Arizona Charter School with Ivy League Teachers is Big Success

by Mike Smith · 2009-11-11 11:09:00 UTC
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The BASIS school in Scottsdale Arizona is propelling students to achieve far being their grade level. By the time they reach 8th grade they are permitted to take Advanced Placement exams, which test high-school students at a college level reports the Economist. And by the time the students reach 9th grade, all students must take the advanced test.

Michael Block and his wife Olga were so frustrated by the low-standard of schooling, and low-expectations, that they started the BASIS school, out in the desert. Their success sees students achieve at grade levels two years ahead of Arizona and California schools and one year ahead of East Coast schools. Setting up the charter school wasn't easy, and they mustn't charge tuition fees or select the best students. Instead, they say, they find the best, IVY League trained teachers and give them autonomy in the classroom. And it's causing the schools to regularly place at the top of national surveys. The effect is so impressive that a former boss of Intel, after sitting in on a chemistry class, donated $500,000 as bonuses to the teachers.

Photo credit: PhillipC

Mike Smith is associate editor at Change.org.
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