Melanie Asmar

Melanie Asmar covers Denver Public Schools. Asmar previously worked as a reporter for Westword newspaper in Denver and for a daily newspaper in her native New Hampshire. She joined Chalkbeat Colorado in 2015.

The Supreme Court is shown in this Feb. 17, 2016 file photo.

Colorado Supreme Court weighs challenge to law governing job protections for teachers

June 22, 2017 at 3:32 p.m.

On Wednesday, the Colorado Supreme Court heard arguments in two lawsuits challenging the part of the state鈥檚 landmark teacher effectiveness law that allows school districts -- in this case, Denver...

A Denver Public Schools emblem in Denver on March 16, 2016.

Denver school board commits to ensuring schools are safe spaces post-election

November 18, 2016 at 12:47 p.m.

The Denver school board unanimously passed a resolution Thursday affirming the school district抖阴ap goal to celebrate diversity, cultivate safe spaces and 鈥渁ct quickly to prevent and address any and all...

A Denver Public Schools emblem and sign on the Evie Garrett Dennis Campus that houses five separate schools with 1,600 students in Pre-K through 12th grade in Northeast Denver on March 16, 2016.

Flooded with questions after Trump win, Denver Public Schools produces immigration fact sheet

November 16, 2016 at 5:35 p.m.

Denver Public Schools has produced and distributed a fact sheet in four languages answering immigration questions posed by anxious students and families in the wake of last week鈥檚 election of...

Denver Public Schools details response to black educators鈥� concerns about racism

October 4, 2016 at 10:37 a.m.

Two months after a critical report detailed how black educators feel mistreated by Denver Public Schools 鈥� and feel the needs of African-American students are going unmet 鈥� school district...

LAKEWOOD, CO - OCTOBER 17: Lakewood police officer Jesus "Moose" Chavez, left, chats with from left to right Maureen Mallory, school counselor, Assistant Principal Dave Kelley, and Janet Acerra, school counselor, right at Alameda High School in Lakewood, Co on October 17, 2013. He is a school resource officer for Alameda High School as well as a detective with Lakewood Police Department. He goes above and beyond the call of duty trying to help students in need. He ran the Denver Rock N Roll half marathon while pushing Luke Olmsted the entire way. Olmsted, a sophomore at Alameda High School, has cerebral palsy and can not walk. Chavez and Olmsted finished the race in just over two hours. (Photo By Helen H. Richardson/ The Denver Post)

School discipline data mistakes cause problems for groups battling school-to-prison pipeline

August 30, 2016 at 12:21 p.m.

Faulty student discipline numbers for at least three Colorado school districts have muddied efforts to track suspension and expulsion trends, complicated advocates鈥� plans to press for change and caused state...

A placard posted above a water fountain warns against drinking the water at Flint Northwestern High School in Flint, Michigan, May 4, 2016, where US President Barack Obama met with locals for a neighborhood roundtable on the drinking water crisis.

No evidence at this time that schools have elevated levels of lead

August 26, 2016 at 6:33 p.m.

Denver Public Schools is testing the drinking water in all of its buildings for lead. The state鈥檚 largest school district is telling families the testing is proactive given that high...

Black educators in Denver Public Schools feel mistreated, according to report

August 23, 2016 at 5:01 p.m.

Denver Public Schools officials said the state鈥檚 largest school district plans to respond to a recent report that found its African-American teachers feel mistreated 鈥� and feel as though the...

Denver Public School's Superintendent Tom Boasberg eats lunch with students at Cowell Elementary's Summer SLAM Program, July 18, 2016.

DPS superintendent describes what he learned abroad

July 19, 2016 at 9:14 a.m.

Tom Boasberg left in January for an unprecedented six-month break to live abroad with his wife and three kids.

George Washington High School would get $6.7 million for upgrades or renovations under new recommendations.

DPS committee wants to ask Denver voters for $572 million for new schools, upgrades

June 3, 2016 at 11:59 a.m.

A committee of 75 parents, students, teachers and taxpayers is recommending Denver Public Schools ask voters to approve raising $572 million in taxes to build new schools and upgrade existing...

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