Sixteen of the 17 Denver charter schools with contracts up for renewal got a recommendation from Denver Public Schools staff to continue operating.
Whether those schools’ charters do get renewed, though, depends on the school board’s votes next week.
Based on schools’ academic performance, and whether they had clear visions for instruction and culture, each received recommendations for either a two-year renewal, five-year renewal or two-year renewal with an opportunity for extension.
The renewal recommendation for Denver Justice High School in the city’s Capitol Hill neighborhood, for example, stated that the school was rated as needing “improvement” in 2019 and that its programming “partially meets expectations.” Staff recommended the school for a two-year renewal, but with the opportunity for a two-year extension if its 2023 rating is better than the last.
The Girls Athletic Leadership School, a middle school in central Denver, received a five-year renewal recommendation because it met or exceeded the academic expectations set in its contract both in 2019 and this year.
Four other charter schools have been recommended for five-year contract renewals: Highline Academy Southeast (elementary and middle), Denver School of Science and Technology – Byers (middle and high), DSST – Noel (middle) and STRIVE Prep – Green Valley Ranch (middle).
Two other STRIVE Prep network campuses—Westwood in Southwest Denver and Montbello in the Far Northeast—were recommended for two-year renewals with no opportunity for extension, meaning they will have to go through the full renewal application process again two years from now.
The only school to receive a recommendation for non-renewal was REACH Charter School, an elementary school in central Denver focused on providing an inclusive learning environment for students with disabilities.
If the remaining nine schools (including Denver Justice) have their charter renewals approved, they could possibly extend their contracts before their initial two years are up.
Grant Guyer, the district’s chief of strategy and portfolio services, wrote the charter school renewal recommendations using the Colorado Department of Education’s School Performance Framework.
Guyer and staff are presenting the renewal recommendations — still subject to the superintendent’s final approval — to the school board January 6. A special public comment session on the subject is set for January 11.
The DPS board votes on charter school contract renewals on January 13. On Friday January 14, round one of SchoolChoice opens, where families rank their top school preferences by submitting choice applications.
