Welcome to the
 Office of School Reform
  and Innovation

Portfolio of Schools

The Office of School Reform and Innovation supports the development, successful implementation, and ongoing accountability of four types of schools.  These schools make up our  Portfolio of Schools:

  • Charter Schools
  • Performance Schools
  • Innovation Schools
  • Contract Schools

Charter Schools

What are Charter Schools?

  • A charter school is an independently-operated public school approved pursuant to the Colorado Charter School Act, C.R.S. § 22-30.5-101, et seq. (available at http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdechart/chact.htm). The ”charter” establishing each such school is a performance contract detailing the school's mission, program, goals, students served, methods of assessment, and ways to measure success.
  • Charter schools are held accountable for the goals and objectives set forth in their Charter School Agreement. Charter schools are accountable for both academic results and fiscal practices to several groups: the district, the parents who choose them, and the public that funds them.
  • Apply via the Office of School Reform and Innovation RFP process.
  • Evaluated using CSAP and School Performance Framework data.
  • Subject to NCLB performance requirements and transformation consequences

 

Performance Schools

What are Performance Schools?

  • Performance schools are new Denver Public Schools designed from the ground up by local educators, parents, and community stakeholders. All performance schools will be new schools with new leaders, new staffs, new students, and new academic programs.
  • Performance schools are expected to develop their academic design and model to be in tight alignment with the academic needs of their students. Performance schools may take advantage of the Colorado Innovation Schools Act to maximize their control over their staffing, scheduling, and finances to best meet student needs and drive high academic achievement.
  • Individuals and teams may apply via the RFP process and are approved by BOE vote.
  • Schools are manged by DPS Instructional Superintendants.
  • May have an enrollment boundary or may be a choice school.
  • Teachers fall under the DCTA collective bargaining agreement.
  • Evaluated using CSAP and School Performance Framework data.
  • Subject to NCLB performance requirements and transformation consequences.

DPS is currently recruiting leaders and teams interested in starting a performance school . Please contact Joe Amundsen, New Schools Manager. 

Innovation Schools

Innovation Schools Act

The Colorado Innovation Schools Act, which was passed in 2008, encourages schools and districts to design and implement innovative practices in a wide variety of areas for the purpose of improving student outcomes; and to obtain waivers from policies that would otherwise present obstacles to these innovations. The Act provides a process that allows schools to petition to waive district policies, state statutes, and provisions of the labor contract. The Innovation Schools Act is designed to provide additional flexibility to schools and districts for the purpose of meeting student needs and improving academic achievement.

The Colorado Innovation Schools Act (§ 22-32.5-107, C.R.S) allows schools to request waivers from district policies, DCTA contract provisions, and state statute in order to implement innovations to improve student achievement.

How to Apply

  • The school develops a plan that outlines the innovations the school is proposing, how they will improve academic achievement and what waivers the school is seeking in order to implement those innovations
  • The school must demonstrate support for the plan from a majority of faculty (50%+1 for general innovation and 60%+1 if the school is also seeking to waive DCTA provisions)
  • The school must demonstrate community support for the plan (e.g. CSC letter of support, other community letters of support)
  • The school works with DPS staff to submit a completed plan and demonstration of faculty and community support to DPS board for approval
  • Once DPS board has approved plan it is forwarded to State Board of Education for review and approval

School leaders and teams interested in becoming an Innovation school should contact Mathew Neal, Director of Innovation Strategy & Operations, for more information.

Contract Schools

What are Contract Schools?

  • Specialized autonomous schools.
  • School and district negotiate a contract to determine the conditions of their operation within the district.
  • The contract is renewed every 3-5 years by BOE approval.
  • Subject to similar review and approval process as charter schools.
  • The contract defines the financial arrangement between the school and DPS.

 

SCHOOL REFORM AND INNOVATION

Office of School Reform & Innovation (OSRI)

DPS Admin Building, 4th Floor

900 Grant Street

Denver, CO 80203

Phone: 720-423-2581

Fax: 720-423-2599