Policies
Review of Policies
The Denver Public Schools Board of Education, with the assistance of the legal department, is continuously reviewing all DPS policies to ensure that the district has policies and procedures required by law. This review also evaluates the appropriate governance level for each policy. Through this process, the board will revise existing policies or adopt new policies on issues legally requiring action by the board. Issues that do not require board action may be delegated to staff.
Policies Under Consideration
First Reads
None at this time.
Second Reads
None at this time.
Policy Governance Model
The Denver Board of Education prepared over several months for a shift to a Policy Governance model.
The Colorado Association of School Boards (CASB) provided implementation training to assist the board in more clearly outlining the roles and responsibilities of the board and the superintendent. The board voted on the specific policies under consideration at its Oct. 21 and Nov. 18 meetings.
The Policy Governance model establishes clear roles, responsibilities and relationships between the board and the superintendent. Under the new model, the board will be able to focus on collaborating with constituents and advancing the board’s vision for the district. Policy Governance will also empower the superintendent — as the day-to-day leader of DPS — to select and manage the programs and policies needed to achieve the board’s vision.
Community members will still be able to interact with the board as they always have — policy governance does not disrupt that. Public comment and direct communication with board members remain the best way to provide feedback on the board’s vision for DPS.
The board developed policies for four set categories:
Ends/Goals Policies: Description of the long-term goals for the district
Executive Limitations: Legal and value boundaries that serve as guardrails for the superintendent to achieve stated goals
Board/Superintendent Relationships: The roadmap used to define how the board and superintendent will interact and how the superintendent will be evaluated
Governance Process Policies: Operational guidelines for the board, including code of conduct and role of the board president
The proposed policies were available for a ‘first read’ by the community, and later voted upon by the board. Policy drafts focusing on Board/Superintendent Relationships, Ends and Governance Policies, were available for first read on Oct. 21 and were voted on at the board meeting on Nov. 18. Executive Limitations was up for a vote on Oct. 21.
Reasonable Interpretations and Monitoring Reports
Ends 1 – Equity
Ends 2 – Academic Success
Ends 3 – Student and Staff Well-Being
Ends 4 – Health and Safety
Ends 5 – Post Graduation and Global Citizenship
Ends 6 – Climate Action
Executive Limitations
EL 1 – Global Executive Constraint
EL 2 – Emergency Superintendent Succession
EL 3 – Development of Administration Policies, Regulations, and Procedures
EL 4 – Communication and Counsel to the Board
EL 5 – Commitment to Accomplishment and Accountability
EL 6 – Educational Program
EL 7 – Instructional Materials Selection & Adoption
EL 8 – School Year Calendar
EL 9 – Treatment of Students, Parents, Families, and Communities
EL 10 – Student Conduct, Discipline, and Attendance
EL 11 – School Safety
EL 12 – Employee Treatment
EL 13 – Staff Compensation
EL 14 – Staff Evaluation
EL 15 – Budget Monitoring
EL 16 – Financial Administration
EL 17 – Asset Protection
EL 18 – School Consolidation and Closure
SY 24-25 Reasonable Interpretations Monitoring Calendar
Month | Progress Measure | Data Reported |
|---|---|---|
January | Strategic Roadmap: The Adult Experience
| 2.5 Improve participation of families of marginalized identities in district decision-making by 10 percentage points as measured by participation in Family Tu Voz 2.6 Improve Family Experience Index for families by 10 percentage points |
No formal Monitoring: February 2025 | ||
March | Strategic Roadmap: The Student Experience Ends 5 Post Graduation & Global Citzenship Improve Post-Pandemic Workforce Readiness average on each of these measures by 10 percentage points. Accelerate the growth of some student groups by more than 10 percentage points. | 1.9 Four-year graduation rate 1.11 Five-year graduation rate |
No formal Monitoring: April 2025 | ||
May | Strategic Roadmap: The Student Experience Ends 1 Equity / Ends 3 Student Well-Being / Ends 4 Health & Safety Improve Student Experience Index average by 10 percentage points. Accelerate the growth of some student groups by more than 10 percentage points. Index includes surveys to measure student health, safety, belonging, cultural pride, engagement, agency and attendance. | 1.1 - Student Experience Index secondary Readiness |
Strategic Roadmap: The Adult Experience Ends 1 Equity Continuous, positive movement toward a more reflective workforce | 2.4 - 10 percentage point increase in students report in surveys that they see themselves reflected by the adults in their schools | |
Strategic Roadmap: The System Experience Ends 1 Equity | 3.1 - Ten systems audited for equity (3% for 3 systems) | |
June | Strategic Roadmap: The Student Experience Ends 5 Post Graduation & Global Citzenship Improve Post-Pandemic Workforce Readiness average on each of these measures by 10 percentage points. Accelerate the growth of some student groups by more than 10 percentage points. | 1.12 - Maintain or Increase Pass Rates for CTE Courses |
Strategic Roadmap: The Student Experience Ends 5 Post Graduation & Global Citzenship | 1.16 - Increase enrollment to rigorous courses (AP, IB, and CE) 1.17 - Increase number of students participating in work-based learning experiences (internships and apprenticeships) | |
Strategic Roadmap: The Adult Experience Ends 3 Student Well-Being Improve Culture Vitality Index by 10 percentage points | 2.1 - Culture Vitality Index | |
Strategic Roadmap: The System Experience Ends 1 Equity Six community hubs operating to meet community needs - Expand Community hub services to better meet needs | 3.2 - Services provided meet the needs of the community | |
No formal Monitoring: July 2025 | ||
August 2025 | Strategic Roadmap: The Student Experience Ends 2 Teaching & Learning Improve Grade-Level Achievement proficiency by 10 percentage points. Accelerate the growth of some student groups by more than 10 percentage points. | 1.2 % Grade Level and Above READ ACT (Grades K-3) 1.3 Decrease % students Sig Below Grade Level READ ACT (K-3) 1.4 CMAS % Proficient ELA 3-8th 1.5 CMAS % Proficient Math 3-8th 1.6 COSAT % Proficient EBRW 1.7 COSAT % Proficient Math |
Strategic Roadmap: The Student Experience Ends 5 Post Graduation & Global Citzenship Improve Post-Pandemic Workforce Readiness average on each of these measures by 10 percentage points. Accelerate the growth of some student groups by more than 10 percentage points. | 1.13 Maintain or Increase Pass Rates for AP, IB, CE courses | |
September 2025 | Strategic Roadmap: The Student Experience Ends 5 Post Graduation & Global Citzenship Growth for Students (SGP >50%tile) students growing at the 50 percentile or higher on CMAS and COSAT | 1.8 Median Growth Percentile |
Strategic Roadmap: The Student Experience Ends 5 Post Graduation & Global Citzenship Improve Post-Pandemic Workforce Readiness average on each of these measures by 10 percentage points. Accelerate the growth of some student groups by more than 10percentage points. | 1.14 Maintain or Improve Students graduating with the Seal of Biliteracy 1.15 Maintain or Improve Students graduating with industry certificates | |
Strategic Roadmap: The Adult Experience Ends 1 Equity Continuous, positive movement toward a more reflective workforce | 2.2 Annual retention rates of staff of all identities 2.3 Measures of recruitment and hiring efforts for staff with diverse identities | |
Strategic Roadmap: The System Experience Ends 6 Climate Action | 3.3 Achieve specific goals outlined in Climate Action Plan | |
Strategic Roadmap: The System Experience EL 18 School Closures & Consolidation | 3.4 Implement all requirements outlined in EL 18 School Closures & Consolidation | |
October 2025 | B/SR5 - Superintendent Evaluation | B/SR-5 Monitoring Superintendent Performance B/SRSE Superintendent Formal Summative Evaluation SY 25-26 Reasonable Interpretrations |