Chalkbeat

Education news. In context.

Chalkbeat

Jeffco Public Schools

task force

Colorado
July 5, 2018

Jeffco takes collaborative approach as it considers later school start times

The group crafting recommendations, which is still open to new members, is seeking public input.

Unintended consequences

Colorado
June 22, 2018

When Denver stopped lunch-shaming, debt from unpaid meals skyrocketed

After the Denver school district outlawed lunch-shaming last fall, debt from unpaid lunches ballooned.

How I Teach

Colorado
June 12, 2018

How the acting aspirations of a student with Down syndrome changed this theater teacher’s approach

This Colorado theater teacher talks about why she aims to reach a diverse set of students, how she builds rapport with students and what it means to be a “cookie person.”

career prep

Colorado
May 18, 2018

A growing Jeffco program trains future early childhood workers while they’re still in high school

A new training program at a Jefferson County high school seeks to help cultivate the early childhood workforce of the future.

Road map

Colorado
May 11, 2018

A new guide aims to help Colorado school districts offer mental health support to students

A Colorado nonprofit group released a new tool kit to help teachers, parents, and administrators infuse mental health support into schools.

discipline disparities

Colorado
May 9, 2018

Colorado schools gave out nearly 1,800 suspensions to young students with disabilities last year

A Chalkbeat analysis shows that in Colorado last year, special education students in kindergarten through second grade received a disproportionate number of suspensions.

first shot

Colorado
May 8, 2018

Jeffco district giving charter school district status and district building, while letting it maintain autonomy

Jeffco's school board approved the innovation plan for for charter Free Horizon Montessori, moving the plan forward.

Data dive

Colorado
April 3, 2018

7 things to know about how Colorado schools punish their youngest students

As educators debate harsh school discipline nationwide, here's a look at which Colorado districts are suspending young children at the highest rates.

outside the box

Colorado
March 23, 2018

Program to bring back dropout students is one of 10 new ideas Jeffco is investing in

The district announced the winners of the innovation fund competition this month.

diverse offerings

Colorado
February 20, 2018

School leaders in one Jeffco community are looking at demographic shifts as an opportunity to rebrand

Edgewater schools, plus Molholm Elementary in Lakewood, are seeing changes in demographics that might facilitate changes to existing language programs.

Idea pitch

Colorado
January 12, 2018

Despite concerns, Jeffco school board agrees to spend $1 million to start funding school innovations

Employees in Jeffco Public Schools can now pitch an idea as part of a new application process for small grants to fund innovative programs that might improve education.

year in review

Colorado
December 21, 2017

A new superintendent and a new vision for Jeffco schools in 2017

Jeffco Public Schools story lines of 2107 were centered around the new superintendent and his new vision.

year in review

Colorado
December 21, 2017

Early childhood discipline, child care deserts and funding challenges in the spotlight during 2017

Amid national debate on the disproportionate number of suspensions given out to young boys of color, Colorado lawmakers grappled with discipline policy in 2017.

Final tally

Colorado
December 8, 2017

Victorious Jeffco school board incumbents spent six times more than challengers in campaign’s last days

Union-backed school board incumbents running for re-election for Jeffco Public Schools outspent challengers in the days leading up to election.

more sleeping time

Colorado
December 6, 2017

Jeffco schools will study pushing back high school start times

Officials in Jeffco Public Schools plan to bring together a group of people to study the possibility of changing the start time for district high schools.

choice and competition

Colorado
November 30, 2017

School choice, Jeffco style: District considering new school models, centralized enrollment

Jeffco Public Schools is moving toward more choice with proposals for new district-run school options and with plans for a centralized online school choice system.

How I Teach

Colorado
November 13, 2017

‘All our dreams are on his shoulders.’ The stories that motivate a bilingual teacher

A bilingual teacher talks about how kids naturally merge two languages, why she uses drama to teach writing and what she learned from a parent-teacher conference.

Decision day

Colorado
Updated

Unity prevails: Jeffco incumbents easily beat back challengers

Jefferson County voters are deciding Tuesday on the need for unified or dissenting voices on the school board for Jeffco Public Schools.

growing gap

Colorado
November 4, 2017

Jeffco school board incumbents swamping opponents in campaign contributions

School board candidates updated their campaign finance reports Friday, in the last filings before Tuesday's election.

Colorado Votes 2017

Colorado
November 4, 2017

A one stop guide to the 2017 Jefferson County school board race

Many people wait to vote, so we thought it’d be helpful to put our most essential coverage of races in Jefferson County all in one place.

Keeping the peace

Colorado
October 31, 2017

Jeffco voters to decide whether school board will remain united or include dissenting voices

The campaign for this year's school board in Jeffco is much different than two years ago, but still centered on the memories of the past chaos.

How I Teach

Colorado
October 31, 2017

No hiding: This Colorado teacher doesn’t hold back his feelings about how music moves him

A high school choir director talks about how vulnerability helps him teach, why he decided to switch his college major and what he does to encourage peer mentorship.

moving on up

Colorado
October 23, 2017

Jeffco on track to move most of next year’s sixth-graders into middle school buildings

Most Jeffco middle schools are preparing to teach sixth through eighth graders starting next year.

21st century schools

Colorado
October 20, 2017

Five takeaways from a panel with author David Osborne, champion of giving schools autonomy and holding them accountable

Osborne, an author and consultant who specializes in documenting public sector reforms, is an advocate of charter schools and giving schools greater autonomy.

big gaps

Colorado
October 18, 2017

Jeffco school board incumbents raise big money, challengers falling behind

Compared with two years ago, the election in the state's second largest school district is a sleepy affair.

Cabinet level

Colorado
October 13, 2017

Jason Glass’s inner circle: Meet the team seeing through the Jeffco superintendent’s vision

A look at the salary and duties of Jeffco's leadership team.

planning ahead

Colorado
October 11, 2017

New superintendent’s vision for Jeffco: It’s not just what happens in school that matters

Jeffco Public Schools is unveiling a new vision document that will be turned into a strategy plan to lead the district for the next several years.

Colorado Votes 2017

Colorado
October 5, 2017

We asked the 2017 Jeffco school board candidates seven questions. Here are their responses.

Two years after a high-profile recall election that saw the Jeffco school board completely turn over, only two seats up for election this year have a challenger.

different voices

Colorado
September 18, 2017

Jeffco superintendent extends listening tour through event targeting multilingual community

Superintendent Jason Glass said he heard more questions about equity and language issues than he had on previous stops on his tour through the Jeffco district.

Uncharted waters

Colorado
September 8, 2017

From passionate to politics-free, here’s how Colorado school districts responded to Trump’s DACA decision

The response shows how school districts view their responsibilities when a divisive national policy change carries implications for many Colorado students and families.

180 degrees

Colorado
September 1, 2017

Two last-minute challengers emerge to two Jeffco school board incumbents

Board president Ron Mitchell does not have an opponent.

Tell us

Colorado
August 29, 2017

Many parents praise — and some criticize — Jeffco superintendent’s statement on Charlottesville

Dozens of Jeffco parents praised the superintendent’s statement on the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va., while a handful of others criticized it.

slow down

Colorado
August 28, 2017

New Jeffco superintendent calls a timeout on any more school closures

The new superintendent for Jeffco Public Schools wants to change the process for considering school closures to something that would take more factors into account.

'tough conversations'

Colorado
August 18, 2017

These seventh-graders started the school year talking about Charlottesville and what they can do about racism

Mirroring conversations happening nationwide, a group of Denver seventh-graders this week delved into a discussion about the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville.

TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE SCHOOL DAY

Colorado
August 15, 2017

Colorado schools make plans to view — and teach — the solar eclipse

Schools throughout Colorado are setting aside time for students to view the eclipse, which is expected to reach 92.3 percent totality over Denver.

Talking it through

Colorado
August 11, 2017

A gentler approach: Jeffco Public Schools emphasizing restorative practices as part of discipline changes

Jeffco Public Schools is increasing the priority on a roll out of restorative justice.

college prep

Colorado
August 10, 2017

One Jeffco program is taking on a big problem: Many low-income students accepted to college never attend

This mentorship program hopes to address a problem that often flies under the radar: 40 percent of low-income students who have been accepted to college don’t show up.  

How are you feeling?

Colorado
August 7, 2017

With plan to focus on teen health, Adams 12 school district opens new clinic

The Adams 12 school district, Colorado’s sixth-largest, will open its first school-based health clinic this fall at Thornton High School.

community input

Colorado
August 4, 2017

A high-poverty Jeffco school is about to adopt a “community school” model. What does that mean?

The Jeffco school will be a hub for community organizations to provide services such as English language classes, job training and medical care.

educator effectiveness

Colorado
July 11, 2017

Jeffco Public Schools diverging from state law on timeline for evaluating teachers

Although Jeffco is not following the timeline of the law, district leaders said it’s following the intent.

getting to know you

Colorado
July 10, 2017

New Jeffco superintendent has more questions than answers in tour of district

Jason Glass, Jeffco's new superintendent, visited eight sites throughout the district to gather community feedback as he starts his new position.

digging into discipline

Colorado
May 19, 2017

Jeffco Public Schools suspended an average of four young students a day last year — and district officials are paying attention

Jeffco Public Schools, Colorado's second largest school district, hands out many more suspensions to early elementary students than most other large districts.

contract details

Colorado
May 16, 2017

Jeffco board unanimously approves three-year contract for new superintendent

Jason Glass will earn a salary of $265,000 a year, plus benefits.

No labels

Colorado
May 15, 2017

How Jeffco’s pick for superintendent changed his mind about education reform

Jason Glass says his perspective on education changed while in Iowa when he was looking at international benchmarks.

The pick is in

Colorado
May 1, 2017

Head of Eagle County schools named finalist for Jeffco superintendent post

Jason Glass has been outspoken on issues ranging from school finance to testing and recognizing bilingual students.

And then there were six

Colorado
April 21, 2017

Jeffco school board narrows pool for superintendent search

The Jeffco school board spent several hours Thursday night reviewing superintendent applications and will start interviews next week.

money matters

Colorado
April 7, 2017

Jeffco teachers would get pay raises under tentative agreement

Jeffco leaders have reached an agreement to raise teacher salaries next year if the union ratifies the agreement and board members approve it.

mutual agreement

Colorado
March 10, 2017

Dan McMinimee to get superintendent’s wages while serving as Jeffco board adviser

McMinimee would have been owed an entire year's salary if the district had cut him loose before the end of his contract.

In transition

Colorado
March 7, 2017

One month after closure vote, uncertainty about what’s next for students at Pleasant View Elementary in Golden

Jeffco leaders are planning the transition for the closure of Pleasant View Elementary, but some big questions such as where to locate the preschool remain unanswered.

Keeping ‘advisory’ role

Colorado
March 2, 2017

Dan McMinimee out as Jeffco superintendent, ending awkward period after board vote to search for replacement

McMinimee will continue in a yet-to-be-defined "advisory" role.
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