November 5, 2004
One Charter School Application Supported By District SIAC
The District School Improvement and Accountability Council (DSIAC) offered its formal recommendations on the four charter school applications currently pending before the Board of Education. The DSIAC’s analysis is required under the state’s Charter Schools Act.
Of the four, DSIAC urged approval of only one application – Denver Peak Academy, proposed as a secondary school serving primarily homeless youth 15-20 years of age. The school would be operated by the non-profit agency Urban Peak, which would also provide a variety of social services to students.
DSIAC lauded the fact that the school would target a population that is underserved in DPS and surrounding districts and that the school would focus its efforts on re-engaging students in the learning process.
In addition, DSIAC approved of the block scheduling in a small school setting that would allow open-entrance, open-exit for students.
"The people involved with the project are true experts in working with the highly mobile population of young people that would likely enroll in the school," noted the DSIAC report. "The design of the program is appropriate for the teenagers who would participate, and the wrap-around services to be provided by Urban Peak would add to the likelihood of the program being successful. Its location is ideal, and substantial additional funding from both public and private sources is almost certain."
DSIAC indicated in its report that it "wholeheartedly" supports the Denver Peak Academy application.
About the proposed 21st Century Charter, DSIAC found a number of strong points, including a curriculum that would include teaching study skills and strong character development. The council’s report also praised the lack of social promotion in the program – students would move to the next level of instruction only after mastering material being studied.
However, DSIAC also raised a number of concerns in the 21st Century Charter, including using an unproven curriculum. The applicants also lack a site and "we didn’t see the fingerprints of the neighborhood parents and educators" in the Montbello area where this program is intended to start, said DSIAC member and parent Kurt Starr.
DSIAC urged denial of the current application but urged the 21st Century Charter applicants to return for another try next year.
Academy Internacional’s concept is strong and planning a new facility is a good idea, said Starr in presenting the committee’s report.
However, the application lacked specificity in the curriculum and the "application is ambiguous in describing the proposed content instruction in Spanish," said the report. In addition, although the program is described as international, the only component of the curriculum that has an international aspect is a commitment to incorporating Hispanic culture. It makes no mention of Europe, Asia or the Middle East."
BATA – the Baker Arts and Technology Academy – would be operated by Mosaica education, but DSIAC found Mosaica’s track record within Denver is below the performance of regular district schools. Essentially, said Starr, there is no indication that the model deserves replication.
The applicants also do not yet have an identified school site and the community support "appears to be of a general nature and to have been generated only very recently after the application was submitted," the report noted.
Choice Resolution Passes; Enrollment Of Denver Students Underscored
Board members this week unanimously adopted a resolution reaffirming their commitment to expanding choices to better meet Denver student and family needs, although they disagreed about whether the new decree explicitly should prioritize enrolling Denver students over those who live out of the district.
"We need to make sure that when we’re planning choice options, they’re specifically for Denver students and that Denver students are the priority," said Board member Michelle Moss.
Board members voted four to three to amend the resolution to spell out in particular that "options should be developed for Denver students in order to facilitate student achievement and parent satisfaction."
Board member Bruce Hoyt opposed the changes to the original wording, citing that some school programs benefit from students living in neighboring school districts – that in some cases, out-of-district enrollment could maintain the integrity of an educational program.
"I can see instances where we might be better served not to prioritize Denver students," said Hoyt. "For example, at the Sandoval dual language program, you need a specific percentage to make the program work. If you’re not able to draw a sufficient number of Spanish-speaking kids, you wouldn’t want to preclude the enrollment of Spanish speakers from outside the district."
Moss explained that her proposal to identify Denver students in particular is "to be sure we’re giving priority to Denver students, not excluding out-of-district students once Denver kids have been considered."
The final resolution is an outgrowth of an August Board retreat examining educational options in Denver Public Schools. With the objective to expand choices to improve student achievement and encourage more Denver families to choose a public school in Denver, the resolution establishes four overarching core values to guide policy development and revision related to choice:
- Quality choice is a means of facilitating a high level of achievement, not an end itself.
- Choice options should be developed for Denver students in order to facilitate student achievement and parent satisfaction.
- All schools, including schools of choice, must be subject to strong, objective, annual accountability.
- Developing schools of choice is not a substitute for strong neighborhood schools.
The resolution directs staff to actively seek to expand choice (within available resources) consistent with the above core values and specifically to propose by next month any revisions to existing policies or new policies consistent with the intent of the resolution.
Schools Awarded Nearly $1 Million For After-School Programs
More than 75 DPS elementary and middle schools and other agencies serving youth in the community received grants yesterday totaling $955,000 through the "Lights on Afterschool!" partnership among the Mayor’s Office for Education and Children, Denver Public Schools Foundation and Mile High United Way.
Free after-school programs will offer a wide variety of arts, academics and athletics one to five days a week. Examples include: competitive after-school sports for more than 4,000 students, tutoring and homework help, math and technology instruction, nutrition education, choir, dance and other activities designed to offer students positive, safe learning environments between the hours of 3 and 6 p.m.
Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, Superintendent Jerry Wartgow, DPS Foundation President Steve Katich and United Way President Michael Durkin were on hand at Ashley Elementary School on Thursday to announce the news. This is the second round of "Lights on Afterschool!" funding awarded in the past year to Denver elementary and middle schools.
Quality after-school programs lead to improved attitudes toward school, increased attendance and improved grades and test scores. An annual investment of $300 per youth for positive development activities is less expensive than the per-youth costs of juvenile incarceration at $47,400 or intervention costs at $4,540 when youth engage in high-risk behaviors.
"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.
2005-06 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
Apply For 2005-2006 Advanced Kindergarten
This all day, tuition-based program is provided at four elementary schools. It is designed to provide an appropriate environment for kindergarten students with advanced academic needs. Scholarships are available. The application deadline is Friday, December 10, 2004.
State and district standards are enriched, accelerated and expanded to meet the needs of advanced students. All students who apply will be tested in January and February 2005. There is a $50 screening fee and, if qualifying for the program, a $50 application fee. Fees are non-refundable with assistance available. Transportation is not provided.
The schools providing Advanced Kindergarten are Palmer Elementary School, 955 Grape St.; Edison Elementary School, 3350 Quitman St.; Polaris Program at Ebert, 410 Park Ave. West; and Gust Elementary School, 3440 W. Yale.
Information and applications are available at the schools, from the Gifted and Talented Education Department, 303-405-8275, or online at http://gt.dpsk12.org.
Board Notes
In other action this week, the Board of Education approved:
- The appointment of Velma Rose, Chief Financial Officer, to the Board of Education position on the DPS Retirement System Board of Trustees for a term of four years expiring Dec. 31, 2008.
- The purchase of aircraft hangars for the Emily Griffith Opportunity School Aircraft Training Center.
- Amendments to the contract between DPS and the Communication Workers of America (custodial staff).