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First ASU-run public school opens in fall 2008
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The first of four public schools being launched by Arizona State University is scheduled to open in Mesa in fall 2008.
ASU’s University Public Schools Initiative plans to eventually open prekindergarten through 12th-grade schools on or near each of the university’s four Valley area campuses in Tempe, Mesa, the West Valley and downtown Phoenix.
The first school, which will be at ASU Polytechnic in Mesa, will open with grades prekindergarten through sixth grade, adding seventh and eighth grade the following year, eventually serving students through grade 12.
Larry Pieratt, executive director of the University Public Schools for ASU, said they’ve applied for a state charter and hope to be approved by January.
They chose the charter school model to give the school autonomy, Pieratt said, not answering to a board or superintendent.
However, ASU is exploring partnerships with the Higley Unified School District for opportunities for collaboration at ASU Polytechnic and with the Tempe and Phoenix elementary school districts for other schools.
“University Public Schools (will) provide centers of education and innovation in which we can bring new innovations, existing best practices and reforms,” Pieratt said.
Once those practices are implemented and research proves them effective, he said, practices will be shared with interested schools.
Pieratt said the focus is on improving classroom learning.
“Once those are proven, (we’ll) share those with the world,” he said. “Hopefully, we’ll find improvement in student learning.”
There are other universities associated with prekindergarten through 12th-grade schools, Pieratt said, but he doesn’t know of any others doing it for the same reason as ASU — to engage with and solve problems in the community.
Pieratt encourages interested parents to attend community forums in November and December. Orientation meetings will be in January and February.
Students will be admitted on a first-come, first-serve basis until there are more interested students than space, in which case a lottery will be used.
For information, call (480) 727-1612.
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