Our Little (Global) School!
By now, most of you have heard that BASIS Tucson North was mentioned by name in Thomas Friedman's New York Times Op-Ed on April 3. If you haven't read his piece, I invite you to do so now: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/03/opinion/friedman-my-little-global-school.html?_r=0
The day that this article came out, I was in Washington, D. C., representing BASIS Tucson and BASIS Tucson North at a short conference about the assessment data to which Friedman refers in his editorial. The test in question is called "PISA for Schools," and is created by the OECD, or Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. This test is based on a more famous international test, the PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) that was launched by the OECD in 1997. It aims to evaluate education systems worldwide every three years by assessing 15-year-olds' competencies in the key subjects: reading, mathematics and science. To date over 70 countries and economies have participated in PISA. In 2012, the OECD invited schools from the U. S., the U. K., and Canada to pilot a PISA-like test that allows individual schools to benchmark their strengths and weaknesses internationally. The April 3 event brought together administrators and teachers from the schools that participated in the pilot.
It is an understatement to say that BASIS Tucson/Tucson North did well on this assessment. In fact, we found that the skills and knowledge possessed by our students is comparable to those students who perform in the top 5% in the world. IN THE WORLD!
Four "case studies" of exceptional schools were showcased at this conference, but BASIS Tucson North was by far the highest-performing among them. Imagine the thrill that I felt as I sat in the audience and watched Andreas Schleicher, the test's designer, reveal a chart that placed BASIS Tucson North at the very top edge of the screen, next to Shanghai and far, far away from the United States average. I knew we had done well, but it was only in that moment that I discovered just how well.
These results are a true measure of the success of our school: the criterion used to select the students tested in the pilot was age and age alone, and the sample included 15-year-olds who were in 8th, 9th, and 10th grade, without excluding students with special needs or low grades. In addition, the PISA is a test that is well-known for its focus on critical thinking skills - on applying and extrapolating knowledge learned in school - skills identified by the OECD as necessary for success in a global economy. What our results show is that our school is a GLOBAL LEADER in education.
So take a minute to congratulate yourself, your child, and your child's teachers. Together, we have created something truly unique in this world.
Next week, you will be bombarded by cowbells, thank-you signs, and phone-calls, all asking you to donate to our Annual Teacher Fund. Please keep in mind during this time that without your help, this incredible educational environment would not be possible.
Thank you for all your support.
Julia Toews
BASIS Tucson North
