October 22, 2004

Four Charter Schools Present Plans

Four charter school applicants presented proposals this week to the Board of Education (DPS currently offers 17 charter schoolsa). The Board will hear feedback about the proposals at the November 4 public comment session beginning at 6 p.m. and is expected to a make decision on December 2 about whether to accept the proposals. Schools that are accepted would open in the 2005-2006 school year.

Charter schools receive public funding but may receive waivers from the local board of educations’ policies and procedures. Each charter school has its own governing body and determines its own enrollment.

Following is a recap of each proposed school:

21st Century Charter School at Denver (grades K-12)

The 21st Century Charter School at Denver would be a K-12 school in Montbello modeled after a similar school in Indianapolis. The model was developed by the Indianapolis-based Greater Educational Opportunity Foundation, which would manage the daily operations of the school in Denver. The school intends to open serving 270 students ages five to 13, enrolling 30 students per age level. The school would expand an age level each year until it reaches 390 students K-12 in 2009-2010. The proposed staffing ratio is one teacher to 25 students with an anticipated 60 percent of students being at risk. The school intends to be in session 194 days per year. The model is based on a self-paced, computer-based curriculum for every child in a multi age setting that preserves dignity while addressing the academic needs of students. Each student will have an Individualized Learning Plan and will not be considered for promotion to a specific grade level until 80 percent of the state’s standardized skills have been mastered up to that level. Teachers will serve as mentors and guides and inspire students to own the learning process. The learning will be personalized according to student interests and learning styles. Each student will be required to demonstrate mastery of life skills needed to lead positive and productive lives.

Academy Internacional (grades 6-8)

Academy Internacional intends to open with 308 students in sixth through eighth grade, growing to 484 students. The applicants propose a rigorous, international studies middle school program as put forth by the national middle level association and used by many urban school districts throughout the country. It is intended to enhance second language acquisition through content immersion in Spanish. The educational program includes all content areas required in Colorado’s accreditation process and provides for a dual language approach to instruction. Class size would not exceed 25 students per class. The school would hire one teacher per class and approximately one and a half teacher assistants for every two teachers. The school intends to hire Academica (a Florida-based company that assists 18 charter schools in Florida and Utah) to manage the operation of the school and would occupy a temporary building near 2500 Curtis St. in year one, with plans to build a facility opening in August 2006 in northwest Denver.

Baker Arts and Technology Academy (grades K-8)

The Baker Arts and Technology Academy applicants propose to contract with Mosaica Education, Inc. to open in year one with 450 students in grades K-5, adding one grade per year through eighth grade to reach a total of 675 students. The applicants intend to create a school that offers in the morning intensive study and skill building in reading, writing and mathematics across the disciplines and immerses students in the afternoon in the exploration of great ideas and great thinkers across the disciplines. The school will have a full-day kindergarten program, a school day extended by one hour, a school year extended by 20 days, Spanish instruction beginning in kindergarten, a three-to-one student to computer ratio, and an after-school tutorial program and a before- and after-school care program. The applicants might install video cameras in all classrooms and common areas to monitor security and use for training and assessment purposes. TV monitors would be accessible for parents to view in the school office in order to monitor their child’s activities. The applicants would locate close to I-25 and Alameda Ave. with enrollment priority for students residing between Mississippi and Sixth avenues and Sixth Ave. and Lincoln St.

Denver Peak Academy (ages 15-20)

The Denver Peak Academy charter school applicants propose to collaborate with Urban Peak Denver, Colorado Youth Charity and the Jared Polis Foundation to establish a small high school with a projected enrollment of 40 students in year one growing to a total of 130 students with an option to serve a maximum of 200 students. The proposed school would serve 15- to 20-year-olds who are experiencing the challenges of homelessness or unstable living situations. Classes will offer a student/teacher ratio of no more than 15:1; an individualized academic program that allows students to progress based on competency not seat time; a consistent tutoring program; and a support team that includes the student, advisor, mentor and/or guardian, teacher, case manager and employment counselor. The school also will provide opportunities for students to participate in college-level courses, vocational technical school and a senior seminar course. The school plans to be located close to Urban Peak Denver (1669 S. Acoma St.) so students can utilize the cafeteria and intensive wraparound services including employment and housing assistance, case management, healthcare, substance abuse counseling and shelter.

 

ProComp: What’s Happening, What’s On The Way?

In about a year and a half, ProComp will have arrived in all Denver schools. That’s what Assistant Superintendent John Leslie told the Board of Education this week during an update on the new Professional Compensation System for Teachers (ProComp), a groundbreaking system designed to reward teachers for professional accomplishments and more closely link teacher compensation to the district’s instructional goals.

Under the plan, teachers will be rewarded for improving student achievement, receiving successful professional evaluations, working in the most academically needy schools and improving their skills and knowledge.

Members of the Denver Classroom Teachers Association and the Denver Board of Education approved the plan in the spring. Fourteen different work groups are busy assembling the nuts and bolts.

Making a fast break from the starting block, the Professional Evaluation work group is field testing a teacher evaluation system in 31 schools this year. The draft system gives teachers expanded avenues to demonstrate their teaching accomplishments and skills.

"This is a learning year, a year for us to get up and running," said Connie White, who co-chairs with Leslie the 10-member ProComp Transition Team.

By July 2006, ProComp will be in full swing. Teachers who join the new system will receive pay increases for meeting their annual student growth objectives and other elements of ProComp. Teachers could begin to opt in as early as January 2005 if voters approve a $25 mill levy override expected in November 2005.

For more information, go to: http://www.denverprocomp.org.

 

Board Sets District Priorities

For the fourth consecutive year, the Board of Education this week set annual priorities for Denver Public Schools.

"We have tried hard over the years to narrow the priorities and really focus our vision," said Board member Elaine Gantz Berman.

The 2004-2005 priorities are:

• Recruit, support and retain high quality teachers, administrators and other district employees for all levels at DPS.
• Continue consistent implementation of Denver’s literacy and mathematics programs and begin to establish consistency in curricula across the district in other subject areas and grade levels.
• Develop a plan to expand choice and begin implementation with the goals of increasing achievement and satisfaction and growing district enrollment.
• Develop a plan to reform and restructure secondary schools to improve student achievement, close the learning gap and increase the graduation rate.
• Improve the performance and image of the district through a responsive, customer-oriented, user-friendly organizational culture.
• Provide a safe and secure learning environment for all students and staff.

 

Got Kids?
Got Choices!

School Fair November 30

Mark your calendars for the DPS "Got Kids? Got Choices! School Fair" from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, November 30 at North High School, 2960 N. Speer Blvd. (just west of I-25 and Speer Blvd.).

The DPS Choice program allows students to attend a school other than one in their immediate neighborhood. Students can apply to any DPS school during the Choice enrollment period, which is the entire month of January. (Middle and high school magnet programs and elementary and middle school highly gifted applications have an earlier deadline: Friday, December 10).

Learn about the variety of choices available to your family. Hear what the Superintendent has to say. Meet principals and staff from many area schools.

Specially trained "choice counselors" will be available to meet with individual parents and discuss student issues and what opportunities might be available to meet individual needs. Copies of the district’s new 2005 enrollment guide also will be available.

The manager of the School of Choice Office will explain the Choice program at 6:15 p.m. and again at 7:15 p.m.

Superintendent Jerry Wartgow will speak at 6:45 p.m. "Choice counselors" will be available throughout the evening to answer individual questions.

Don’t miss this great opportunity to learn what Denver Public Schools has to offer you. For more information, please contact the Communications Office at 720-423-3414 or the School of Choice Office at 720-423-3493.

2005-2006 Enrollment Deadlines

Friday, December 10, 2004

• Middle and high school magnet applications
• Gifted and talented magnet applications

Monday, January 31, 2005

• Elementary school magnet applications
• First round of Choice enrollment (to attend a school other than your neighborhood school)

August 2005

• Second round of Choice enrollment

 

Board Notes

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

• An award of request to Qwest Communications to provide networking switches solutions.
• An award of invitation to bid to Global Technology Resources, Inc. to provide Cisco equipment maintenance.
• A one-year agreement with Microsoft Corporation to continue the district-wide license agreement for Microsoft Windows operating systems and Microsoft Office software.
• A construction contract for the addition and upgrade project at the CEC Middle College of Denver.
• A land purchase at Stapleton for a new bus terminal (to replace the Hilltop facility).
• A resolution approving the Task Force on Early Education and School Readiness.
• The Institute for Learning independent contractor services agreement between the University of Pittsburgh and DPS.
• A new policy DK, Payroll Deductions/Direct Deposit/Expense Reimbursement to replace existing policies and also revised policy JIH, Student Interrogations, Searches and Arrests to comply with changes in law.

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