August 6, 2004

Elementary CSAP Scores Show Gains

Superintendent Jerry Wartgow this week applauded steady progress in elementary schools following the release of the 2003-2004 school year results from the Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP).

"There is improvement in third- through fifth-grade over the past two years," said Superintendent Wartgow. "These results reflect two years of full implementation of the district’s literacy program. The hard work implementing that program began in earnest in the elementary grades two years ago and these are the grades where we are seeing the most solid growth in student achievement today. Elementary school students, teachers and principals deserve credit for all their collective efforts."

However, Wartgow noted, results remain generally mixed or flat in most middle school and high schools, although sixth- and seventh-grades have shown some improvement.

"We need to continue to analyze these results and find what is working - and what is not," he said. "We began our focus at the elementary grades and that will continue while we work on improving performance in middle schools and high schools."

Superintendent Wartgow noted that the 27-member Commission on Secondary School Reform was organized last spring and charged with making recommendations designed to significantly improve student achievement in middle schools and high schools.

"The results overall show some progress and we have always known that this will require sustained, organized effort and teamwork to make the strides we all expect," said Chief Academic Officer Sally Mentor Hay. "The programs in elementary schools require ongoing refinement and work, and secondary schools are clearly in need of the thoughtful reform work being done by the commission."

Of particular note, said Mentor Hay, is that elementary schools "are beginning to send on students to middle school who are better prepared."

All three CSAP results from fifth-grade show progress. In mathematics, scores increased from 30 percent to 35 percent proficient or advanced between 2003 and 2004. In reading, scores climbed from 41 to 46 percent proficient or advanced and in writing, from 31 to 33.

Results in mathematics were up for all grades except grade 10. "Some of these gains are modest and we are a long way from the kind of results we fully expect to see," said Mentor Hay, "but mathematics is an area where we are providing consistent direction and focus from the district and where we are pleased to see some improvement."

Results also show consistent growth between 2002 and 2004 (in grades three through seven) in reading, writing and math.

CSAP results are on the DPS website at: http://testing.dpsk12.org.

Cole Middle School Effort "Remarkable"

Superintendent Jerry Wartgow took an upbeat approach while analyzing the future of Cole Middle School this week with the Board of Education.

Superintendent Wartgow said the district would fully support the Colorado Department of Education’s implementation of the state’s school accountability law – and continue to fully support students at Cole Middle School.

Results from Cole Middle School indicate that student achievement improved during the 2003-2004 school year, but not enough to avoid another designation as "unsatisfactory" under the state’s School Accountability Report system.

The results set in motion a process that may result in Cole being operated as an independent charter school by the 2005-2006 school year.

"Was this a failure? No, it wasn’t a failure – Cole is a better school today. It sparkles, there is a sense of pride…The teachers, the principal did a remarkable job at Cole," he said, noting the academic progress seen in the Colorado Student Assessment Program results.

For two months earlier this year, Superintendent Wartgow was joined by Mayor John Hickenlooper, Gov. Bill Owens and nearly 150 others in an eight-week series of tutoring sessions that drew about 200 students each Saturday morning for four hours of academic work.

"I’m enthused and buoyed by the fact that there is that much community support," said Superintendent Wartgow.

The state law calls for the state to issue a Request for Proposals for potential operators of an independent charter within the school building. It also calls for a state-organized committee to review the proposals and make recommendations on the charter applicants to the state Board of Education. After the state Board of Education selects one charter application, the district will negotiate a contract for the operation of Cole as an independent charter school starting with the 2005-2006 school year.

"We have not given up on these students, this school, this community…these are still Denver’s students. We are going to continue to support them as we move forward," said Board member Kevin Patterson.

"No Empty Seats" On Opening Day – August 16

Standing with Denver’s elected officials and city staff on home plate yesterday at an empty Coors Field, Superintendent Jerry Wartgow announced that opening day for Denver Public Schools is Monday, August 16.

"Right now, there are over 50,000 empty seats in this stadium," said Superintendent Wartgow. "There are enough students in Denver Public Schools to fill this stadium one and a half times. We don’t want to see any empty seats on opening day in Denver Public Schools."

The first day of school for all early childhood education, elementary, sixth-grade and ninth-grade students is Monday, August 16. The next day – Tuesday, August 17 – is the first day of school for all other middle and high school students.

To help improve achievement for all students, Denver Public Schools is asking the community to help get all students to school from the first day forward. Last year, almost 3,000 students registered for school in the first six weeks after opening day.

"We’ve set high expectations for all of us – students, parents, staff and the community – to improve the performance of all students and close achievement gaps," said Superintendent Wartgow. "We can’t work toward those goals if students aren’t in school."

To increase awareness of opening day, schools have posted yard signs announcing the first day of school. Advertisements will run in community newspapers, and Spanish radio stations will run public service announcements. In addition, public libraries in Denver have been distributing first-day-of school bookmarks, and next week, families in Denver Public Schools will receive a recorded phone message from Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper reminding them of opening day.

The Denver Police Department also has pledged its support. Officers will be on hand at elementary schools the morning of Monday, August 16 to meet and greet students and families.

"New and returning students should register now at their school," said Wartgow. "A missed day of school is missed learning."

Students enrolling for the first time in Denver Public Schools will need to bring: verification of the child’s date of birth (birth certificate or other documentation); immunization records; proof of home address (something mailed to the home address, such as a utility bill or copy of a lease); and the name and address of the previous school (if the student is transferring from another school district).

High School Students To Ride RTD Buses To School

New this year, Denver’s high school students will ride RTD instead of DPS yellow buses to school. High school students who are eligible for transportation must have a DPS-RTD student pass to ride a bus to school.

Eligible students may pick up a free DPS-RTD student bus pass at their high school during scheduled registration dates or during walk-in registration at their high school on Monday and Tuesday, August 9 and 10.

High school students who live 3.5 miles or more from their neighborhood school or live in a designated area for special transportation are eligible for the pass. With the exception of Denver School of the Arts, students who attend a high school magnet program that offers transportation also are eligible for the pass if they live 3.5 miles or more from that school.

DPS yellow bus transportation for all Denver School of the Arts and special education students remains unchanged. Additionally, DPS buses will continue to be used for athletics and other activities.

In March, the Denver Board of Education unanimously voted to replace traditional DPS yellow buses for high school students with RTD service and extend the high school day. By not relying on the inflexible schedules of yellow buses, high schools can offer more educational choices to students by keeping the 7:30 a.m. start time and staying open later.

Finding Your Bus Route

Denver Public Schools has worked closely with RTD to expand bus service where it’s anticipated that students will need it the most. Information about school service is on the RTD website at www.rtd-denver.com. Families also can call the RTD information center at 303-299-6000 for assistance in planning routes to school. On September 5, information about expanded bus service for school routes will be accessible on the same website through RTD’s Trip Planner.

Mill Levy Oversight Committee Begins Work Aug. 23

Superintendent Jerry Wartgow announced this week the first meeting of the Mill Levy Oversight Committee – Monday, Aug. 23 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The meeting will be held at the administration building, 900 Grant St.

The committee will be chaired by Steve Kaplan, who also chaired the Citizens Committee on Facility Needs in 2003. That committee’s work led to the $20 million mill levy proposal and the three-year, $310 million general obligation bond proposal. Both were overwhelmingly supported by voters in November 2003.

Superintendent Wartgow said he expects the committee to serve as a "watchdog" for the district’s decision-making process over all six of the mill levy initiatives.

A parallel committee is tracking district expenditures with the bond program.

Principals Appointed

This week the Board of Education approved nine principal appointments, including:

Erlinda Archuleta (interim), Bryant-Webster K-8

Sandra Blomeyer, Grant Ranch Elementary

Sylvia Bookhardt (interim), Rishel Middle

Ricardo Concha (assistant area superintendent on special assignment), Grant Middle School

Ethan Dalton, Manual Millennium Quest High

Ruth Frazier, Greenwood Elementary

Wendy Pierce, Sabin Elementary

Lolita Rockette (interim), Oakland Elementary

Richard Sinclair, Kaiser Elementary

Board Notes

In other action this week, the Board of Education approved:

This page was last updated: Monday, August 9, 2004 at 10:34:22 AM

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