Brooklyn Garcia, from 5280, sent us information regarding 5280′s Second Annual School Fair. Here is what she shared with us:

“Unlike other fairs, 5280 has created an intimate environment where parents can meet representatives from Independent, Charter, and Public Schools for grades PK-12 to gain a better understanding of what each school has to offer (more than 30 schools in the Denver area will be represented, each with their own unique philosophy and educational programs to share with parents and students). The event is being held on Saturday, October 22nd from 9:00 a.m.- 12:00 noon at the Calvary Temple Auditorium. It’s free and open to the public. Click here to learn further about this event including which schools will be attending.”

Thanks, Brooklyn! Many of you will begin your journey of researching schools for your child. This event would be a great way to collect information on the various schools and programs offered in the Metro Denver area. Be sure to check it out in October!

Also, take a look at 5280′s August Issue – “Transitions”. This section focuses on educational issues here in Denver including commentary on HGT programs, school choice, finding the perfect school fit and changes in DPS.  

Yes, it’s that time of year again, folks, back to school! Honestly, I could’ve enjoyed one more week of summer vacation because I wasn’t ready for the new school year to begin. However, my children were. They began the countdown to school a week before the first bell rang. The thought of early mornings and earlier bed times, preparing lunches, gathering school supplies, and organizing carpools wasn’t exactly something I was looking forward to—not yet anyway. The kids have been in school a total of seven days now and I am slowly coming to terms with all the back to school hoopla including the recycling of routines and anticipation of new beginnings.

Back to school is always a big adjustment period with families. A friend called the other day to tell me her son began first grade and he is not the same child! She said he’s mean and grouchy and she misses her sweet, happy and sensitive first born. I reassured her that this is completely normal behavior. This is her son’s first time in a full-day program and it takes weeks for young children to adjust to new routines. I assured my friend, by the end of September, her son would be back to his old self.

We as parents must exhibit more patience and support for our children during this time. The first few weeks of school can be frustrating because our little ones are tired, learning their way around a new classroom, meeting new friends, adjusting to a new workload, homework, adapting to structure (something they lack with summer vacation), etc. I keep telling myself that life will get easier as soon as everyone gets acclimated to the newness of back to school!

We can’t believe our blog, ScoopToo.com, is going into its third year. We were grateful for the recognition we received last year regarding our blog. When we first started ScoopToo, our hope was to help parents make sense of all the school choice we had in Denver and to empower parents to do their research when it comes to their child’s education. We’ve met many great people along the way and we thank you for your continued support!

Speaking of new routines and a new beginning, ScoopToo has some goals we hope to accomplish this year. Please take a look below:

• Continued School Profiles. Our hope is to visit a half dozen schools this fall and a handful more in 2012. If you’d like us to come visit your school or a school you are interested in learning more about, please be sure to email us. Again, our focus is elementary schools within Denver including public, private, charter and faith-based.
• Transform our “Two Cents” series. We will include more hot topics as well as sharing our own personal parenting experiences, education related or NOT!
• Educational Consulting. We are in the midst of researching the possibility of offering educational consulting services through ScoopToo. With the knowledge we’ve acquired the past couple of years regarding school choice and schools in Denver, this would be a natural next step. Stay tuned…
• Inclusion of guest bloggers. We hope to collaborate with other subject matter experts who willprovide their thoughts or research regarding educational topics.
• Encourage more interaction from our readers. Whether it’s sharing comments in our posts or making suggestions on topics/ideas you’d like to see in the future. We always look forward to hearing from you.

*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

I recently sat down for an interview with Jennifer Piccolo, a mother of two, who is starting a grass roots movement in her Platt Park Neighborhood to help improve their quality of schools.

KB: Please tell me a little bit about yourself.

JP: I am a mother of two young children, ages 5 and 3. We have lived in the Platt Park Neighborhood for five years now. We knew when we moved here that the schools were not up to par but we were hoping that would change in time. My husband and I are both believers in public schools. I also work full-time as a Project Manager for a technology company. I have an MBA but no formal educational background. Education has always been an important issue for me and I’ve become passionate about it since my own children will be starting school very soon. We lived in Dallas prior to moving here to Denver. My husband and I got involved in starting a non-profit outdoor adventure program for inner city kids there. It’s a subsidiary of the program, Trips for Kids http://www.tripsforkidsdenver.org/ here in Denver.  I enjoy running and skiing during my free time.

KB: What is the Platt Park Neighborhood School Committee?

JP: We are a newly formed committee working alongside 3PA (Platt Park People’s Association) to improve the quality of our neighborhood schools through community engagement and advocacy. Our committee started in early January of 2010.

There are two major goals on which we are focusing: The first is community engagement–engaging the community to support our local schools which include Asbury and McKinley-Thatcher (elementary schools), Grant Middle School, and South High School. Our second goal is advocacy for our schools. This would entail partnering with the schools to improve the quality of education while meeting the needs and expectations of parents in the neighborhood. The goal is to have more families choosing their neighborhood school instead of choicing in to other nearby schools.

KB: What is your role within this committee?

JP: I guess I would be the Director of the committee.  My role is to invigorate the community to get involved with the schools and various programs. I also hope to be a facilitator between members of the community and the schools themselves, including Principals of the schools and members of the Parent Teacher Associations.

KB: Why did you want to take on this role and what do you hope to accomplish?

JP: I have been talking about the issue of schools for the last few years with my friends. My children are of school age and I have a vested interest now. Like most parents, I want my children to receive the best possible education they can.

As founder of this committee I hope to accomplish the following:

• Improve quality of schools through partnerships with the principals and PTA
• Find the gaps and needs within a school and lobby the community and school district in helping address them
• Increase fundraising for the schools
• Find individuals to engage in grant writing to improve the quality of educational programs
• Start a tutoring program to increase test scores at the schools
• Improve school websites

And the ultimate goal is to help families see that our neighborhood schools are of value and worth fighting for! The hope is bringing the community together by collaborating with schools to see what their needs are and how the community can better support them. Also, talking with families to learn further about their expectations of what makes a great neighborhood school. The end result is coming together as a community to make this a reality.

KB: What steps do you plan on taking to achieve these goals?

JP: One of the first things I did as Director of this committee was to visit each of the four schools. I met the principals to educate them about our committee and what we hope to accomplish. We plan to learn the needs of each school then decide how we can best support them.

One school needed assistance with its website recently. I found a parent who is currently working on this project. It’s the little things we can address that can lead to the bigger things. We also helped with a couple of recent fundraisers for the school. I hope to create a database of volunteers from within the community who can donate their time an hour a week at a school.

KB: What are your thoughts about sending your children to an under-performing school and how do you think you can overcome the obstacles associated with it?

JP: Currently, the schools in our area are not only racially diverse but socioeconomically diverse as well. Our schools are not in need of the district stepping in to assist, but they are in need of a major transformation. It’s up to us in the community to make that change. I am an optimist. I believe we can come together, work hard, and make a BIG difference. I am a believer in school choice. It creates healthy competition. First and foremost, we as parents must look at our child’s needs then decide which school is most suitable for him or her. With all that said, to improve the quality of education at a school, it’s up to members of the neighborhood to take a stand. I am nervous to start an organization like this, since there are no clear-cut deliverables and outcomes that I’m used to in the business world.  But inaction is just not an option.

KB: What advice would you give to other parents who want to rally around their neighborhood schools to improve the quality of education?

JP: My advice is to just do it! I’ve been talking about schools with my friends for the last four years and now and I am finally doing something about it. You don’t have to know it all. I have no educational background but instead, a passion for quality public schools for my children– all children. Sometimes it’s easier to choice out of your neighborhood school rather than support it. However, imagine the possibilities, if every community made an effort such as this to improve the quality of education by supporting their neighborhood school. Since Grant and South serve various other areas, I’d love to hear from and work with any other community groups that might be interested in a partnership.

Thanks to Jenn and the Platt Park Neighborhood School Committee for taking on this role. It’s not an easy task and they have a long road ahead. The saying, ‘it takes a village’, comes to mind here. We admire Jenn’s passion for education and wish her (and the committee) the best of luck with this quest. We hope Jenn’s interview inspires other parents to get out there and get involved with their child’s school and education!

School: Polaris at Ebert Elementary

Website: http://polarisprogram.dpsk12.org/

Type: Public Magnet – DPS

Tours: Tours run weekly, usually on Mondays at 9:00 and 10:00. Call to schedule an appointment.

Main Phone: (303) 292-4629

Principal: Karin Johnson

Location: 410 Park Avenue West, Denver, CO  80205 (Curtis Park Neighborhood)

Hours: 8:45 AM-3:30 PM

Grades: Kindergarten – 5^th Grade

Average Class Size: There are up to 345 students at Polaris in grades K-5 (26 students per class).  There is ONE Kindergarten class of 25 students, two 1^st grade classes, two 2^nd grade, two 3^rd grade, three 4^th grade and three 5^th grade classes.

Before/After Care: Polaris offers aftercare (Kaleidoscope Corner) as well as a few after school enrichment programs that vary throughout the year.

Facilities/Playground: In 2004, Polaris moved from its original location at Crofton Elementary to the former Ebert Elementary school location in NE Denver. The reason for this move was to have more space as the school grew from 98 students in 2000 to almost 200 in 4 years.  There are two connecting portions of the building, one was the original Ebert Elementary school and then the newer portion built in 2006.  The new construction also included a Learning Landscape playground design with new climbing structures and a turf playing field.

The older portion of the school, where the upper grades have classes, is very dark and somewhat depressing. On the lower floors, the windows are covered in wire mesh (presumably to ward off vandals) and there are exposed pipes on the ceilings. There is a lot more light due to the large windows on the upper floors but it doesn’t hide the fact it’s a very old building.  My husband (who was with me on the first tour) felt it gave the building “character” and it reminded him of the school he went to as a kid.

The gymnasium is also very small but for a K-5 school with 340+ students, I suppose a large gym is not necessary.  The hallways were cluttered with musical instruments art projects, coats, backpacks and various other items that made me wonder what happens during fire drills.

The library is expansive and was designed with highly gifted children in mind.  It contains books that go beyond a typical public school library to support the advanced curriculum.

Special & Core Programs: The Polaris at Ebert program was developed by a woman named Diana Howard in 2000 who was passionate about nurturing the needs of highly gifted children.  She has her Ph.D. from the University of Denver in the field of Gifted Education and for eight years she led the school to be a thriving and coveted educational environment for students (parents) in Denver.

Polaris is built around an accelerated and arts infused education that is intended to be more expansive and go beyond the standard DPS curriculum.  I am told they go “harder, faster, and deeper” into subjects on a global perspective.

There are specials classes that include art, music, drama, dance, PE, tech lab and library time.  On a rotating basis, each student participates in these specials.  Additionally, every Friday, there is a very popular electives program.  Students have the opportunity to choose two different one-hour elective each quarter.

Impressions: It’s a good thing I visited this school on two occasions.  The first time was a year ago, given by an enthusiastic parent, when I was seriously considering their Kindergarten program for my son.  He misses the October 1st DPS cutoff date for Kindergarten by a couple of weeks so we had to get him assessed for Advanced K and Early Entrance.  Beyond all of these various tests and factors, we still would have had to choice in to the program given we are out of their enrollment boundary line.  Needless to say, we chose not to apply given the combination of these factors and the unlikelihood that we would have gotten in.  I also did not feel it was the right kind of environment for my son.

If you have a child with sensory issues or a child that likes a sense of order and structure, I don’t think this would be a positive environment.  Though the Kindergarten classroom is in the newer section of the building, it is heavily cluttered and the environment was tipping the scales toward being raucous. Perhaps this is different than how others have experienced the room on their tours, but mine was quite alarming.  Not only was the classroom jam packed with learning materials it also housed several animal cages – I’m not even sure what type.  I think I saw a bird and a couple of guinea pigs, maybe even a rabbit.  To top it off (and again, maybe I was there on an off day) there were fly strips, yes FLY STRIPS, dangling from the ceiling and flies buzzing around my head.  The entire tour group was swatting them away from our faces for quite some time.  The kids didn’t seem to notice because they were probably used to them, but can you imagine trying to work on a handwriting assignment or read a book and having birds chirping and flies buzzing around your head!

The first and second grade classrooms were much more peaceful and cheery.  They were also quite active though not as disarming as the Kindergarten room.  The lunchroom was also over in this section and sadly, there were tables in the hallway because the room could not accommodate all of the children.

The dichotomy of the lower grades side of the building with the upper grades side of the building is quite stark.  For me, it went from an energy driven buzz (literally) for the younger grades to a more gloomy and cerebral state-of-mind on the older side.  Though it shouldn’t matter much to me as a parent, I do feel that it’s important to know if this type of environment will have a negative impact on your child.  There are some children who might be more sensitive to their surroundings than others.

Getting to the point of Polaris @ Ebert being a school dedicated to serve the unique needs of highly gifted learners, if you sense your child is in this range, you should definitely check this school out.  The approach that Polaris takes is a highly integrated one that nurtures each child in his or her own way.  The talented and highly trained staff explores alongside the children to approach learning in ways that most typical public school children do not.  The teachers have strong partnerships with their students and collaborate with other teachers, staff, parents and community members for their extensive art and science integrated curriculum.

On my second visit to Polaris last week, I did not take the tour but did speak with the Librarian, Gail Axt, to learn her perspective on the school and its students. She was quite impassioned about Polaris and I could tell she had a deep love for the children. I asked about the social and emotional need of children who are highly gifted and how they deal with these issues.  It was made clear to me that the teachers and staff understand the unique needs of children in this range and have experience supporting them.  She led us through what each grade studies and how they strive to integrate art, music and science through their curriculum.  She said “in order to be citizens of the world, children need to be exposed to all parts of the world whether it be history, music, or culture”.

Ms. Axt also spoke very highly of the electives program which happens each Friday in the last two hours of the school day.  Members from the community along with teachers and parents run these electives and they vary each quarter and from year to year.  They might include pottery, craft making, ballet, knitting, yo-yo-ing, bread making, etc.  There is an incredible variety and the options are ever-changing.

I left Polaris @ Ebert much more positive than the first time around. I saw a side of the school that led me to believe that they were not elitist or educational separatists, but a home where children with unique talents and learning abilities can question the world and thrive.

I’d like to offer a point of advice if you really feel strongly about this school and getting your child into the program: If you don’t get in for the Kindergarten year, apply for your child when they are entering 1^st Grade.  There is only one Kindergarten classroom and there are hundreds of applicants for these spots. There are two 1^st Grade classrooms which means that there is an additional 25 spots that open up. Most people have secured a spot elsewhere at this point, and if you can muster keeping your child where they are for one more year, you have a good chance of getting in.  Of course, if you don’t, you will certainly need a back up plan.

Spread the word!  DPS and ScoopToo are co-hosting two Early Education Scoop events on December 10th and January 7th.  The events are designed to help parents navigate the ECE process through DPS.  These educational sessions will cover topics such as tuition, Choice Process, transportation, special needs programming, Advanced Kindergarten, English Language Acquisition, dual-language programming, Montessori programs and before and after school care.  Enrollment experts will be on hand to answer specific questions during the Q&A session following the presentation.

If you or anyone you know is seeking to learn more about this process, please attend this informative event.  Tell your friends, neighbors and playgroup-mates!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Marissa Ferrari, Communications Office, Denver Public Schools, (720) 423-3681 or marissa_ferrari@dpsk12.org

Denver, CO – For the first time, Denver Public Schools and scooptoo.com, a Denver school-focused blog, will host two information sessions designed to make the process of enrolling in preschool and kindergarten easier for parents. The events, billed as the “Early Education Scoop,” are set for Thursday, December 10 at the new Center for Early Education and Thursday, January 7 at Valdez ECE-7 School. Both events will take place from 6:30 – 8:30pm.

The Center for Early Education is located at 3245 E. Exposition Ave., at the corner of Exposition and Steele. Valdez is located at 2525 W. 29^th Ave., directly behind North High School. Attendance and parking at both locations is free.

The Early Education Scoop events will feature Enrollment Experts who can answer parents’ specific questions related to preschool and kindergarten topics of interest, including tuition, transportation, the School of Choice process, special-needs programming, Advanced Kindergarten, English Language Acquisition and dual-language programming, Montessori programs, and before- and after-school care. After a brief overview by the DPS Director of Early Education, each family in attendance will have an opportunity to present their specific questions to an Enrollment Expert as well as tour the host school.

The event agenda is as follows:

6:30 – 6:45pm: Welcome and Registration

6:45 – 7:15pm: Enrollment Overview

7:15 – 8:30pm: Individual Q&A Sessions with Enrollment Experts and School Tours

The Early Education Scoop events are co-hosted by Denver Public Schools and ScoopToo.  Attendance and parking are free. All handouts will be provided in English and Spanish, and Spanish-language interpreters will be present. Learn more at scooptoo.com or by calling (720) 423-3560.

The Board of Education has recommended changes for 6 schools within the Denver Public School system. The recommendations include transforming six low-performing DPS schools into successful schools, proposals for the overcrowding issues at the Stapleton schools, and proposed locations for new schools that would open for the 2010 school year. The board is expected to make their decisions at the end of this month.

Read the entire press release below:

DPS Announces Recommendations for 6 Low-Performing Schools

Denver, CO—The leadership of the Denver Public Schools today made a series of recommendations to the Board of Education for turning around low-performing schools and for locations of new schools that are scheduled to open in the fall of 2010.

“These are critically important decisions that are the result of long conversations, difficult discussions, and careful consideration,” DPS Superintendent Tom Boasberg said. “Our absolute focus is on the decisions that will create the very best opportunities and the very best schools for the children and families of Denver.”

Boasberg also pointed to the Obama Administration’s investment in a broad range of turnaround strategies as another factor in the district’s recommendations. In announcing the contribution of billions of dollars of federal support for school-turnaround efforts, President Obama last week emphasized the importance of focusing on struggling schools. The federal government will be looking at “whether a state is focused on transforming not just its high-performing schools, not just the middle-of-the-pack schools, but the lowest-performing schools,” according to the president. “There’s always excuses for why these schools can’t perform. But part of what we want is an environment in which everybody agrees—from the governor to the school superintendent, teachers, principals, and most importantly parents and students—that there’s no excuse for mediocrity. And we will take drastic steps when schools aren’t working.”

There are now unprecedented resources available, through the multibillion-dollar “Race to the Top” program, to invest in struggling schools—approximately $13 million for DPS over the next three years, if the district meets the federal school turnaround criteria.

“This is some of the toughest and most important work we do—making very difficult decisions about dramatic school changes,” Boasberg said. “I understand the sensitivity of these decisions; they have great impact on our students and families, our teachers and our school leaders. In every school in the district we have wonderfully committed and talented teachers and school leaders working to improve opportunities for our students. We must recognize that commitment and talent and at the same time be willing to recognize some of our schools over the past several years have consistently failed to demonstrate satisfactory progress with their students. To recognize the latter is not to undermine the former. Rather it is to recognize that change is sometimes needed to allow our talented educators to establish and develop the kind of school cultures, atmosphere, and structures to best meet the needs of our students.”

In making the recommendations, the district’s leadership looked at the last four years of student growth data on the School Performance Framework. The six schools—three district-run schools and three charters—evaluated for turnaround strategies have each demonstrated student growth far below district averages over these last four years. The three district-run schools—Philips, Greenlee, and Lake—were the bottom-three performing schools out of the 130 schools on the district’s SPF rankings this year. The three charter schools—Northeast Academy, Skyland, and PS 1—are the three lowest-performing charter schools on the SPF.

Additionally, teams from the Colorado Department of Education performed an intensive diagnostic review on each of the schools. These qualitative diagnostics involve a week-long visit and conversations with school administrators, teachers, staff, students and parents and an evaluation of three areas: Academic Performance, Learning Environment, and Organizational Effectiveness. In each of these six schools, the CDE diagnostics emphasized significant shortcomings in each of these three major areas.

“It is essential that we engage the entire community in a discussion of the issues surrounding these decisions. Our strategies include turning around our lowest-performing schools in order to ensure that all of our students, in every neighborhood of the city, are graduating from our high schools prepared for college or career,” Boasberg added. “We have listened to the parents, students, teachers, and community members, beginning with regional meetings last spring and continuing this fall. We deeply appreciate their input and their commitment to our schools, and we believe these are the actions that will bring about the best outcomes for our students. We will continue to work with parents and the entire community going forward on these recommendations and more broadly on strategies to improve the performance of struggling schools elsewhere in district. ”

The Board of Education will hear public comment on these recommendations and those made last week at its Nov. 16 and Nov. 19 meetings, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The Board is expected to vote on all of the recommendations at its Nov. 30 meeting.

DPS November 9 Recommendations: A Regional Summary

Far Northeast

Proposed Turnaround of Northeast Academy, Charter School—The district has recommended an intensive school transformation initiative, including a comprehensive reorganization of the school’s academic program, in consultation and partnership with an education-management organization.

Proposed Co-Locations of SOAR, DSST, Multiple-Pathway Center at new Green Valley Ranch E-12 Campus

SOAR (charter school): Grades K-5 (over time); would serve 428 students at capacity; will provide a holistic educational approach with rigorous academic instruction and an extended school day; replication of FLI Academy in Harlem, NY—a proven model that has a school-wide proficiency rate of 85% in English language arts and 84% in math; plans to start with about 230 kindergarten through second-grade students in fall of 2010.

Northeast

Proposed Replacement of Philips Elementary School—The district has recommended that Philips be closed and replaced in fall of 2010 with Odyssey Charter School, which currently resides in Westerly Creek Elementary School. Philips’ neighborhood students in grades K-4, would be offered seats at Stapleton schools (Roberts or Westerly Creek) or Park Hill for the 2010-2011 school year. Students who currently choice-in to Philips would return to their home school or choice to other district schools. The Autistic Special Education Center Programs would be re-located to Stapleton schools. Transportation would be provided according to district transportation policy. Boundary changes would be necessary for all students living in the Philips attendance area.

Proposed Closure of Skyland Charter School—The district has recommended that Skyland be closed and its charter contract be non-renewed. The majority of students live in the attendance areas of Manual, East, George Washington and outside the district. Better-performing options are available for those students in these high schools, as well as in Colorado High School Charter and Community Challenge School.

Proposed Solutions to Stapleton Overcrowding—Rapid growth in student demand requires provision of additional capacity; near and mid-term solutions were developed with strong community input and civic leadership, with a focus on high quality schools that reflect the diversity of the Stapleton ring community; relocation of Odyssey Charter School, construction of third elementary school, temporary ECE center in Westerly Creek facility, and boundary change with Philips would address capacity concerns for near and mid–term.

Proposed location of Denver Language School at former Whiteman—The charter school would serve about 470 K-8 students at full capacity and offer full immersion in Mandarin and Spanish; would open with about 200 K-2 students in fall of 2010.

Southeast

Proposed location of Denver Green School at former Fallis—The Performance School would serve about 550 E-8 students at capacity; will implement a flexible, student-centered, standards-based curriculum that will emphasize hands-on and project-based learning with an emphasis on environmental sustainability; would open in fall of 2010 with about 240 preschool-2 and 6th-grade students.

Northwest

Proposed Turnaround/Restart of Greenlee Elementary School—The district has recommended that Greenlee change from a ECE-8 school to a ECE-5 school and that a comprehensive literacy program be implemented for the 2010-2011 school year. Students currently in ECE through grade four would be able to continue at Greenlee next year without disruption. Students currently in grades five, six and seven would be offered seats at Manny Martinez Charter School, which will become a boundary school, or Dora Moore.

Proposed Turnaround of Lake Middle School and Co-Location with West Denver Prep #3—The district has recommended that:

Lake continue as the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program (IBMYP) at Lake International School;
Students currently in grades six and seven be able to continue at the Lake International School in a combined IBMYP 7th and 8th Grade Academy next year without disruption;
The incoming Lake sixth grade class be part of an IBMYP 6th Grade Academy program; and
The Lake facility become a shared campus with West Denver Prep School #3, which would begin operating with sixth grade students in the 2010-2011 school year.

The Lake facility’s capacity is 1000 students, which provides plenty of space for both schools to thrive and grow. As part of this recommendation, Lake’s boundary for the incoming class of 6th-graders in the 2010-2011 school year would be changed. WDP is a charter school that provides a college-preparatory focus, rigorous middle grades education of high standards, structure, and accountability; it is a replication of a proven school model—the only middle school rated as “Distinguished” on the SPF and the only “Distinguished” school with more than 50% of its enrollment eligible for free/reduced-priced meals. The school will serve about 300 6-8 students at capacity. A new boundary would be phased-in starting in the 2010-11 school year for incoming 6th-grade students who live in the Lake attendance area. The Board of Education in June unanimously approved West Denver Prep #3 and #4 for a 2010 opening, with approval specifying that both schools be located in Northwest Denver.

Proposed Location of West Denver Prep #4 at Emerson Street facility—Another replication of the successful charter school at the building that currently houses the Emerson Street alternative school. If approved, the Emerson and P.R.E.P. alternative-education programs would be consolidated into one facility located at P.R.E.P.; each program would continue to offer the same educational and social services previously offered. WDP would have an attendance boundary and serve about 300 6-8 students at full capacity.

Proposed one-year renewal of PS 1 Charter School and replacement through the new-school RFP process—The district has recommended that because this school serves a significant population of students with special needs who lack a strong array of other educational options, the Board grant PS 1 a one-year renewal and replace the school through the RFP process with a new school that can serve the existing students in the fall of 2011.

Check out Kerri getting interviewed by 9 News regarding their joint venture Website: coloradoschoolchoice.org.  Sorry Kerri, but you are no longer an incognito blogger!

The coloradoschoochoice.org is a useful data-driven site if you’re looking for certain statistics on schools.  The specific data included are: maps, CSAP scores, percentage of free & reduced lunches, enrollment/diversity and choice-in numbers.  The site does not include any other significant content at this time.

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School: Stedman Elementary

Website: http://stedman.dpsk12.org/

Type: DPS-Public

Tours: Call ahead to schedule a tour. Best times available to tour are in the mornings from 9:15-11 or the afternoons from 1:30-3:00.

Main Phone: 303.322.7781

Principal: Deborah Johnson-Graham

Location: 2940 Dexter Street, Denver, CO 80207—(north) Park Hill neighborhood

Hours: 8:45 AM-3:45 PM (early release day every other Friday)

Grades: ECE-5^th Grade

Average Class Size: There are approximately 350 students that attend this school. Class size is 25 students or less on average. There is a half-day ECE program for 3 year olds and a half-day and full day ECE for four year olds. It is one of the eight DPS schools that offer Advanced Kindergarten. There is one Advanced K class.

Before/After Care: After school programs are offered to students in various grade levels at different times throughout the school year (e.g. golf, a science club through the Museum of Nature and Science, etc). An after school tutoring program is available for students (M-Th).

Facilities/Playground: The playground is wonderful; everything has had a facelift!  It gives me hope for the school my children attend. The equipment is new, bright, and colorful. The organized play areas on the black top have colorful paint for hopscotch, four-square, and other games.  There was another spacious black top with several basketball nets. Also, there’s a grassy area for organized play and a small community garden that is maintained by the staff, children, and parents at Stedman.

Special & Core Programs: A half-day ECE program for three year olds is offered. It also has a half-day and full day ECE program for four year olds. There is one Advanced Kindergarten classroom at this school.

A strong after school tutoring program is offered to the students. They have to qualify for the Free & Reduced Lunch Program (close to 90% of the students do) and be recommended by their classroom teacher in order to participate. The program runs after school Monday-Thursday by paid teachers. There is even tutoring on Saturdays! Last year approximately eighty children participated. The students spend half their time on a computer working on literacy software called Lexia, the remaining time is spent with a teacher on specific academic needs. The tutoring is for strengthening both reading and mathematic skills. I wonder if this program has contributed to the recent rise in test scores?

Stedman has several partnerships within the community including the Mobile Health Clinic that visits once a month to provide their services to families, Walmart donates items for various events and projects throughout the year, and the community garden which is tended to by students, staff, and parents.

Impressions: Thus far, most of the school profiles we’ve completed have been written about the schools that everyone has been talking about for one reason or another. Today, I visited a school that hasn’t received much buzz with the exception of the recognition it received on the first official day of school this year. Stedman Elementary School, was recognized for its academic growth (one of the best in Colorado).  Students have made tremendous, double digit gains in math, reading, and writing.

Stedman Elementary is located in the northern historic Park Hill neighborhood of Denver. It’s a beautiful old brick building. I didn’t even know it existed until recently when I drove through Park Hill looking for Satchel’s Market. It caught my eye because of the beautifully updated playground. I am always pleasantly surprised to find these old schools in Denver to be so bright and inviting once inside. This was the case at Stedman. The hallways were neat and full of light. Artwork was sporadically hung on the walls. The school has two levels so it was easy to find my way around. I joined a small tour already in progress.  The other two women were interested in the Advanced Kindergarten classroom.

A family liaison escorted us around the building. I love the idea of a family liaison. He was laid-back and the tour was very informal, yet informative. A large part of his job is communicating to the Spanish speaking population at Stedman, running family events at the school, leading tours for parents, and oh yes, he’s the half time computer teacher as well. He’s worked at the school for five years and has recently seen some new, positive changes. Some of these include more teacher retention the last couple of years, an expanding student population (some students and teachers came from nearby Hallett when it closed), and a fairly new, very involved principal. Diversity is welcomed and celebrated at Stedman. The majority of the student population is comprised of African-American and Hispanic students.

Many of the classrooms I visited were cheerful and cozy. I couldn’t help but notice the class size that seemed smaller than many of the DPS schools I’ve toured. Staff seemed friendly and many invited us into their classrooms to take a closer look. The computer lab was smaller in size than others I’ve visited but complete with new Dell computers. The new computers along with several SMART boards, were paid for by the recent technology bond. I visited a few classrooms where the SMART boards were being used. They remind me of a more advanced overhead projector. The SMART boards are basically interactive whiteboards (connected to a computer and digital projector) that help engage students with various learning styles. They are interactive and engaging to children. I haven’t seen many of these and thought it was a great learning tool for the students. The library next door to the computer lab was quite small, however many brand new books filled its shelves thanks to a recent grant they received. The librarian is also the part-time gifted and talented teacher. The auditorium looked a bit dated. I don’t remember seeing any chairs in this room, just carpet, which makes me wonder now if the children sit on the floor for school assemblies. The music teacher also conducts music class in the auditorium due to space issues. Unfortunately, due to budget cuts, there is no art program at this school. Because of this, they do try to provide enrichment programs in art after school.

Their character education program is taught and reinforced constantly through monthly school wide assemblies. Many of the teachers that day were wearing tee shirts with the “RAPPS” logo. School spirit was all around us and it was contagious. And speaking of teachers, not long ago a third grade teacher received a teacher of the year award for her outstanding work facilitating and running the tutoring program after school. How lucky for the students at Stedman!

This year Stedman is trying out a new school wide enrichment program on the early release days that occur every other Friday. The children meet in small groups across grade levels to learn further about a topic of interest. All teachers participate and facilitate the learning. I mean all adults participate in this program, including the janitor who runs an art class and the computer teacher, a guitar class. I loved the idea of all staff partaking in this project, not just the classroom teachers. This is what community and collaboration is all about! It sounds like a promising program where children take an active role in the learning.

The school’s achievements should be applauded but there is still work to be done. Stedman students still perform below the 50% proficiency mark in all subjects of the Colorado Student Assessment Program. However, school officials are hopeful and optimistic that change is on its way in this small school that has deep roots within the Park Hill community. I can see why people have so much hope for a school like Stedman where change is on the way!

To hear directly from Stedman Principal Deborah Johnson-Graham, click here!

We welcome your comments and impressions on your experience with Stedman Elementary.