Show your support for a inclusive, collaborative, and effective school reform process by signing this petition!

Denver Public Schools is planning to revamp six Far Northeast Denver school communities by using unproven, disruptive turnaround models. The six schools in question were already in the process of developing and carrying out comprehensive transformation plans, after the district spent large amounts of taxpayer money to have the Colorado Department of Education give each school a diagnostic review. This past spring and summer, staff members at the schools have spent hundreds of hours (many unpaid) on this work which, along with all of those taxpayer dollars, is about to go to waste. 

Though a small, pre-screened group of parents, community members, and school staff was convened by the district's civic group (A+ Denver) to discuss potential options for the area, the group was not representative of the community at large, and they were not fully empowered to create a real plan. Additionally, only a tiny fraction of the group actually worked inside the affected schools. Most of the committee had no direct experience in any of the schools, and didn't know what specific problems each school had, or what specific solutions might help improve them. District officials had a certain outcome in mind when they began the process, and used the committee to create the appearance of genuine community input.

A broader coalition of parents, community members, and local organizations has proposed an alternative plan, that will make space for the plans developed in the different schools. Together, these plans actually address each school's particular problems, and contain specific information about how staff will improve teaching and learning at each site. Because they were created by and with people with in-depth knowledge of the situation on each campus, they have a much better chance of success.