An education at Denver Public Schools should prepare students for college and be accessible, whether at a charter school or traditional school, according to a compact announced Tuesday between the district and charter leaders.
“The point of today is to celebrate coming together around a clear and common purpose to have high-quality schools to serve all kids,” said DPS Superintendent Tom Boasberg.
But some board members who in the past have challenged charters are questioning Boasberg’s ability to commit to the partnership without consulting the board first.
“Because of the fact that this could potentially change the makeup of the schools, he doesn’t have approval from the board to change the portfolio of our schools,” said board member Andrea Merida. “Nothing specific in his job contract says he can change that.”
The compact allows DPS to apply for part of a $100,000 grant pool put up by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support the district’s goals. If DPS is successful, it may be eligible for future larger grants from the foundation.
DPS spokesman Michael Vaughn said Boasberg does not need board approval.
“The foundation of the compact is based on The Denver Plan that was approved by the board,” Vaughn said. “It’s a compact among our schools, not with the Gates Foundation.”
Vaughn also said that of the eight other districts that have signed similar compacts, only one, Los Angeles, has required board approval. The DPS board will review the compact at next week’s meeting.
Board member Jeannie Kaplan said she has not had a chance to read the entire document but has raised questions too.
“I’m concerned about the legality,” she said.
Merida wants the community involved in the discussion, and unless the community approves, she will not support the compact.
Denver has 30 charter schools that serve approximately 12 percent of students. The student demographics at Denver charter schools nearly mirrors the district’s overall demographics for English-language learners, ethnic minority students and some categories of special-education students.
DPS pledged in its reform blueprint, The Denver Plan, that all schools will be on a “level playing field of opportunity, access, responsibility and accountability.”
The compact likewise focuses on equality of access, opportunity and having the same measures of accountability for all Denver schools.
Denver’s announcement marked the start of an effort by the Gates Foundation to increase the partnerships nationwide. In addition to the nine districts that have signed compacts, including New York, Los Angeles and New Orleans, about 10 other districts are considering doing the same.
Vicki Phillips, director of education for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, said students don’t care if their school is run by a district or not.
“If you ask a fourth-grader about her school, she’ll tell you about her teachers and classes,” Phillips said. “Kids have long understood what we have not.”
Yesenia Robles: 303-954-1372 or yrobles@denverpost.com
