Education Issues

MC Lyte and Crazy Legs to visit for Sankofa Lecture Series, inaugural Hip-Hop Legacy Literacy Conference

Hip-hop and it still don't stop. This afternoon at 1 p.m., the inaugural Hip-Hop Legacy Literacy Conference kicks off with a screening of Ice-T's Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap documentary in the St. Cajetan's building on Auraria, and tomorrow, the Sankofa Lecture Series welcomes its fall ke ... More >>

It's (still) Too Darn Hot to Learn

Stephen Myers, former P.S.1 charter school principal: Did he molest boys, including his son?

In 2002, we reported that former P.S.1 charter school principal Stephen Myers resigned his principal job in Massachusetts after he was accused of making inappropriate comments to a male student -- an allegation that didn't surprise his old P.S.1 colleagues. Now, Boston Magazine has written an in-dep ... More >>

Great Education Colorado wants to make 2013 Year of the Student

When District Judge Sheila Rappaport handed down her (now appealed) decision in Lobato vs. Colorado, the word she used to describe Colorado's education-finance system was "unconscionable." That harsh description is backed by stats provided by Great Education Colorado, a nonprofit that describes itse ... More >>

North High: Some parents petition against co-location of charter school

North High School has had many struggles. Among them: poor test scores, low enrollment, myriad redesigns and lax oversight of the school's credit recovery program. But a community group called Choose North Now thinks the historic high school is beginning to turn around -- and that co-locating a char ... More >>

Ricardo Flores Magon Academy granted five-year charter renewal, sans Marcos Martinez

The Ricardo Flores Magon Academy charter school can continue operating. Today, the Charter School Institute voted to extend the embattled school's contract for five more years -- with several stipulations. Among them: Find a new leader. The school's founder and most recent principal, Marcos Martinez ... More >>

Ricardo Flores Magon Academy hires security guard because of "concerns"

​The turmoil continues at the Ricardo Flores Magon Academy charter school in Westminster, the subject of our recent cover story, "A Hard Line." Facing two lawsuits and many more complaints, the school has now (at least temporarily) lost its leader, about whom many of the complaints were made. ... More >>

Marcos Martinez, head of Ricardo Flores Magon Academy, on leave during investigation

Is Marcos Martinez, principal at the Ricardo Flores Magon Academy and the subject of our recent feature "A Hard Line," on his way out as head of the Westminster charter school? Westword just received word that Martinez, chess instructor Dominic Martinez and director of curriculum and instruction Ga ... More >>

Ricardo Flores Magon Academy: Petition outlines concerns about charter school

​ A group of parents associated with the Ricardo Flores Magon Academy is airing its concerns about the charter school, which was the subject of our recent feature story, "A Hard Line." They're circulating a petition to remove the school's leader, Marcos Martinez, and have sent a list of concer ... More >>

Ricardo Flores Magon Academy: Read school's charter renewal application

​ Applications were due yesterday for schools wishing to continue under the banner of the Charter School Institute, a quasi-state agency created in 2004 to approve charter schools rejected by districts with an ax to grind. The Ricardo Flores Magon Academy -- the subject of our cover story, "A ... More >>

Gem Class

7 worst sex-ed clichés in Jefferson County's Think Beyond Friday Night video

​Jefferson County Child Support Services has developed a new video intended to show that the department offers support for teen parents and children. However, most of the 21-minute long production called Think Beyond Friday Night is spent detailing all the horrors and tribulations of teen p ... More >>

Letters: "Abstinence is not the problem. Abstinence-only education is the problem."

Reader: Sex education in U.S. has gotten worse judging by Shelly Donahue's WAIT Training

Donahue.​Andy Kopsa's post about WAIT Training videos related to abstinence education programs offered by Shelly Donahue, subject of the recent feature article "Forbidden Fruit," drew an astonished reaction from many readers. Here's a prime example.

First day of school: drama mamas and other things to look out for as DPS returns

​Summer is over, and school is back in session. While the bell rang a few days ago for some kids and won't ring until tomorrow for others, today is the big day for Denver Public Schools -- the day when the mayor shakes the hands of grubby first graders, the day when the TV stations do live fee ... More >>

Katherine Rutter, Aron Dubois and Zach Reini's art at Illiterate Gallery: Last chance

​While Katherine Rutter, Aron Dubois and Zach Reini all create very different art, Illiterate Gallery director Adam Gildar says that "they connect in their exploration of inhumanity and humanity, and they all have very different takes on that." Tomorrow night's closing reception at Illiterate ... More >>

North High: Do improved graduation rates mean more high schoolers prepared for college?

​ Even though Denver public schools are out for the summer and most graduation ceremonies are over, the debate over DPS's increasing graduation rates continues. For more, read our feature, "Passing on Education." Today, Education News Colorado contributor Alexander Ooms weighs in with an opini ... More >>

Tonight: Illiterate's Talk & Draw provides a look into the underappreciated world of comic artists

​If you've ever wanted to be a comic artist, you should probably reconsider because there's no money in it. But if you're anything like a comic book artist, you're stubborn and you will not listen, so you might as well get off on the right foot -- and Illiterate's Talk & Draw series is a good ... More >>

Month of Photography: Nine shows to see

​The city's Month of Photography has gone from a blip to a major event over the last few years; credit photographer Mark Sink for choreographing this year's liftoff into the stratosphere. MOP has emerged as a force to be reckoned with, but how do you navigate through all the shows on view this ... More >>

Picture Perfect

Find your inner comic artist: A personal invitation from Noah Van Sciver

This could be you!​This I know is true: Comic books aren't easy. Banish the idea that they are from your minds immediately before you proceed. Sure, artists like Noah Van Sciver (creator of Westword's weekly 4 Questions strip) make it look easy, but a comic artist is kind of like a god-figure ... More >>

If a Woodcut Could Cut Wood

My dinner with Steven: A convivium and preview night at Illiterate Gallery

A Convivium Illiterate Preview Dinner with S.D. Prochyra.​ Quietly, very quietly, over the last year since the venue opened, Illiterate Gallery director Adam Gildar instigated a resident artist program, wherein Illiterate offers artists who go through an application process a chance to stage a ... More >>

Be Here. Aloha!

A Gem of a Show

Illiterate Gallery first year anniversary features the art of Brittany Gould and Drew Englander

Tom MurphyPart of "Leaving the Body" by Drew Englander​Several blocks outside the First Friday art-walk on Santa Fe sits Illiterate Gallery at 72 South Broadway. It's a part of town that some consider a place so-called "hipsters" call home -- but if you stand in front of Illiterate too long on ... More >>

Condoms for cats: Nurse Nancy finds putting them on a lot harder than neutering that pussy

Nurse Nancy protecting a banana.​Last month, we told you about Tom Cat Condoms, whose slogan is "Prevent a litter, cover your critter." The real deal? Hardly. Instead, they're a satirical tool wielded by the Feline Fix, an affiliate of the Rocky Mountain Alley Cat Alliance, to encourage pet sp ... More >>

Denversity: Local bands cover each other at Denver Does Denver

ENTER SANDMAN

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 >>

CU Buffs penalized for falling short of academic standards -- yet teams still suck

What's Dan Hawkins happy about?​As CU fans were wondering if the school will wind up in an expanded Pac 10 or remain in the Big 12, the NCAA hit the university with sanctions. Why? The football and basketball programs failed to reach required minimum academic standards -- which is shocking gi ... More >>

Ted Haggard: Is reality TV in his future?

Is Ted Haggard ready for his closeup?​Update, 11:25 a.m.: Ted Haggard has made his announcement. It involves a launch party for his new church and a possible documentary. Details below the original item, published at 8:36 a.m. Today at 10:30 a.m., embattled Colorado Springs evangelist Ted Hag ... More >>

Teacher tenure bill: American Federation of Teachers' Colorado branch endorses it

Does Senator Johnston's teacher tenure bill deserve one of these?​The Colorado branch of the American Federation of Teachers today endorsed Senator Michael Johnston's controversial teacher tenure bill (learn more about it by clicking here), which heads to the House Education Committee at 1:30 ... More >>

DPS superintendent wants to hear parents' feedback

Boasberg wants parents to talk to him.​ Denver Public Schools Superintendent Tom Boasberg wants to hear from parents. Next month, he's launching the Superintendent's Parents Forum, an every-other-month gathering between district officials and a group consisting of two parents from each DPS sch ... More >>

Superintendent Tom Boasberg: DPS doing a better job of keeping its kids

Tom Boasberg has got DPS' numbers.​More kids are enrolled in Colorado schools than ever before: 832,368 to be exact, according to numbers released this week by the state Department of Education. And Denver Public Schools is contributing heavily to that growth. The city's enrollment is up 4,493 ... More >>

Denver Public Schools reform vote needs reform

"This is harder to understand than geometry..."​Tonight, the Denver Public Schools board will consider a range of reform issues involving low-performing schools and much more. But the agenda calls for the outgoing board, including three members who'll be attending their last meeting, to vote o ... More >>

Live blog: Bill Ritter's budget meets the Joint Budget Committee

Bill Ritter is budgeting his time -- and timing his budget.​Editor's note: Westword is live blogging Governor Bill Ritter's presentation to the state's Joint Budget Committee about his proposed 2010-11 budget. The state is facing a $1.02 billion shortfall. The most recent posts are at the top. ... More >>

Colorado Crimes: Try banging someone your age, teacher Linda Trabucco!

Linda Trabucco.​Why on earth would a female high-school teacher want to boink a male student? After all, teenage boys are typically terrible conversationalists, are prone to doing stupid things (and then doing them again), and have terrible skin. And who cares if a stiff breeze can give them a ... 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 >>

Denver Public Schools: A battleship in the city?

The logo of Rishel Middle School. Last night, emotions were high at the Denver Public Schools' board meeting. Many controversial issues were on the table: new charter-school proposals, a plan to have several schools share space with one another, and the much-protested idea of closing struggling ... More >>

Superintendent Charlotte Ciancio may have super powers

Last Chance for Life Skills

Wartgow and All

DPS's former superintendent has some ideas about improving schools.

Goy Gevalt

In Her Shoes is pretty but useless, a Prada with a broken heel.

Best Used Books All the Time

Koelbel Public Library

Best Political Comeback by an Ex-Governor

Roy Romer

Out of the Box

Her parents kept her prisoner in a storage unit, but words set Jodi Jill free.

An Expensive Education

The University of Northern Colorado expels its longtime laboratory school.

Lessons from the Third Grade

Three years ago, Ashley was branded the worst elementary school in Denver. What’s changed? Everything.

Zero for Conduct

Teacher Joseph C'de Baca says Denver's public schools are failing Hispanic students--by passing those who don't deserve it.