News Release
February 23, 2007
Student Board Challenges DPS Students To Take The CSAP Seriously, Initiating The CSAP Pride Campaign
In August 2006, the DPS Office of Character and School Culture convened the newly selected Student Board of Education, composed of a junior and senior from each of the main public high schools in Denver. The Student Board went on an overnight retreat to Balarat Outdoor Education Center to get to know one another and learn about the complex challenges facing the district. A presentation by DPS School Board Member and liaison to the Student Board, Jill Conrad, on how CSAP scores, enrollment, funding and school quality are intertwined fascinated the group. Consequently, they chose this issue as the one they wanted to tackle. Their challenge was to convince their peers that they should try their best on CSAPs, rather than 'blowing them off.' Through many meetings, emails, text messages, and learning from a local firm how to launch a successful marketing campaign, they designed the CSAP Pride Campaign.
The Student Board partnered with the Youth School Reform Institute (YSRI) in the design of a survey that was then administered at six DPS high schools. YSRI analyzed the data and found valuable information regarding student attitudes towards CSAP.
As part of their CSAP Pride Campaign, students distributed 2000 posters in high schools stating, "Don't trash the CSAP." Student Board members also spoke with their school staff and faculty about how much influence teachers have on students in putting forth effort on the test. Before the testing period commences in early March, the Student Board is delivering presentations to all 9th and 10th grades either in classrooms or in assemblies. Their message is "You don't have to like it, but don't blow it off. Try your best because our school's scores influence whether students come to this school. The more students that enroll, the more money our school gets, and the better chance we will have good teachers, electives, extracurricular programs, and materials."
The Student Board extended the campaign to the middle school level by designing posters "Show your stuff on the CSAP" and also have made numerous auditorium presentations sharing with 6th, 7th and 8th graders why they should try their best on the test.
A post survey will be administered in late March to determine how effective the campaign has been. The Student Board hopes that the CSAP Pride Campaign will help to increase CSAP scores at all DPS secondary schools. The 9th grade class and the 10th grade class that demonstrate the most improvement on their scores from 2006 to 2007 will be recognized in the fall with a trophy and public recognition. The Student Board also is demonstrating to DPS and the larger community that students can be, and want to be significant leaders in improving their schools.
For more information please contact Nicole Tembrock at the DPS Office of Character and School Culture: nicole_tembrock@dpsk12.org or 720-423-9784.