MAS Founder’s Article “No Homework, No Barriers” Appears on Forbes Magazine Website

There are many longstanding debates among educators and administrative leaders in K-12 education. From funding & equity and curriculum & standards to assessment & accountability to teaching & learning environment, there’s no shortage of topics that have the potential to improve our national state of education. 

Closer to home, at MAS Charter School in Albuquerque, New Mexico, all of those topics matter, as does a more granular one that we’re often asked about: our no homework policy. 

Recently, our Founder and CEO, JoAnn Mitchell, Ed.S., wrote an article that is now featured on Forbes magazine’s website about our no homework approach. It’s a thoughtful look at how MAS Charter School builds a school day that works for students and families, without homework as part of the mix.

We encourage you to read the article on Forbes.com using the link below:

No Homework, No Barriers: How One Charter School Is Redefining College Prep For Underserved Youth

Why it matters

In the piece, published by Forbes on Oct. 23, JoAnn describes how MAS structures learning so practice, feedback, and support happen during the school day. Evenings belong to family time, play, and rest. The approach places high-quality instruction where all students have access to teachers and peers.

Highlights from the article include

• Results families care about: For 12 years, 100 percent of MAS graduates have enrolled in college, the military, or a post-secondary trade program.
• Learning happens at school: Teachers plan purposeful practice and give feedback before the final bell, so students head home ready to recharge.
• Balanced by design: Research shows limited academic gains from routine homework in elementary grades. MAS focuses on quality and timing rather than volume.
• Built-in social and emotional learning: Students learn to manage emotions, plan work, ask for help, and support classmates, which reduces the nightly homework struggle.
• Ready for what’s next: As students move into high school, they take dual-credit college courses. Staff coach study skills and schedule independent work time during the day to prepare them for real outside-of-class expectations.
• Fair for every family: A no-homework policy in the early years helps level the playing field for households with limited time, tools, or internet access after 4 p.m.

Give it a read

JoAnn’s full article (find it here) shares the “why” behind our model and how it serves students from kindergarten through graduation. If you’re a parent weighing school options, an educator rethinking time in the day, or a student curious about how MAS supports both learning and life, you’ll find it useful.

Have questions after reading? Send them our way using the Contact Form on our website. We’re always happy to talk about what learning and achievement looks like at MAS.