News Release
December 8, 2005
Early Childhood Education Is Focus Of December Edition Of "DPS Today" Television Show
The December 2005 edition of "DPS Today," the monthly television show about Denver Public Schools on Denver cable 8, features a look at recent recommendations from the district's Task Force on School Readiness to boost the availability and quality of early childhood education programs and make sure all parents know the importance of preparing students for school.
The task force, representing a broad coalition of community organizations, non-profit groups and the private sector, recently recommended a major upgrade in services and programs to parents of young children.
Featured guests are three members of the 26-member task force:
- George Brantley, Executive Director of the Hope Center, a highly regarded and highly rated pre-school in north Denver with a well trained staff and bevy of volunteers
- Ann Christensen, a kindergarten teacher from Westerly Creek Elementary School
- JoAnn Trujillo-Hays, principal of Academia Ana Marie Sandoval school in northwest Denver, a school that features a Dual Language and Montessori approach to learning, which means that school begins at age three
More than a year ago, the Board of Education established the DPS Task Force on Early Education and School Readiness and gave it a fairly direct charge - to recommend effective policies and partnerships that will guide DPS in its efforts to promote school readiness.
The report, titled "Ready for Kindergarten," is in. This month's television program discusses closing the achievement gap between better and poorer performing students before kindergarten.
"DPS Today" can be seen on Denver cable 8 throughout the month at 8 a.m. every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday; at 8:30 p.m. every Friday and Saturday; and at 1:30 p.m. every Sunday.
Denver stations 22 and 48 also re-broadcast "DPS Today." Channel 22 is the DPS channel on Comcast cable in Denver. Channel 48 is an ITFS microwave channel that is received only within DPS facilities and delivered on cable channel 48 in classrooms.
The show airs on channels 22 and 48 on the following schedule:
- 4:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Mondays
- 8 a.m., noon, 4:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Tuesdays
- Noon, 4:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Wednesdays
- 8 a.m., noon, 4:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Thursdays
- 4:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Fridays
- Noon, 4:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays
For information, contact the DPS Communications Office at 720-423-3414.