DPS Board News
August 5, 2005
This edition of Board News highlights brief notes and key decisions from the Denver Board of Education's August 4 meeting:
CSAP Results Show Boost In Math Scores At Every Grade Level
Joy McLarty, Executive Director of Assessment and Testing, summarized for the Board of Education on Thursday Denver's new scores on Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP) tests. The state released 2005 results earlier in the week.
This year, more Denver students than ever before scored proficient or advanced in math at every grade level measured by CSAP tests. Denver's fifth, sixth and seventh graders made the greatest gains in math:
- 41% of fifth graders are proficient or advanced (up 6 points, representing a 17% increase)
- 31% of sixth graders are proficient or advanced (up 6 points, representing a 24% increase)
- 21% of seventh graders are proficient and advanced (up 4 points, representing a 24% increase)
Other district CSAP highlights include significant gains in sixth and seventh grade writing:
- 36% of sixth graders are proficient or advanced (up 4 points, representing a 13% increase)
- 31% of seventh graders are proficient or advanced (up 4 points, representing a 15% increase)
In all, 29 CSAP tests were administered this year compared to 27 in previous years; third and fourth graders were tested in math for the first time. Despite overall gains in 19 of 27 tests for which comparisons from the previous year are available, the gap in achievement among Denver's students continues.
Many Denver schools are making significant increases in the percentage of students scoring at or above proficient and decreasing the percentage of students receiving unsatisfactory scores, but Denver is not sufficiently consistent district wide in achieving gains.
See "For More Information" in this edition of Board News for a copy of the complete CSAP report from the August 4 Board of Education meeting. School-by-school Denver CSAP results are available on the Assessment and Testing website at testing.dpsk12.org.
Board Approves Superintendent Michael Bennet's Contract
The Board of Education this week unanimously approved a $160,000 annual employment contract with Superintendent Michael Bennet effective July 11, 2005.
The contract includes annual performance compensation of up to $40,000 based on completion of goals agreed upon by the Superintendent and the Board of Education.
"It's important to note that there is a strong accountability component to this contract," said Board member Bruce Hoyt. "This is something we're trying to implement across the district at all levels. I commend the superintendent for taking this on at the highest level."
Board Considers Two Policy Revisions
District staff recommended revisions this week to two policies:
- Policy JKF, Discipline of Students with Disabilities, to be consistent with the federal special education laws and regulations
- Policy JKA, Student Restraint, to clarify if and when physical intervention by staff is acceptable
The Board of Education will not take action on these policy revisions until there has been an opportunity for the public to give input. The next public comment session is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday, September 1.
Board Notes
In other action this week, the Board of Education approved:
- The purchase of books and lab kits from It's All About Time and Lab-aids, Inc. to be used as a field test for the middle school science program
- Price agreements with Developmental Studies Center and Lasting Impressions to provide vendors from which schools and departments easily can purchase items on an as-needed basis
- Utility easements at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School in conjunction with construction by Oakwood Homes for a residential subdivision to be located west of the school's parking lot
- A space use agreement with Skyland Community High School at the KIPP: Cole College Prep facility (formerly Cole Middle School)
Superintendent Asks For Map Of Terrain Of Academic Capacity
During yesterday's Board of Education work session, Superintendent Michael Bennet announced that he has asked the Council for Great City Schools to conduct a peer review of the district's academic capacity.
Stage one in the next two months is to "map the terrain" of Denver's academic capacity - assessing fiscal alignment, taking inventory of academic programs and services, and checking faculty and community perceptions about the alignment and quality of those programs.
The second stage will provide a deeper look into Denver's capacity, taking into account the quality and alignment of policy documents, programs and services, their actual implementation in schools, and the results in student achievement.
Superintendent Bennet said the next Chief Academic Officer will rely on the Council's review to provide a critical eye about what is to be done next in Denver Public Schools.
The Council of the Great City Schools is a coalition of 65 of the nation's largest urban public school systems. It works to promote urban education through legislation, research, media relations, instruction, management, technology and other special projects designed to improve the quality of urban education.
For More Information
Links to comprehensive reports about highlights featured in this edition of Board News are listed following the meeting agenda items at this link: board.dpsk12.org/meetings/agenda_archives/8-4-05/agenda.shtml.
Get Board News By Email
Access this link to sign up to receive Board News by email: piolists.dpsk12.org (be sure to give us your correct email address and click "continue" and "finish" until you receive a confirmation message)
For information, contact the DPS Communications Office at 720-423-3414.