Wednesday Churn: SchoolChoice report

What’s churning:

A second and final report on Denver Public Schools’ new enrollment process, called SchoolChoice, says the new school selection plan worked for most participating families.

Findings of the second report, available here, are largely positive, as were the findings of a first report released in April. Read the first report here.

Highlights of the second, more comprehensive, report:

  • 83 percent of students received one of their top three choices
  • There was a strong correlation between the quality of the school and the demand for a seat at that school
  • More families were making choices, allowing students to move to higher-performing schools
  • Participation gaps by geography, income and race continued to narrow

The reports were released by A+ Denver and the SchoolChoice Transparency Committee. The evaluation and analysis was completed by Mary Klute, Ph.D., of the Buechner Institute for Governance at the University of Colorado – Denver. You can see a spreadsheet listing available seats and requests for seats by school here.

Tuition and fees at Colorado School of Mines is the sixth most expensive in the nation among all four-year public universities, according to lists updated Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Education. The school’s tuition and fees for in-state students in 2010-11 reached $13,425, less than the national high of $15,250 at Penn State but more than the national average of $6,669.

Other lists updated on the College Affordability and Transparency Center include lowest tuition and fees and highest percentage increase in tuition and fees.

“We want to arm students and parents with the information they need to make smart educational choices,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan in a press release. “Students need to know up front how much college will actually cost them instead of waiting to find out when the first student loan bill arrives. These lists are a major step forward in unraveling the mystery of higher education pricing.”

The lists are required by the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008.

A National Education Association leader is urging Colorado educators to work to reelect President Obama.

Becky Pringle, secretary-treasurer of the NEA, the nation’s largest teachers’ union, asked hundreds of Colorado educators Monday night to work for Obama and stand up for children and public education, according to a press release from the Colorado Education Association.

Pringle was the keynote speaker at the CEA’s largest annual training conference in Breckenridge said the president has stood with educators during his first term. She said the future of public workers and public education is at stake should Obama not prevail in November.

“We will lose the only person standing between us and the passage of national legislation that threatens the survival of the middle class and puts at risk the right of all students to a free and universal public education,” Pringle said.

See what Pringle had to say about Obama’s likely opponent, Republican Mitt Romney, in the full release.

Stand for Children Colorado, an advocacy group, this week is hosting its first Teachers Improving Policy Summit or TIPS, which is asking Colorado teachers to learn from national and state experts and work with four state lawmakers to draft a policy solution to issues facing our public education system.

This year’s focus is on school leadership and teacher preparation programs, according to a news release. The summit begins this week; learn more here.

“As an educator, I can help my students lay a foundation for a successful future,” said Lisa Suomi, Stand educator member and TIPS participant. “But my impact is often limited to just the students who are placed in my classroom. I am eager to broaden that reach and use my experience to develop policies to help all Colorado students.”

Guest speakers include Chris Gibbons,  CEO of West Denver Prep; Lisle Gates, former principal and current Professional Development Associate at The Leadership and Learning Center; Kristin Klopfenstein, Executive Director, Education Innovation Institute at the University of Northern Colorado, and Sandi Jacobs, Vice President, National Center on Teacher Quality. Legislative sponsors include Rep. Millie Hamner from HD 56, Sen. Michael Johnston from SD 33, Rep. Carole Murray from HD 45, and Rep. Kevin Priola from HD 30.

What’s on tap:

TODAY

The State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education meets starting at 8:30 a.m. at the system offices, 9101 East Lowry Blvd. Agenda

The State Board of Education meets starting at 9 a.m. in the boardroom at 201 E. Colfax Ave. Up for consideration are several innovation schools applications from the Falcon school district. Agenda

The EdNews’ Churn is a roundup of briefs, notes and meetings in the world of Colorado education, published during the summer as news warrants. To submit an item for consideration in this listing, please email us at EdNews@EdNewsColorado.org.