DPS takes another tack on reform

September 30, 10:43 AMColorado Education ExaminerTodd Engdahl

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Colorado Education Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

Teacher effectiveness will be the new focus of reform efforts in the Denver Public Schools, Superintendent Tom Boasberg announced this week in a pair of "state of the schools" speeches around the district.

The district's original reform strategy, the 2005 Denver Plan, focused on curriculum improvements for all city schools. It was crafted under former Superintendent Michael Bennet, now a Democratic U.S. senator who's just been appointed to that body's education committee.

Boasberg said the district needs to focus on ensuring every classroom has a highly skilled teacher. The 2009 draft plan suggests a more finely tuned teacher evaluation system, incentives for teachers who work in low-performing schools, new teacher assignment procedures, training for teachers who need improvement and removal of teachers who aren't making the grade.

Other parts of the draft plan call for creation for new schools of all different kinds. DPS already has an active program to encourage creation of new schools, including charters, schools run by contractors and district schools that operate in non-traditional ways.

District officials will gather comment on the proposal for several weeks, with a final version going  to school board on Nov. 19.

- Full coverage from Education News Colorado
- Draft 2009 Denver Plan