● 55% of white third-graders in Central Denver are meeting grade-level reading benchmarks, while only 3% of Latino students in Southwest Denver are meeting those same benchmarks.
This is particularly distressing to me as the former mayor of Denver because the district was guided by a thoughtful and ambitious strategic plan for so many years–a plan that put students and their academic achievement first.
Case in point: On March 24, the board heard more than five hours of public comment about an executive limitation policy called the Proposal for Standard Teachers Rights and Protections, a policy that at its core significantly limits an innovation school’s ability to retain the most effective teachers. Historically, Denver innovation schools have had greater autonomy over their contracts with teachers, and more control over their school budgets, schedules and academics.
Still, the board voted to approve the executive limitation. Several members acknowledged the pain, confusion, and division their actions had caused–and they voted to approve it anyway.
Maybe the impact over saturation of charters should be considered? What about underfunding & bad legislation? How about instruction time & millions wasted on standardized tests rather than resources for kids, updated neighborhood schools & fair pay for employees?
DPS has the worst school board in the country. The board is filled with political activists like revbrad scott4schools sdesserman That only care about serving the union that bought their election. Our children are suffering due to these inept creeps.
This is what happens when voters refuse to invest in teachers and schools. Wake up Denver.
This is what happens when you have the types of people on school boards, as Denver does, that have no business being there. Wake up Denver.