Colorado Department of Education

Do Colorado's high school civics requirements affect the number of young people who vote?

A new study disparages Colorado for requiring little civics education -- something it ties to a poll showing that young people don't understand voting laws, such as whether a photo ID is required to vote. (It isn't in Colorado.) But the study, done by the Massachusetts-based Center for Information a ... More >>

Test cheating? DPS asks state to review state test scores at two schools for possible cheating

The Colorado Department of Education is conducting an investigation into possible cheating at two schools in Denver where a review of state test results showed "statistical irregularities," according to a press release just sent out by Denver Public Schools. DPS doesn't identify the schools, but Edu ... More >>

Denver Public Schools vs. the State Board of Education over a Montessori school

Emily Griffith program to teach job skills to refugees to graduate 1,000th student today

www.egos-school.com​ Five years ago, teachers at the Emily Griffith Technical College Language Learning Center, which offers free English classes to refugees, recognized a problem: Even when refugees landed jobs, they had trouble holding onto them. "We noticed that they were lacking in America ... More >>

Denver Public Schools's graduation rate climbs while dropout rate stays the same

Denver's graduation rate is on the rise. Statistics released today show that 56.1 percent of seniors graduated "on time" in the spring of 2011, as opposed to 51.8 percent in 2010. "On time" means they graduated four years after entering high school as freshmen. Meanwhile, the dropout rate stayed th ... More >>

Charter schools: State Board of Ed approves non-mandatory standards for authorizers

Update: The State Board of Education has approved new standards for charter school authorizers -- the school districts and one quasi-state agency that approve new charter schools. But the standards aren't mandatory. As the Colorado Department of Education's Amy Anderson tell us, state board members ... More >>

School discipline policies in Colorado too harsh? Lawmakers and advocates say yes

Video below.​School discipline, once considered too lax, has now swung too far in the opposite direction, say several state lawmakers and child advocates. As such, Colorado is one of a growing number of places rethinking harsh, "zero-tolerance" policies that lead to students being jailed for w ... More >>

North High credit recovery investigation says poor adult oversight to blame for cheating

An investigation into allegations of cheating within the credit recovery program at North High School found that while the program's online classes were "challenging," staff members did not sufficiently monitor the students enrolled. "It is discouraging when adult decisions jeopardize opportunitie ... More >>

North High credit recovery: Colorado Dept. of Education probe reveals problems with program

After concerns about North High School's credit recovery program were raised in the Westword cover story "Passing on Education," Denver Public Schools asked the Colorado Department of Education to investigate allegations that students were allowed to cheat on online courses. The results of that inve ... More >>

Sheilah Davis: an Aurora mayoral candidate Q&A

Sheilah Davis.​Aurora Mayor Ed Tauer's eight-year, term-limited reign will come to an end later this year, and the race is on to replace him, with a vote coming up on November 1. So far, six candidates have filed to run (the deadline is August 23), all with different backgrounds and different ... More >>

School voucher program stopped: Dougco appeal would waste taxpayer money, ACLU says

Michael Martinez.​"School Vouchers on Hold" read a weekend headline in the print Denver Post. But while plaintiffs, including the Colorado branch of the American Civil Liberties Union, technically requested a preliminary injunction to stop the Douglas County Choice Scholarship Program, Judge ... More >>

Abstinence-only funding was refused, but that didn't stop a state school-board member

Douglas County voucher plan gives public funds to discriminatory religious schools, suit claims

Videos below.​Update below: A lawsuit filed this morning in Denver District Court challenges the legality of a Douglas County voucher program set to go into effect this fall partly on the grounds that it diverts public money to religious institutions. Yet plaintiffs include the Interfaith Alli ... More >>

North High: DPS asks Colorado Department of Education to investigate credit recovery

​ Denver Public Schools has asked the Colorado Department of Education to investigate the credit recovery program at North High School, in light of concerns raised in the Westword cover story "Passing on Education," DPS spokesman Mike Vaughn confirms. That move pleased Jennifer Draper Carson, ... More >>

Dropout rates: Fewer students dropped out of Denver schools last year than did five years ago

​ Good news from Denver Public Schools headquarters: In the past five years, the district's dropout rate has declined 42 percent. In the 2005-06 school year, 11.1 percent of students dropped out. In the 2009-10 school year, 6.4 percent of students dropped out. In real numbers, that means an es ... More >>

Graduation rates: 72.4 percent of Colorado high school students finished "on time" in 2010

Flickr​Update below: New stats show that 72.4 percent of Colorado high school students graduated "on time" in 2010. In other words, 72.4 percent of freshman who started high school in the fall of 2006 donned caps and gowns in the spring of 2010. But is this better or worse than years past? Tha ... More >>

Mason Tvert: Colorado attorney general John Suthers using scare tactics about teen pot stats

John Suthers.​Update below: A National Institute on Drug Abuse study showing pot use up among all grades surveyed, with eighth grade taking the largest leap, prompted strong words from Colorado Attorney General John Suthers, an opponent of MMJ dispensaries who blames their prevalence for much ... More >>

Social studies: Education officials debate adding it to state tests, as Americans get dumber

Recognize this fella?​ Do you know from which country the U.S. of A. declared its independence in 1776? If so, consider yourself among the 74 percent of Americans who do. If not, consider yourself dumber than a first grader, which is when everyone learns about George Washington and how he comm ... More >>

Sex ed: Will talk of condoms be banned if state wins $3.2 million abstinence education grant?

To teach it or not to teach it?​ The Republican-heavy state Board of Education is going after a $3.2 million abstinence-only education grant that Governor Bill Ritter's administration passed up in favor of a $3.9 million grant that pays for sex ed that teaches kids about birth control, too. So ... More >>

Two-fer: Joe Garcia could pay off for John Hickenlooper

...If he picks up a cabinet job as well as the lite-gov post.

Joseph Garcia, lieutenant governor nominee, could be a twofer for John Hickenlooper

Joseph Garcia.​When John Hickenlooper unveiled his education platform yesterday, he touted the experience of running mate Joseph Garcia, currently the president of CSU-Pueblo. Which would make Garcia, who's already served as director of the Department of Regulatory Agencies under then-governo ... More >>

Colorado Education Association wants to help shape new "educator effectiveness" rules

​ On Monday morning, the Colorado Department of Education will launch its Educator Effectiveness Project. It's an undertaking made possible by $1 million in grants secured this summer.

Race to the Top: Colorado one of 19 finalists in federal education grant contest

A Flickr photo.​Colorado was chosen today as one of nineteen finalists in round two of the U.S. Department of Education's Race to the Top grant contest. If successful, the state stands to win $175 million. If not, Colorado gets zilch -- which is what happened when it applied for $377 million i ... More >>

Sex and babymaking resolution passed by DPS board: Study hard, kids

From zazzle.com​ Denver's public schoolchildren could soon be learning a lot more about the art of babymaking (and presumably, how to avoid it). The DPS Board of Education unanimously passed a resolution last week that calls for the district to ensure that kids "have access to science-based, c ... More >>

Denver Public Schools debate how to teach kids to avoid the clap

From zazzle.com​ On Thursday night, the Denver Public Schools Board of Education will talk about sex, baby. More specifically, they'll talk about sex ed -- and how it's important that teenagers with raging libidos "have access to science-based, comprehensive, medically-accurate, culturally r ... More >>

"Educator effectiveness" grants: Nonprofits to invest $1 million

Mark MangerMary Pishney.​ Colorado sure is serious about "educator effectiveness," which is school-reform-speak for firing teachers whose students aren't learning -- a strategy endorsed by President Obama and central to his federal Race to the Top grant competition. To that end, the Colorado ... More >>

Race to the Top: Union opts out of Phase 2 in beef with education commissioner Dwight Jones

Education commissioner Dwight Jones's op-ed got poor grades from the CEA.​Update, 1:30 p.m., April 15: This blog, originally published yesterday afternoon, has been updated to reflect the comments of Education Commissioner Dwight Jones. A union that represents 40,000 teachers in Colorado is a ... More >>

Read the reports that helped seal P.S. 1 Charter School's fate

P.S. 1 Charter School is in the Golden Triangle neighborhood​The evidence against P.S. 1 Charter School, the subject of this week's feature, "P.S. 1 Didn't Make the Grade, But Can Anything Replace Denver's Longest-running Charter School?," is harsh. Several reports from Denver Public Schools o ... More >>

Top ten Strange But True stories of the decade in Colorado

Bush to use near your bush -- or at least in the vicinity.​Next week, Westword will be capping off 2009 with a blizzard of blogs leading up to our annual Year in Review issue: Look for them in this space. But before long, we'll be ending a decade, too. And with that in mind -- and to whet you ... More >>

Test-driving the Colorado Department of Education's new SchoolVIEW website

A graphic from the new SchoolVIEW website.​On Friday, the Colorado Department of Education unveiled SchoolVIEW.org, a new website that aims to make it easier than ever for parents to check on the standardized-testing achievements of a specific school and district -- and it does just that. For ... More >>

Troubled teens were banished to the Monarch Center wilderness program. Then their troubles really started

Education News Colorado Gets Stiffed on CSAPs

Letters to the Editor

Letters from the week of 2/21/2008

Letters to the Editor

From the week of 6/14/2007

Sky's the Limit

Skyland Community High School faces renewal or revocation of its charter next week. It’s out to prove it can make the grade.

No Sweat

A top-rated teacher laments the demise of phys ed.

Trial by Wire

There's lots of cash and carrying on over First Data's south-of-the-border business.

Community Watch

Excel Academy charter school wants a home, but neighbors say not on their range.

Off Limits

Taking it to the mats

Making the Grade

The state's most-improved schools got banners -- but the checks aren't in the mail.

Teacher's Pet Peeves

The state's new teacher incentive program has had unintended consequences.

The Berating Game

As the controversy continues over Colorado's new report cards, Westword offers this handy guide for the perplexed.

Summer School

Four Denver schools plan to switch to a year-round schedule.

One for All

Charter schools are perfect for special-education kids. That's the problem.

Graded on a Curve

Neighbors of Jefferson Academy think the charter school could use a civics lesson.

Communication Breakdown

The Boulder Valley School District has a hard time learning how to teach kids with special needs.

Truth or D.A.R.E.

The anti-drug program definitely works--in trying to promote its own survival.

CLASS STRUGGLE

THE WINNERS AND LOSERS AFTER A YEAR OF THE CHARTER-SCHOOL LAW.

SEPARATION ANXIETYARE DISABLED PUPILS IN A CLASS BY THEMSELVES?

SEPARATION ANXIETY