Statement of Beliefs

The Board and the Association share the belief that providing a high quality education for the children of Denver is the paramount objective of the District. Both parties affirm that the educational program should be sensitive to the needs and aspirations of children regardless of race, color, ethnic background, creed or economic status. This is reflected in the mission statements adopted by the Denver Classroom Teachers Association and the Denver Public Schools:

The mission of the Denver Public Schools, the center of community learning, is to guarantee that our children and youth acquire knowledge, skills, and values to become self-sufficient citizens by providing personalized learning experiences for all students in innovative partnerships with all segments of the community.

The Denver Classroom Teachers Association is a professional organization of recognized educational leaders. We advocate for the rights and responsibilities of all educators, and for an ethical system of quality public education for all students.

Quality teaching and high teacher morale promote positive learning environments for students. Attaining the educational goals of the Denver Public Schools requires mutual understanding and cooperation between the Board and the Association. To this end, good-faith negotiations between the Board and the Association with a free and open exchange of views are desirable.

In negotiating this Agreement, the Board and the Association, with the concurrence of the Community, have three major goals for joint school reform efforts:

• Greater success for all students as reflected in higher achievement.
• A significantly higher completion rate that moves the District toward its goal of graduating all students from the K-12 educational program.
• An improvement in the Community's level of confidence that the Denver Public Schools, as an institution, provides effective education for all students.