News Release
October 4, 2004
Commission On Secondary School Reform Colloquium On High School Reform Models Thursday, Oct. 7
The Denver Public Schools Commission on Secondary School Reform will hold a Colloquium on High School Reform Models from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 7 at the Adam's Mark Hotel, 1550 Court Place.
The Colloquium will provide invited participants with an opportunity to learn about nine approaches to school reform that are innovative and effective ways to raise student achievement, close the achievement gap and increase graduation rates. While the focus is on high schools, most of the model developers also work at the elementary and middle school level.
At the beginning of the day, participants will have a chance to visit with each of the model developers and get a brief overview of each approach. They will then choose two models that they would like to learn more about in depth. Each model developer will host a morning and an afternoon workshop to describe their approach in detail. They will also discuss lessons learned and the conditions that must exist for implementation and sustainability at the school and district level. Participants will have ample time for questions and interaction with the model developers.
Featured models: Big Picture Company, Coalition for Essential Schools, Early College High School Initiative, Expeditionary Learning, First Things First, International Partnership Schools, New Technology Foundation, Talent Development, and Project GRAD USA.
The Commission's charge is to make recommendations to the DPS Board that will significantly improve the success of all students, increase graduation rates and lower dropout rates. The Commission will identify priorities for the Board of Education and Denver Public Schools administrators for the use of the funds from the mill levy that voters approved in November 2003. The mill levy initiatives included $2 million earmarked for secondary school reform. The Commission will also suggest how existing resources can be maximized to make positive changes in high school education.
The Commission has 27 members, including students, postsecondary educators, representatives of foundations, think-tanks, businesses and community organizations.
The Commission is co-chaired by Lucia Guzman, vice president of the Denver Public Schools Board of Education, and Dorothy Horrell, president of the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation. Patricia McNeil serves as the executive director of the Commission and Elizabeth Aybar as the assistant director.
The Commission's recommendations are due to the Board of Education in January 2005. The Commission's next meeting is on Friday, Oc. 8 at the Adam's Mark Hotel from 9:30a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
For more information about the Commission, please visit the Commission's website http://dcssr.dpsk12.org or contact Liz Aybar via phone at 303-594-1509 or via e-mail at Elizabeth_Aybar@dpsk12.org.