Commissioner of Education Dwight D. Jones announced today the approval of turnaround plans for schools eligible to receive intense turnaround support using federal Title I School Improvement Grant funding.
“This is the first step in the launch of a three-year process to improve Colorado’s chronically low-performing schools,” said Colorado Commissioner of Education Dwight D. Jones. “The goal is to increase the academic achievement of all students attending these schools and utilize the support and services from the providers.”
The schools can use one of the four intervention models (or a combination of these models) as they approach the work. The four intervention models are turnaround, restart, school closure and transformation. Colorado’s Education Accountability Act of 2009 includes similar expectations for those schools identified as chronically low-performing.
The 10 schools with approved three-year plans on Colorado’s “Tier I” list are:
· Hanson Elementary School (Adams County School District 14) - $2,010,180, transformation
· Haskin Elementary School (Center Consolidated School District 26JT) - $1,666,515, transformation
· Gilpin K-8 School (Denver Public Schools) - $1,260,033, turnaround
· Greenlee K-8 School (Denver Public Schools) - $2,256,517, turnaround
· Montbello High School (Denver Public Schools) - $3,388,350, transformation
· Philips Elementary School (Denver Public Schools) - $36,413, closure
· Clifton Elementary School (Mesa County Valley School District 51) - $2,598,111, transformation
· Freed Middle School (Pueblo City Schools) - $2,063,811, turnaround
· Youth and Family Academy Charter School (Pueblo City Schools) - $1,578,681, transformation
· Fort Logan Elementary School (Sheridan School District) - $2,388,570, turnaround
The nine schools with approved three-year plans on Colorado’s “Tier 2” list are:
· Lake Middle School (Denver Public Schools) - $2,083,232, restart and turnaround
· Noel Middle School (Denver Public Schools) - $2,776,580, transformation
· North High School (Denver Public Schools) - $3,106,922, transformation
· Rishel Middle School (Denver Public Schools) - $15,387, closure
· Skyland Community High School (Denver Public Schools) - $35,790, closure
· Pitts Middle School (Pueblo City Schools) - $2,159,601, turnaround
· Risley Middle School (Pueblo City Schools) - $2,103,975, turnaround
· Roncalli Middle School(Pueblo City Schools) - $2,212,131, transformation
· Central High School (Pueblo City Schools) - $2,799,228, transformation
On March 24, the CDE Office of Federal Programs posted the list of all eligible Tier I, Tier II and Tier III schools. (These tiers follow federal guidelines; see www.cde.state.co.us/turnaround/cde_turnaroundplan_home.htm
Only schools currently eligible or receiving Title I funds are eligible for grants under the school improvement grant program (from 1003(g) federal funds). In all, the grant program anticipates spending $37.7 million over the next three years.
For more information on the school turnaround plans and budgets, visit www.cde.state.co.us/turnaround/cde_turnaroundplan_home.htm
Students at Landmark academy at reunion celebrate first annual latin culture week
Landmark Academy at Reunion , a tuition-free public charter school, recently hosted their First Annual Latin Culture Week, a week focused on educating students on the various aspects of Latin culture, from music and art to sports and celebrities, through unique activities. During the week-long celebration, students were able to step into the lives of the Aztecs, Incas and Mayans with Latin culture lessons through piñata making, cultural crafts, songs, traditional foods and more. Students made maracas and learned a traditional Mexican Hat Dance; created Aztec suns working with metal tooling; and studied different countries in Mexico , Central America and South America . Aztec dancers from the Colorado Folk Arts Council also visited with students and educated them on the spiritual and traditional aspects of Aztec culture through dance. “We reside in a community with strong Latin and Hispanic roots,” said Matt Carlton, principal of Landmark Academy at Reunion . “Our community culture is important to us at Landmark. By providing unique ways for our students to learn the various backgrounds of our diverse community they are able to understand and appreciate different cultures.” For more information about Landmark Academy at Reunion , please visit www.landmarkacademy.org.
