News Release
April 21, 2006
Board News
The Denver Board of Education Thursday agreed to consider changes in high school graduation requirements that would significantly increase the academic rigor behind a Denver Public Schools diploma. The proposals were developed by an Advisory Work Group composed of 36 district staff and community members that has been meeting weekly since mid-January. The proposals were presented by Chief Academic Officer Jaime Aquino.
"We believe that this proposal creates a structure within which we are preparing students to be successful in a future that looks very different than our past," said the proposal. "In this proposal we are addressing the contemporary needs of our students and engaging them with the relationships, the rigorous learning experiences and a new relevancy to prepare them for success in their choices for learning and employment opportunities that extend well beyond the high school experience."
The new policy proposes that each entering ninth-grade student would develop a "Personal Education Plan" to set his or her intended course of study toward earning a high school diploma. The plan would be reviewed and amended each semester prior to the development of a new class schedule. This process, states the proposed policy, "will not only provide clear information and a focus on the future for the student, but bring a new purpose to the important articulation between middle school and high school staff members."
The policy seeks to bring renewed meaning and focus to the students' experience in eleventh and twelfth grade years of study and would require students to identify an area of academic interest. Under the policy, every junior would declare an "area of focus" during the first semester and engage in at least one unit of study beyond the graduation requirement of a particular content area.
The proposed policy suggests that each student would develop a portfolio that "demonstrates both the depth of his/her academic understanding and communicates his/her intended application of this understanding in life beyond high school graduation."
The changes include increasing from the number of required units of study from 22 to 24 (240 semester hours) during grades 9 - 12.
In language arts, students would be required to pass the same number of semester hours (40) but would be required to pass 10 hours (one unit) of upper division writing academic elective or British Literature and 10 of other language arts.
In social studies, 30 semester hours would be required (up from 25 hours currently) with 10 semester hours of geography in ninth grade, 10 hours of U.S. History in tenth grade; five semester hours in Civics in eleventh grade, and five semester hours of other social studies.
In science, 30 semester hours would be earned including 10 semester hours of Earth Science in ninth grade, 10 semester hours of biology in eleventh grade and 10 semester hours of chemistry or physics.
In mathematics, 40 semester hours would be earned including 10 semester hours of Algebra I or its equivalent in ninth grade, 10 semester hours of geometry or its equivalent in tenth grade, 10 semester hours of Algebra II and 10 semester hours of higher math from an approved course list.
Also in physical education, dance, Citywide Marching Band, ROTC or DPL Athletics, 10 semester hours would be earned.
In electives, 10 semester hours would be earned in fine arts (music, art, drama) and another 10 semester hours will be earned from an approved electives list.
Finally, the new policy would allow for 20 of the required 240 semester hours to be earned as Community Service and Service Learning Experience. "These experiences may include, but are not limited to, field or service experiences, work experiences, volunteering with community organizations, and internships," states the proposal.
If approved, the requirements would take effect for students entering high school as ninth graders in 2006.
Also Thursday, the Board of Education:
- Approved a "School Innovation Grants" process to be funded by several sources, including the 2003 mill levy revenue supplemented by local and national fundraising and local partnerships.
Grants will be made of variable amounts to schools based on the merits of the proposals. Under the proposal, the superintendent will oversee all innovation grants as advised by a committee of district administrators and a wide variety of community leaders. The proposal calls for School Innovation Grants to address such standards as improved academic outcomes, including measured improvement in student learning, improvement in attendance and enrollment and improvement in school culture and climate; alignment of academic program and work force with the Denver Plan, the report of the Secondary Reform Commission and other district initiatives; community engagement; student demographics and enrollment trends and other standards.
Under the process, existing revitalization grants will be reviewed during the summer to ensure they address current standards. In addition, revitalization proposals pending for Montbello High School and Lake Middle School will be reviewed beginning immediately with a goal of refining the plans and approving them by September, 2006. These two plans would be considered on a "fast track" timeline. Routine, annual requests will be considered on a timeline that begins in November. - Adjusted the Board of Education's meeting schedule in June, 2006 to June 19 and June 22 (instead of June 11 and June 15 as previously published).