The Denver education compact, a group of community leaders focused on reforming education, settled on three initial goals Monday.
The three — which might morph over time — include preparing every child for kindergarten, ensuring they complete high school and providing a path that leads to a career.
“Let’s start with the ‘why’ in mind,” said compact member Tony Salazar, executive director of the Colorado Education Association. “If we can agree on that, the how and then why will come into place.”
The Denver education compact, co-chaired by Mayor Michael Hancock and Denver Public Schools Superintendent Tom Boasberg, met for the first time in October and started the conversation.
On Monday, the compact’s 25 members discussed the language of the proposed goals for more than hour, seeking a simple but comprehensive language. The discussion focused heavily on incorporating the Denver community in every part of the work.
Helayne Jones, director of the Colorado Legacy Foundation, wanted to acknowledge that not all of the responsibility for achieving the goals falls on the school district.
“I don’t want the community piece as an afterthought,” Jones said.
For Dan Ritchie, chairman and chief executive of The Denver Center for the Performing Arts, involving a community aspect also meant expecting another dimension to complement academic success.
“It’s about more than just completing high school, it’s about teaching character,” Ritchie said.
The suggestions will be incorporated into a rewording of the compact’s vision and mission, and into strategies for each goal.
Executive director Theresa Peña said compact members also were responsible for going back into the community to continue the conversations and help elaborate on them.
“What you all bring to the table is the influence and the authority to help bring all the stakeholders to the table,” Peña said.
Before the next meeting in February, Peña and the compact’s co-chairmen will create a structure for subcommittees. Those groups will be charged with identifying problem areas and doing research needed to help fix them.
