DPS Weighing Options On 24 Low-Performing Schools
Low CSAP Test Scores Cited By School District
The Denver Public School system may replace teachers at two dozen low-performing schools.
The school district disclosed Thursday that it is also looking at turning the schools into charter schools as another option.
District officials said that the schools were chosen based on their
Colorado Student Assessment Program test scores from spring 1999
and spring 2000. Despite efforts to boost scores, the 24 schools
have failed to improve and in some cases lost ground.
"The longer a child stays there, the worse the child is doing
in many cases, which is alarming," Ricardo Concha, executive
director of elementary education, told school board members on
Thursday.
The Denver Classroom Teachers Association contract allows the
district to sweep out a school's entire teaching staff in rare
cases, said Andrea Giunta, president of the teachers union.
Giunta said that she hopes DPS takes a comprehensive review of
schools, looking at everything that influences education. "I think
it's very prudent that we are addressing high-priority schools.
There are a lot of factors in making a school successful. It would
be to everyone's benefit that the district work with the
association in addressing those factors."
DPS officials started visiting schools in January and hope to
complete their review in May. They say they want to help the
schools improve quickly enough to avoid being removed from local
control under state law.
Originally, the visits were called audits but officials stopped
using that term to avoid scaring principals and teachers.
"With us going in there, they immediately thought something
terrible was going to happen," said Mary Ray, assistant
superintendent of elementary education.
Two of the elementary schools on the list, Ashley and Fairview,
lost most of their staff in a redesign effort four years ago but
are still among the lowest-scoring.
"That's more than a little discouraging," said board President
Elaine Gantz Berman.
One problem was a lack of consistency in teaching practices.
"There's a great disparity there, even from classroom to
classroom," said Melanie Haas, executive director of secondary
education.
Writing is proving especially difficult to teach, even after
schools implemented 2½-hour "literacy blocks."
Related Stories:
The school district disclosed Thursday that it is also looking at turning the schools into charter schools as another option.
District officials said that the schools were chosen based on their
Colorado Student Assessment Program test scores from spring 1999
and spring 2000. Despite efforts to boost scores, the 24 schools
have failed to improve and in some cases lost ground.
"The longer a child stays there, the worse the child is doing
in many cases, which is alarming," Ricardo Concha, executive
director of elementary education, told school board members on
Thursday.
The Denver Classroom Teachers Association contract allows the
district to sweep out a school's entire teaching staff in rare
cases, said Andrea Giunta, president of the teachers union.
Giunta said that she hopes DPS takes a comprehensive review of
schools, looking at everything that influences education. "I think
it's very prudent that we are addressing high-priority schools.
There are a lot of factors in making a school successful. It would
be to everyone's benefit that the district work with the
association in addressing those factors."
DPS officials started visiting schools in January and hope to
complete their review in May. They say they want to help the
schools improve quickly enough to avoid being removed from local
control under state law.
Originally, the visits were called audits but officials stopped
using that term to avoid scaring principals and teachers.
"With us going in there, they immediately thought something
terrible was going to happen," said Mary Ray, assistant
superintendent of elementary education.
Two of the elementary schools on the list, Ashley and Fairview,
lost most of their staff in a redesign effort four years ago but
are still among the lowest-scoring.
"That's more than a little discouraging," said board President
Elaine Gantz Berman.
One problem was a lack of consistency in teaching practices.
"There's a great disparity there, even from classroom to
classroom," said Melanie Haas, executive director of secondary
education.
Writing is proving especially difficult to teach, even after
schools implemented 2½-hour "literacy blocks."
- March 8, 2001: Battle Over CSAP Scores Looms
- March 6, 2001: Principal Resigns For Giving Students Second Chance At CSAP Test
- February 6, 2001: Sample CSAP Testing For Adults Underway
- January 18, 2001: Parents Take CSAP Test
Copyright 2005 by TheDenverChannel.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
