*BE SURE TO WATCH CBS4 ON TONIGHT’S 5:00 AND 6:00 NEWS!  (Davis Guggenheim will be interviewed during the first hour and Kerri from ScoopToo will be interviewed during the second hour regarding school choice here in Denver.) The segment on ScoopToo will air around 6:45 PM.

ScoopToo was privileged to attend a special private screening of Waiting for “Superman” last night courtesy of our friends at Stand For Children.  The much talked about Documentary film by Director Davis Guggenheim is about the failing education system in America.

The film is an eye-opener and one that will hopefully create more than a stir of action as it did for Guggenheim’s Oscar winning film, An Inconvenient Truth.  The recognition that there is a problem isn’t enough; it’s the action that matters.

We can say that we are lucky to have the option of “choice” in Denver, however, that choice system isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.  Most public schools that are successful and progressive have few to no slots available for choice-in students.  So, parents are back to square one in going to either their neighborhood school or playing the “lottery” with a charter school – this of course, if private is not an option.

What we need to do is shed a light on schools (public, private, parochial and charter) around Denver that are making progress, that are high-growth or making positive gains each year, that are taking action against the failure of education (and by default our kids) in this country. We must also spotlight teachers and principals that are going above and beyond what is expected of them, for the sake of our children.

Parents need to invest in, and investigate other options that might not be the obvious choice.  That’s where ScoopToo.com comes in.  We are looking to put a spotlight on all schools but really give you a stronger understanding of what ELSE is out there and how you can make the right choices for your child.  As Davis Guggenheim said in the Documentary, Waiting for “Superman”, about the current state of education in America, “We place our children and their future in the hands of luck.”  The only option now is to get motivated and take a stand against this deterioration.

Beyond raising awareness and creating a buzz, there are many ways you can take action instead of sitting on the sidelines and hoping for luck.  All of these organizations are taking action – on a local level – for children and education in Colorado.  Here are a few options:

• Vote “NO” on Amendment 60 & 61 and “NO” on Proposition 101
• Study up on Senate Bill 191 –The bill creates a strategy based on educator effectiveness to develop greater opportunities for educators and enhance education for students throughout Colorado.

• Colorado Children’s Campaign – www.coloradokids.org
• Stand For Children – www.stand.org
• Colorado I Have a Dream Foundation – www.cihadf.org
• Colorado Kids Can’t Wait- www.coloradokidscantwait.org
• Support State Senator Mike Johnston—www.mikejohnston.org/about-mike

We will admit that the film conjured feelings of hopelessness at times, but it also made us feel inspired that change needs to occur and we must all do our part!

There seems to be some confusion surrounding charter schools. Are they public or private? Who can get in? And, how much do they cost? These are some frequently asked questions we have encountered. There has also been a lot of buzz about charter schools in the news lately, on a national level as well as here in Denver.  Just last year, there were 10 new approved charter schools in Denver County.  Well, readers, we have the answers for you!

We met with Stacy Rivera and Donnell Rosenberg from the Colorado League of Charter Schools and asked them to give us an overview. They wrote up a comprehensive explanation and included some additional resources for you to check out below:

Charter schools have become a popular buzz word recently, first in the presidential debates, then in the news, and most recently on Oprah and in an upcoming major motion picture, Waiting for “Superman”.

But what is not always clear is…what exactly is a charter school and how can a parent know if a charter school is the right fit for their child?

The simple answer is this: Charter schools are tuition-free, public schools that offer parents additional choices within in the public education system. Charter schools foster a partnership between parents, teachers and students to create an environment in which parents can be more involved, teachers are given the freedom to innovate and students are provided the structure they need to learn.  And in return for this freedom, charter schools are held highly accountable for student performance.

Curriculums at charter schools range widely and no two charters are the same. In Colorado, some charter schools offer a more traditional core knowledge curriculum, while others offer programs such as Montessori, project based, college preparatory, early college high school, and more. And particularly in the Denver/metro area, parents will also find an array of charter schools serving very specific niches from schools that tailor to girls only, to schools that offer an entrepreneurial focus, to schools focused on science and technology, and the list goes on.

While we are fortunate to have so many public school options in Colorado, the rapidly expanding choice can make the process of choosing a school rather daunting for parents.  So how does a parent go about investigating and selecting the school that is the best fit for their child’s learning style?

It is important for parents to be informed consumers, just as they are when selecting doctors, day care providers, and grocery stores. First, we recommend visiting the websites of a few schools that are of interest. Then check out their academic performance on the Colorado Department of Education’s website: SchoolView.org, and finally call each school and schedule an appointment to meet the principal and take a tour, as well as ask any questions you may have. Sometimes simply visiting the school and getting a sense of its culture can be the biggest indicator of whether or not it will be a good fit for your child. And most importantly, remember to always trust your mommy or daddy instinct.

Here are some questions you might want to think about as you begin to visit research schools.

• What type of curriculum does the school teach?  Is it a traditional, broad based curriculum, or does it focus on one area of interest in particular like science and math, the arts, or foreign language?
• What is the reputation of the school?  Are other parents pleased with the education their kids are receiving there?  What kind of test results does the school have as compared to the other schools in the district and the state?
• What is the school’s instructional philosophy?  What do they value as a school?
• Does the school require a uniform?
• Does the school ask for a commitment from the parents regarding volunteer hours or homework help?
• Does the school provide transportation?

A great book about charter schools is Charter Schools: The Ultimate Handbook for Parents, written by Karin Piper, a charter school parent in Parker, CO. In addition, the Colorado League of Charter Schools’ website is a great resource loaded with facts about charter schools, as well as a “school finder” where you can search for charter schools by name, city, county, district or even educational program or grade level.

Another way to be in the know about charter schools and public school choice is to join the Colorado Charter Advocacy Network (Colorado CAN). This is an email listserv hosted by the Colorado League of Charter Schools that alerts parents when issues arise at the State Capitol that could affect charter schools, such as budget cuts, caps on growth, etc. It’s also a great way to find out if your elected officials are supportive of quality school options in your neighborhood. Learn more and sign up at www.coloradoleague.org and click on the “Take Action” link.

The Colorado League of Charter Schools is a non-profit, membership organization that supports the 170 charter schools in the state by providing them an array of services such as professional development, consulting, research, communications assistance, advocacy, and much more. Currently charter schools in Colorado serve over 70,000 kids and represent 8.6% of the total K-12 public school enrollment in the state. For more information, visit www.coloradoleague.org or call 303-989-5356. We are always happy to answer questions from parents who are navigating their many public school options.

Click to read Time Magazine article about Charters from Andrew Rotherham : Charter Schools: The Good Ones Aren’t Flukes

Be sure to save the date, October 23rd 2010, for 5280 Magazine’s first ever city wide school fair hosted by Laura Barr from e.merging Educational Consulting and the Girls Athletic Leadership School. Learn more about Denver’s private, public, and charter schools and what programs they have to offer. The event will be held on Saturday, October 23rd from 9-11:00 am at the Calvary Temple Auditorium. For more details visit this site: www.5280.com/schoolfair2010.

School: ROCKY MOUNTAIN SCHOOL of EXPEDITIONARY LEARNING (a.k.a. RMSEL “rem-zul”)

Website: http://www.rmsel.org/

Type: RMSEL-Public School of Choice (BOCES-Board of Cooperative Educational Services)

Open Houses/Tours: Tours are on the first Thursday of every month (except April) September through May at 8:30 AM.

Admission Process: Please visit the enrollment page of the RMSEL Website for full details.

Main Phone: 303-759-2076

Hours: 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM

Executive Director: Kerry Lord

Operations Director (and Enrollment): Leann Asgari

Location: 1700 South Holly Street, Denver, CO 80222 (Hampden / Virginia Vale Neighborhood)

Ages/Grades: K-12

Average Class Size: 24 – never to exceed 25

Before/After Care: Afterschool programs are run by the YMCA as well as various enrichment programs run by parents, staff and community members.

Facilities and Playground: RMSEL is located in the former Ash Grove Elementary school in southeast Denver. The building is old and certainly nothing special to look at.  The playground, though I didn’t get much of a tour of the outside, looks aged and in need of a serious upgrade too.  This is one of those cases where you simply can’t judge a book by its cover.  There is a lot more to RMSEL than meets the eye. 

Special & Core Programs: The RMSEL philosophy is based on the principles of Outward Bound and organizes its curriculum around multidisciplinary learning expeditions. They place a high value on interdisciplinary learning, collaborative learning, active engagement in real issues, content and skills, development and demonstrations of deep knowledge, higher-order thinking skills and effective communication, service and character.  The have the usual PE, art and technology specials and once students reach the high school grades they have Spanish.  Due to budgetary issues, the music and Spanish programs have been limited.

Impressions: If there is any indication of how great a school is by how crowded the open houses are, then the Rocky Mountain School of Expeditionary learning must be something very special.  It was a snowy and freezing morning yet there must have been 80-100 brave and interested souls crowding the auditorium.  I was greeted by just about the cutest and friendliest students (one 5^th grader and one 6^th grader). At the door they directed me into the room and over to a table where the Director of Operations, Leann Asgari, stood answering questions and explaining the nuances of the student portfolios on display.  The wall was painted with the school motto: “We Are Crew Not Passengers.” Now how about that!  A school that encourages students to be leaders and not followers that requires being involved and not going along for the ride, and one that develops and nourishes each student’s talents by allowing the study of personal interests.  Education at RMSEL is about taking a journey; not simply a ride through mandatory subject matter.

RMSEL has been accredited as a “School of Distinction” which includes high graduation rates (last year it was 100%), student satisfaction and rigorous academic standards. What makes this particularly interesting is just as the students are continually learning, so too are the staff.  The teachers at RMSEL spend at least two hours a week (after or before school hours) on continuing education – they are expected to do so or they will not last long at the school.

As I sat there and listened to the Executive Director, Kerry Lord, and the Administrative Director, Keri Melmed, speak passionately about their school, I felt inspired by their enthusiasm and dedication to a community of thinkers and doers.  What I keep trying to remember is that as we look at schools, we cannot forget that it is our children that will be spending their days in this environment.  Is it the right place for them – not us?  Do we like or dislike this school because of our own mores and values or do our little ones need a school like this to help them blossom into the person they are already beginning to be?

Of all of the school tours and open houses I’ve been to, I felt the most informative and helpful to be those that included the students in the mix.  There really is no excuse for leaving out the exact people that your children will be exposed to as peers.  At RMSEL, those that greeted me were 5^th graders and 6^th graders.  Every DPS, private, faith-based, charter, etc. goes up to at least 5^th grade.  There couldn’t be a better way to teach leadership, social skills and self-confidence than having them greet or speak to adults.  At RMSEL, a panel full of students, 5^th through 12^th grade spoke about their experiences at the school.  They were articulate and exuded confidence and pride in their school.  Their little hearts may have been beating with fear– but we never would have known it.  How many of you can get up in front of a crowd of 100 people and speak without notes or serious medication?!

While visiting the classrooms, once again, they were nothing special too look at but what was within those walls did seem special.  The students were engaged, friendly and by the sheer number of wool hats being worn, sure didn’t mind that it was freezing cold in the building!  I witnessed two way communications between students and teachers.  Groups of students in a classroom are called a “crew” – which is their motto. The kids encourage fellow classmates in their crew.

It may be too early to tell, but if your child is showing signs of interest in exploration or design or oceanography or physical fitness – perhaps botany or paleontology or photography or sustainability, this might be the school for them.  Though the students are encouraged to explore any subject which is of great interest to them, more often than not, it seemed to be something in the area of the sciences.  No matter what the interest, it was clear that each student, throughout their years, is strongly encouraged by crewmates and staff and become heavily invested in succeeding.   

It’s that time of year again folks! Many of you will be starting your school search soon. You may be asking yourself all sorts of questions, in particular, where do I begin? You want the SCOOP? You got it. Below are some of our first posts (many of which were buried in past archives) that can help get you started. We think you will find them both informative and helpful because finding the right school can be a bit daunting to say the least. After reading some of these articles we hope you walk away feeling recharged and ready to do your “homework.”

Getting Started
Testing: Who Needs It?
Choices, Choices, Choices….School of Choice Process
Options for Kindergarten—Part I—Full Day vs. Half Day
Options for Kindergarten—Part II—Redshirting
Options for Kindergarten—Part III—Kindergarten Twice