September 24, 2004

Board Actively Seeks To Expand Choice

The Board of Education this week considered a resolution that would expand choices to improve student achievement, better meet student and family needs and encourage more families to choose a public school in Denver.

The Board will hear public comment on the proposed resolution about choice at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 7 before adopting a formal version later that month. The resolution reads:

WHEREAS, the Board of Education wishes to expand choice consistent with a set of core values and develop a set of policies that create opportunities to improve student performance, better meet student and family needs, and encourage more families to choose a Denver public school, within available resources districtwide; and

WHEREaAS, there has been substantial change in the context for choice within the last ten years, including changes to laws governing resident/nonresident choice, charter schools, the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act, and proposals for funding student enrollment in private schools.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:

1. The Board of Education is hereby establishing three overarching core values to guide policy development and revision related to choice.

A. Quality choice is a means of facilitating a high level of achievement, not an end in itself.

B. New choice options should be developed in order to facilitate student achievement and parent satisfaction. Reasonable efforts should be made to assess, evaluate, and mitigate any adverse impact of each choice program/school on existing neighborhood schools and the families who attend those schools.

C. All schools are viewed as schools of choice and there must be strong, objective, annual accountability.

2. The Board of Education directs staff to actively seek to expand choice consistent with the core values listed above by employing strategies that include the following:

A. Implement programs that have a proven or promising record of success within the Denver Public Schools or other districts with similar demographics;

B. Provide vertical program continuity where relevant, desirable, and market driven (e.g., where an elementary program exists, consider providing a comparable program at the middle and high school levels within available resources);

C. Use existing district facilities and resources efficiently;

D. Utilize the expertise and availability of school and district staff;

E. Provide incentives for neighborhood and magnet schools to serve more students.

F. Ensure that choice decisions are jointly owned by the district, families, and community;

G. Employ a variety of student assignment models, including choice schools without an attendance area, neighborhood schools, and alternative schools; and

H. Widely publicize choice options;

3. The Board of Education directs staff to consider the following filters when expanding choice:

A. Ensure that choice programs offered are consistent with district achievement goals and educational initiatives that may be interdependent among schools;

B. Incorporation of proven or promising practice for improving student achievement;

C. Equity, both in terms of geographic location and program quality;

D. Impact on low-income neighborhoods and students;

E. Integration, including economic integration;

F. Impact on district enrollment;

G. The needs of district students, including different learning styles, interests, and levels of depth of learning and instruction;

H. Incremental costs;

I. Current demand for choice options;

J. The return on investment; and

K. The need for transportation.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

1. The Board of Education directs staff to draft appropriate policy revisions, including revisions to JC, IF, EEAA, and JFAB and associated procedures, and/or create new policies consistent with this Resolution for the Board’s consideration no more than thirty (30) days after adoption; and

2. The Board of Education directs staff to identify action steps to implement these new or revised policies.

Four Charter School Applicants Propose New Schools

Four charter school applicants filed proposals by the district’s Sept. 20 deadline:

• Academy Internacional, a school for grades 6 – 8. The school would start at 2500 Curtis St. but then move to northwest Denver. The school seeks to "challenge all students to achieve to their highest potential in a multi-cultural, inclusive setting through a rigorous dual language curriculum focused in international studies, driven by high standards, high quality teaching..."
• Baker Arts and Technology Academy, a K-8 school that proposes a school in "close proximity" to Alameda Ave. and I-25. The school would offer "an integrated, innovative curriculum based on an exploration of history, ideas, technology and the arts..."
• Denver Peak Academy, a high school that will provide "a rigorous and relevant high school diploma program" in collaboration with Denver Urban Peak. Geared for students who are experiencing homelessness or unstable living conditions.
• 21st Century Charter School at Denver, a K-12 school that will "use learning methods tailored to Colorado state standards and each student’s personal interests." A Montbello location is being considered.

An Oct. 21 formal presentation will be made to the Board of Education, with a public hearing about the proposals scheduled for Nov. 4. The Board is scheduled to approve or deny the charter applications on Dec. 2.

DPS And Metro State College Receive $9.5 Million Grant For Teacher Training

Assistant Secretary of Education Sally Stroup visited Denver this week to present a five-year, $9.5 million federal education grant to Denver Public Schools and Metropolitan State College of Denver.

The grant will support a project to strengthen teacher training programs and improve student achievement – a key goal of the No Child Left Behind education reforms.

The No Child Left Behind Act is the bipartisan landmark education reform law designed to change the culture of America’s schools by closing the achievement gap, offering more flexibility, giving parents more options and teaching students based on what works. Under the act’s strong accountability provisions, states must describe how they will close the achievement gap and make sure all students, including those who are disadvantaged, achieve academic proficiency.

Accountability Council Examines School Plans For Improving Student Achievement

The DPS School Improvement and Accountability Council (SIAC) reported to the Board on Thursday the strengths of school improvement plans in Denver and suggestions for boosting the value of those plans, which schools submit to the district each year by the end of September.

The council, directed by state statute to review school improvement plans, assessed plans from 2003-2004 and interviewed area superintendents about strategies for improving student achievement in the district’s four quadrants.

In the report, SIAC said it believed "visits with area superintendents show that some school improvement plans have become living plans for improving student achievement."

The report noted that the majority of schools included literacy and math objectives in their plans, and most added additional goals addressing writing, school climate, attendance or character education.

Among the council’s recommendations were:

• Sending summaries of school plans to parents and community members and including an evaluation of the previous year’s goals and objectives.
• Addressing the improvement of academic achievement for all students in addition to specific efforts to move students from one proficiency to the next.
• Reporting quarterly to the larger school community the progress in implementing school improvement plans and evaluating the plans’ effectiveness so that appropriate and timely intervention can take place during the school year.

The Board will take the council’s recommendations under advisement.

Commission On School Nutrition and Physical Activity Hosts Public Hearing Sept. 28

The Commission on School Nutrition and Physical Activity has scheduled a public hearing from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28 at East High School.

The hearing will be co-hosted by Superintendent Jerry Wartgow, Mayor John Hickenlooper and members of the commission.

The commission is co-chaired by Denver Board of Education member Elaine Gantz Berman and Reggie Washington, a prominent pediatric cardiologist and co-chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ National Task Force on Obesity.

The commission is inviting all students, parents and interested community members to comment on effective policies and practices in schools involving students’ nutrition, health and physical well-being.

Speakers who contact Jacquie Lucero (303-764-3211) or e-mail board@dpsk12.org by Friday, Sept. 24 at 5 p.m. will speak first at the public hearing. If time permits, people who did not sign up to speak in advance may follow those who did. Individuals may speak for up to two minutes and groups of two or more for up to five minutes.

The agenda for the evening will include introductions of the commission members and a brief context of the work of the commission to date.

The commission was created in January 2004 and given the charge of proposing recommendations to the Board for 1) nutritional standards and their implementation for all food and beverages in DPS schools and facilities; 2) nutrition education for DPS students; and 3) appropriate outcome measurements. The commission also is charged with reviewing and revising as necessary DPS standards and implementation for physical education and determining the feasibility of its own recommendations as they pertain to costs, funding and sustainability.

East High School is located at 1545 Detroit St. The public hearing will be held in the school’s auditorium.

Board Notes

In other action this week, the Board of Education:

• Approved a motion revising Policy GDBC, governing supplementary pay/overtime for support staff.
• Approved a new evaluation handbook for school-based administrators.
• Authorized the conditional issuance of general obligation bonds that allow for refinancing about $88 million worth of debt.
• Agreed to consider changes to a series of policies governing payroll deductions, direct deposit, and payroll procedures and schedules. Among other changes, the policy requires that employees use direct deposit via electronic funds transfer.
• Agreed to consider changes to the policy governing student interrogations and searches. The proposed language clarifies when searches can be conducted on school property by school personnel. Additional language was added to implement a new state law pertaining to the written statements from students.

• » Back to Top