Brooklyn Academy of Science & the Environment (BASE)

Brooklyn Botanic Garden (BBG) and Prospect Park Alliance (PPA)

Medgar Evers College; Brooklyn Museum of Art; Region 6

September 2003-9th grade only. An additional grade will be added each year to form a 9-12 program by September 2006

September 2003-125 students (9th graders). By September 2006- 500 students maximum (125 per grade, 9-12)

Housed in Prospect Heights High School, 883 Classon Avenue

BASE is a "small school" that will remain under the primary direction of the New York City Department of Education. Under the Chancellor's restructuring plan, BASE will be located in Prospect Heights High School. It will be part of Region 6 headed by Regional Superintendent Gloria Buckery.

9th grade class entered September 2003.

Science, Environmental Studies and Urban Ecology.

The mission of BASE is to create an active learning community that addresses the needs of young people while embracing environmental science and urban ecology. BASE will use the resources of the three campuses (Park, Garden, and school building) to create teaching and learning experiences that are engaging, academically rigorous and personally meaningful to our students, their parents, faculty, collaborating community organizations and the wider community.

Inquiry-based and project-based learning.

The target population of BASE is similar to that of the neighborhood and the current population at Prospect Heights High School, although students from feeder schools in the newly formed Region 6 (currently Districts 17, 18 and 22) and student who would normally feed into Bushwick HS (e.g., currently District 32 middle schools) are eligible to apply to the school.

BBG and PPA will be involved in development and implementation of curriculum with the school administration. They will participate on the School Leadership Team that will oversee ongoing governance and operations of the school. They will contribute lessons and activities that directly support required New York City and State curricula. Students will learn scientific research skills and be exposed to a range of technology tools at the Park and at the Garden: BBG's library, herbarium and archival databases and web site; Prospect Park's natural areas of lakes, woods and meadows, Prospect Park Audubon Center, Lefferts Historic House and the Park's archives and web site. PPA will offer on-site experts to work with teachers on Park research projects. Both institutions will offer internships. The Garden will develop a Junior/Senior Fellowship program in the Science, Horticulture or Education departments for a select number of students. BBG and PPA will provide teachers with professional development in how to use hands-on methods in the classroom, inquiry-based methodology, and how to use the environment as a teaching tool for all disciplines. BBG and PPA staff will serve as presenters at BASE staff development seminars, and will work with BASE to introduce a Summer Teaching Fellowship program in the near future. BBG will use its horticultural expertise to design plantings on the school grounds and in the school building. PPA and BBG will develop educational programs for students' parents that will include hosting family events, such as orientations, receptions and awards ceremonies, and a biannual Curriculum Expo in which students will present their work to their parents. BBG will explore providing parents with a special discount to attend current continuing education offerings and will offer families Frequent Visitor passes for free access to the Garden. PPA will offer member benefits such as their quarterly newsletter and invitation-only tours to BASE families.

BASE will receive Department of Education operating funds, including start-up funds that are estimated to be a total of $500,000 over the next four years. In addition, BASE will also be eligible to receive $1,000 per student, up to $500,000 over the course of four years, through special funds provided by The New Century High Schools Initiative. This initiative is part of a $30 million project established by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and The Open Society Institute to transform high school education throughout the nation. To return to the archived showcase page, click here.

Veronica Peterson, Principal
vpeters@nycboe.net