Universities go back to school

Over the past two years, ASU has joined the growing ranks of large research institutions extending their educational mission by creating local K-12 charter schools. The burgeoning charter school movement eschews the complications of union contracts, keeps enrollment to manageable numbers, builds bridges to the local community and offers students an education like no other.

From robotics to digital learning to pre-reading programs, a university-driven, research-based education is proving to be as successful as it is innovative. ASU’s Polytechnic Elementary School already is ranked in the top 10 percent of Arizona schools.

Kimberly de los Santos, associate vice president for university initiatives, adds that taking on K-12 schools refined a role her school was already playing.

“ASU produces more than half the teachers in Arizona," de los Santos said. "We are responsible for the education those teachers are getting, and we didn’t feel like we were living up to the opportunity for changes (in pedagogy and training) that were possible.”