DPS sees record participation in SchoolChoice

Last month the district estimated that staff sent out more than 27,000 emails and text to families letting them know which schools their students made it into after the first round of SchoolChoice ended.

SchoolChoice selection at Denver Public Schools closed on Feb. 20. SchoolChoice allows families to select their top schools from anywhere in the district. The goal of SchoolChoice is to level the playing field by giving all DPS students access to a quality education, regardless of their address or socio-economic background, said a release from the district.

This year, DPS shifted the first round of SchoolChoice earlier by one month in order to give out results to parents sooner. The district also opened a walk-in enrollment center this year.

Round two of SchoolChoice will open on April 3, and will allow new families to participate, as well as families that did not participate in round one. Families who have already received their top three matches from the first round of SchoolChoice can re-explore their options during the second round, the release said.

For more information on SchoolChoice, go to http://schoolchoice.dpsk12.org/.

TLC television show helps students with prom clothes

On March 19, nearly 250 students from DPS schools received prom make overs from the TLC television show “Say Yes to the Prom.” The network selected five cities this year for the opportunity, including Denver.

The show aims to help deserving students with outfits and makeovers for the prom, said a release from the district. The event also works to go beyond the dress and tuxedo to build self-confidence and prepare students for college and careers by featuring scholarship, internship and mentorship opportunities.

The Cable Center at the University of Denver, 2000 Buchtel Blvd. South was filled with selections of tuxedos and dresses for students on March 19. Monte Durham, TLC’s fashion director, had one-on-one styling sessions with students.

DPS releases Superintendent Entry Plan

DPS Superintendent Susana Cordova released her entry plan at the end of February, shortly after the teachers’ strike ended. The plan outlines her goals and next steps as the head of Denver’s school district.

“In this entry plan as superintendent, my goal is to create a foundation upon which we can build a stronger future — for our community, for our DPS team members and, most importantly, for our students,” Cordova wrote in the plan. “My vision is that every single one of our students thrives — not by accident, but by design.”

Cordova will release a summary report before the start of the 2019-2020 school year. To learn more about the entry plan, go to https://www.dpsk12.org/wp-content/uploads/SusanaCordova_EntryPlan.pdf.