TRANSPARENCY IN EDUCATION

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Jeffco Public Schools
Legislative Votes
    Jeffco's Green Mountain High School Adopts "Academy" Model

Jeffco Public Schools has sanctioned a new curriculum for Green Mountain High School, known as the academy model, which in many respects resembles a combination of college majors in a liberal arts-type environment.


This proven reform model, which has been demonstrated nationally and in other Denver Metro districts to raise student achievement, will be the first of its kind in Jeffco.


The five learning academies which will be offered beginning with next year's freshman class include:

Health and Human Services;

Arts, Humanities, and Performance; 

Business and Global Studies;

Math, Science, and Technology; and

Renaissance, the most comprehensive academy.


There will be an informational meeting at GMHS on April 23, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm for those interested in learning more about the program.








 Denver Public Schools Moves Forward With School Autonomy

The Denver Public Schools board voted on the narrowest of margins to expand its experimentation with school autonomy -- putting decision-making largely in the hands of a school's principal, real "local control!"

Nationally and in DPS' pilot program, school autonomy has been proven to increase student achievement, and in many districts, has actually reduced costs as principals are given budget, personnel, and programmatic authority.

Not unexpectedly, teachers' unions strongly oppose autonomy -- key elements to the success of the model require waivers of work, pay and termination rules to make sure the most effective teachers are in the classroom.