Denver’s school board voted Thursday night to close a chronically low-performing charter school in northwest Denver and put six others in the district on probation, demanding they improve.
The board voted 4-3 to close Denver Arts and Technology Academy, or DATA, next school year, with board members saying the school has had too much administrative turnover and problematic academic performance.
“We need to make the tough call and tough choices,” board member Jill Conrad said. “DATA has clearly struggled to find its way.”
The kindergarten-through-eighth-grade school, operated by Mosaica Education Inc., has 430 students, 25 teachers and seven staff members. Four years ago it moved into a new building near trendy Highlands’ Garden on Tennyson Street.
The school, which has had seven principals in seven years, was placed on probation a year ago by the board and continues to lag behind expectations written into its charter agreement. District staff recommended putting it on a one-year probation to improve, but board members thought the school had been given too many chances.
School officials say they will appeal the decision to the State Board of Education.
“We are in the midst of incredible improvement and change,” principal Ray Griffin said. “Kids are doing really well. We are anticipating real success that school boards demand.”
The school has seen improvement over the year — meeting the federal standard of Adequate Yearly Progress in reading and math and an improved growth rating on the state’s School Accountability Report.
School board members, however, said in this “era of accountability,” charter schools will be held to the same tough standard as other schools. The board in November voted to close eight of its own traditional schools.
The threat of possible closure of another school, Challenges, Choices & Images Charter School, drew a crowd of supporters — who stood outside the administration building, held signs and chanted.
The board agreed with district staff to place the school on a one-year probation with a strict framework to improve.
The school is in the process of renovating a building to house its 616 students, ranging from kindergarten to 12th grade.
But students have shown poor academic growth. State scores are well below average, and it has had financial problems, district officials say.
This is the first time the school has been placed on probation, a move that principal Carolyn Jones said was unfair.
“I don’t know what we can do in a year,” she said. “This is the first time we have been put on probation, and we’re put on probation for a year.”
The district also placed five other charters and contract schools on two-year probation: Escuela Tlateloco, Life Skills Center of Denver, Skyland Community High School, Denver Connections Academy and P.S. 1 Charter.
Jeremy P. Meyer: 303-954-1367 or jpmeyer@denverpost.com
