who responded to the survey were asked what they viewed as the most “competitive schools for a BASIS K-4 family,” 97% responded Brent, School Within School@Goding (a city-wide DCPS school), Maury and Watkins[5], all high quality schools located in Ward 6.  The BASIS expansion application makes clear that the school will continue to have a sibling preference.  It is highly likely that many families who already have access to high-quality elementary schools will exercise a sibling preference to attend a K-4 BASIS school, if approved.

In closing, I ask that the PCSB not approve the BASIS K-4 expansion.  DC currently has more schools than it needs at this grade level, and opening yet another school will only exacerbate the situation.  Opening yet another school will result in lower enrollment at other schools, and cause the City to spread its education dollars thinly across too many schools which hurts all students.

[1] Sector Planning Supplement, February 24, 2024.

[2] 2023 School Funding Study Final Report, Deputy Mayor for Education, December 2023.

[3] 2024-05-06 BASIS DC Expansion Amendment Application, page 108.

[4] 2024-05-06 BASIS DC Expansion Amendment Application, page 291. 

[5] 2024-05-06 BASIS DC Expansion Amendment Application, page 309.