A candidate in the is decrying a recently distributed that shows her face alongside those of President Donald Trump and U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and reads “We have to keep their agenda out of Denver.”
Angela Cobián, the 28-year-old daughter of Mexican immigrants who spent two years teaching English language learners in Denver, says she felt “genuine shock” at the sight of the mailer, which was produced by a teachers union-funded independent expenditure committee.
Opponents of Denver Public Schools’ policies signaled months ago they would seek to tie candidates who support Denver Public Schools’ reforms to DeVos, a billionaire champion of school choice. Supporters of the districtap agenda were ready with their own narrative: that their would stand up to the Trump administration’s immigration and education policies.
All seven current DPS board members support the districtap strategies, which include giving families a choice from among district-run schools, charter schools and “innovation schools” that have autonomy but not as much as charters. DPS rates schools through a system that heavily weights state test scores, and recommends persistently low-performing schools be closed.
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