Drop Out Rate Shows
Significant Improvement

The dropout rate in Denver Public Schools continues to fall.

For 2000-2001, the rate stood at 4.2 percent - down from 5.3 percent in 1999-2000 and 7.4 percent in 1998-1999.

The dropout rate also improved significantly for Hispanic students, who represent more than half of the district’s 72,000 students. In 2000-2001, according to the district’s Department of Planning and Research, the dropout rate for Hispanics declined from 6.9 percent (in 1999-2000) to 4.8 percent last year.

“We are encouraged by the continuing improvement in these numbers,” said Superintendent Jerry Wartgow. “We are pleased that more students are staying in school and making the effort to graduate. We need to keep this trend going in the right direction and we need to make sure that more students earn a diploma.”

In fact, the district’s overall graduation rate is up - from 62.9 percent in 1999-2000 to 64.5 percent in 2000-2001. More American Indian, Asian, and white students graduated in 2000-2001 than the year before.

However, the graduation rate for Hispanic students dropped from 55 percent (1999-2000) to 54.6 percent (2000-2001). The graduation rate for African-American students dropped from 63 percent (1999-2000) to 62.6 percent (2000-2001).

The district’s overall completer rate, which reflects the number of district students who receive a General Equivalency Diploma (GED), dipped from 72.6 percent to 69.9 percent over the same period.

Goals for 2001-2002 School Year Set; Strategies Too

The Board of Education made one key adjustment to the Proposed Goals for 2001-2002 School Year. Under “Closing The Gap Between Better And Poorer Performing Students,” the first listed strategy will now also apply to schools rated as “low” based upon Colorado Student Assessment Program scores. (The initial draft only mentioned “unsatisfactory” schools.) It will now read: “Review practices and programs at schools that have been rated as ‘unsatisfactory’ or ‘low’ based upon CSAP scores, and provide support, resources and research-based ‘best practice’ models to help improve performance.”

More importantly, Superintendent Jerry Wartgow submitted strategies for attaining the districts goals. “What we want to communicate is that these are priorities and we want to get the district behind them,” said Wartgow. “We want to keep spirits up, thank teachers and communicate that they are valued but also communicate a sense of urgency that it not be business as usual.”

The district will attain its goals by focusing resources on improving instruction at each school through implementation of the following strategies:

• Implement value added measurement systems that can be used to monitor and report on student progress on an on-going basis
  
• Monitor implementation of the Board adopted grade specific curriculum that is aligned with district and state content standards
  
• Standardize learning materials within schools and improve consistency and articulation of programs among schools within “feeder patterns”
  
• Develop and implement a plan for providing instructional leaders or coaches in school buildings
  
• Recruit, select, assign and retain high quality teachers and principals
  
• Engage parents and business and community leaders and organizations in a collaborative effort to improve student performance
  
• Foster an environment in which all students are encouraged and challenged to develop to their full potential
  
• Align budget with district goals to ensure that resources are directed to educational priorities
  
• Focus professional development activities on identifying and implementing “best practices” for improving performance
  
• Collaborate with the Denver Classroom Teachers Association to attain district goals
  
• Align and integrate district pay for performance programs with state and district assessment
  
• Develop systems to ensure full compliance with U.S. District Court order for English Language Acquisition
  
• Create a culture in which DPS is recognized as an innovative, responsive, and user friendly organization

Board Endorses Question 100

On November 6th, Denver voters will consider a two-tenths of 1 percent (2 cents on every ten dollars) sales tax increase to be used for children’s services in the City & County of Denver. Last night, the board declared support for the tax (listed as Question 100 on the ballot in Denver.)

The tax will help support services focus on early educational needs and before and after-school programs. The Board agreed quality early childhood education would increase school readiness, and would contribute to the success of the district’s overall educational program.

If approved, the tax would raise about $24 million, to be managed by a commission appointed jointly by Denver’s Mayor and City Council. Denver residents voted against a similar children’s tax referendum last year.

“We have as a city a second opportunity to deliver a message that children are important,” said Board of Education Member Bennie Milliner. “Now those involved citizens went back and more clearly defined how the money will be used making it more meaningful.”

Amended Budget Approved

The Board of Education approved a $508.5 million amended budget this week, including $25.3 million worth of adjustments. Revenue changes include an additional $3.5 million in property taxes, $2 million in state equalization, and $3.7 million in state Amendment 23 funds.

Board member James Mejía lauded the efforts of Superintendent Jerry Wartgow to align the budget to district priorities. “In the past we have struggled with aligning priorities for the collective and greater good with the budget and have sometimes fallen into the trap of budgeting for narrow interest,” said Mejía. “I am very optimistic that the current administrative team realizes the importance of aligning our budget with the collective good.”

Anti-Bullying Policy Under Consideration

The Board of Education is considering a policy that would declare “all types of bullying” as “unacceptable.”

Under the policy, bullying is defined “as any written or verbal expression, or physical act or gesture, or pattern thereof, that is intended to cause distress upon one or more students in the school, on school grounds, in school vehicles, at a designated school bus stop, or at school activities or sanctioned events.”

The policy would allow for appropriate disciplinary action including suspension and/or expulsion based on the severity and “pattern” of the bullying.

The policy also calls for the Superintendent to develop a comprehensive program to address bullying at all grade levels to send a clear message to students, staff, parents and community members that bullying will not be tolerated.

Click here to read the policy.

Report On Use Of Amendment 23 Dollars Headed To The State

Board of Education members approved a report regarding class size information and use of the 1 percent funding increase provided by Amendment 23. In November 2000, Colorado voters approved Amendment 23, providing a boost to public education funding in the state.

The Amendment required districts to report to the state how the additional money will be used. Districts must also provide class size information from kindergarten through grade three and explain reasons why the 1 percent increase was not used for class size reduction or the strategies used to reduce class size.

Among the uses are cost increases associated with opening five new elementary schools and the Dual Language/Montessori elementary school in northwest Denver. Also, eight new elementary teachers and additional reading teachers and teacher-mentors were hired.

Class-size information and a detailed breakdown of how the additional $3.76 million generated for Denver Public Schools will be used can be found the September 7th edition of Board News.

Textbook Allocation Plan Approved

The Board this week approved a plan for spending $1.35 million targeted by the state for textbook funding. The money will be used to purchase new textbooks in the subject areas of reading, writing, mathematics, science, history, and geography.

The final plan for 2001-2001 shows the larger amounts of money will support: Middle School Language Arts Textbooks ($324,060), Elementary English Language Development textbooks ($310,646), and High School English Language Development Textbooks ($213,950). Additionally, $164,168 will support textbooks for high priority elementary and middle schools.

Finally, $46,000 would go to charter schools and the Rocky Mountain School of Expeditionary Learning for their share of the students. Also, $294,476 would be divided among all district schools to purchase new textbooks in the subject areas of reading, writing, mathematics, and science. If sufficient textbooks are available in these areas, funds may be used to purchase new textbooks in the areas of history and geography.

DSA’s Award-Winning Orchestra Releases Third CD

The Denver School of the Arts (DSA) Orchestra has released its third compact disc. Titled “Strings Away” the CD features Symphony Number 23 in D and Symphony Number 35 in D Major by Mozart, Symphony Number 1 in C Major by Beethoven, “In Trutina” from Carmina Burana by Carl Orff, and a contemporary piece, “You Are the New Day,” by John David. The works are performed by the school’s award-winning 6th through 12th grade orchestra.

Proceeds from CD sales will be used to help purchase a new harpsichord and to fund orchestra trips. The CDs are available for $15 each, plus $3.00 for shipping and handling, by contacting DSA Orchestra Director Frank Fyock at (303) 722-4669. The orchestra released its first CD, “First Impressions,” and its second, “Introspection,” last year.

The Denver School of the Arts Orchestra was created in 1992 to provide talented young musicians from throughout metro Denver with the opportunity for artistic growth in a challenging orchestra environment. The Denver School of the Arts is a Denver Public Schools magnet school founded in 1991.

CONTACT:
Frank Fyock (303) 722-4669
Pam Avery (303) 433-4922

Board Notes

The Board of Education accepted the following agreements, amendments, and reports during Thursday night’s meeting:

• Agreement between the Amalgamated Transit Union and the school district.
  
• Amendment of the effective date for a 6.0% salary increase for part-time employees for the Communication Workers of America to September 1, 2001
  
• Amendment of the effective date for a 4.08% salary increase for full-time employees for the Communication Workers of America to September 1, 2001
  
• Construction Advisory Committee’s Final Report for the Lake Middle School Eight-Classroom Addition Project
  
• Construction Advisory Committee’s Final Report for the Denison Montessori School Library/Science Room Addition Project
  
• Use of Additional Contingency Funds for the West High School Library Addition/Renovation Project

School Psychologist Week, October 15-19

The Board of Education and the National Association of School Psychologists proclaimed October 15-19 School Psychologist Week in Denver Public Schools. “Everyone agrees that school psychologists play a vital role,” said Board of Education Member Lucia Guzman. The proclamation describes how school psychologists provide a key service by:

• Supporting families, schools and the community in meeting the academic and mental health needs
  
• Consulting with parents, teachers, and other professionals to promote
  student well-being and achievement
  
• Helping to evaluate the academic and social-emotional needs of students
  
• Providing Violence & Drug & Alcohol prevention/intervention programs
  for all students and their families
  
• Teaching effective coping and problem-solving skills through individual
  and small group counseling
  
• Encouraging communication and cooperation between school, home, and communities agencies
  
• Advocating sound educational practices for all students