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.

DENVER, CO - March 16: 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, Colorado on March 16, 2016.

Principal shares vision for new Denver high school modeled after historically Black colleges

December 30, 2020 at 6:00 a.m.

A new high school modeled after historically Black colleges and universities is set to open next fall in Denver, a school district working to improve education for Black students citywide.

Denver Public Schools to bring kindergarteners, first-grade students back later this month

September 11, 2020 at 6:25 p.m.

Citing decreases in COVID-19 cases and the challenges of remote learning for young children, Denver Public Schools said Friday that schools could start opening classrooms to kindergarten and first grade...

Westgate Elementary School has three kindergarten ...

How two Colorado kindergarten teachers, one in person, one online, navigated a new reality

August 26, 2020 at 7:56 a.m.

At 7:50 a.m., kindergarten teacher Liz Blaskowski stood by her classroom door inside Westminster鈥檚 Skyline Vista Elementary School, ready to greet 17 new students -- and take their temperatures. Several...

DENVER, CO - JULY 29: Socially-distanced desks with laptop computers at the Fort Logan Northgate school July 29, 2020. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)

Denver schools short thousands of computers as classes set to start online next week

August 20, 2020 at 10:09 a.m.

Denver Public Schools ordered 12,500 computers but not all of them have arrived, spokesperson Winna MacLaren said. The district serves about 92,000 students.

Maddie Vanderploeg, 11, a 5th-grade student ...

Denver survey shows Black, Hispanic families more likely to prefer virtual learning

July 27, 2020 at 12:36 p.m.

In late June and early July, the Denver school district asked families to make a choice: Would they want their children to stay home this fall and learn online, or...

After school program teacher Gaby Dominguez ...

Facing big budget gap, Denver Public Schools cuts $65 million but avoids layoffs

June 30, 2020 at 12:35 p.m.

The Denver school board unanimously approved a budget Monday that cuts $65 million while still giving raises to teachers and low-wage workers. Top district administrators will see their salaries reduced,...

STRIVE Prep teacher Justin Wallace helps ...

Denver charter schools received $16 million in federal coronavirus aid for small businesses

June 30, 2020 at 12:16 p.m.

Denver charter schools received a total of $16 million in federal coronavirus relief funds meant to help keep small businesses afloat during the pandemic, according to a memo prepared by...

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, Colorado on March 16, 2016.

Denver elementary principal removed after district finds she discriminated against a Black student

June 28, 2020 at 1:18 p.m.

A Denver elementary school principal has been removed from her position after a school district investigation found she discriminated against an 8-year-old Black student because of his race.

“No one predicted a pandemic”: Denver district to ask teachers to give up some raises

June 17, 2020 at 9:14 a.m.

Faced with a $65 million budget shortfall, the Denver school district plans to ask teachers to forgo some of the pay raises guaranteed by a hard-won union contract. On Tuesday,...

Denver School Board At-Large-Director, Tay Anderson, ...

Denver school board votes to phase police out of district

June 12, 2020 at 7:44 a.m.

Police officers will be phased out of working in Denver鈥檚 public schools over the next year, with all school resource officers gone from middle and high schools by June 2021.

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