Latest news with #DenverPublicSchools
CBS News
03-07-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Denver Public Schools is one of many Colorado districts to feel the impact from freeze on education grants
School districts across Colorado could lose up to $70 million in funding after the Trump administration withheld nearly $7 billion in education grants expected nationwide on July 1. File photo of a school bus in Colorado Getty Images/iStockphoto Denver Public Schools, the state's largest district, warns that a delay in these federal funds could result in significant program cuts -- particularly for vulnerable student populations, including migrant youth, English learners, and students in low-income communities. "If those funds don't get released, the impact will be felt across the district," said Chuck Carpenter, chief financial officer for Denver Public Schools. "This is completely unprecedented. It never happens -- and everyone, as parents and citizens, should be concerned, too." Carpenter said this is the first time in his five-year tenure that the district did not receive its expected federal funding on July 1. "The government's fiscal year starts the previous October -- we've been planning for this since October 2024," Carpenter said. "If there were future cuts, they would typically apply to next year's budget, not the current one." The funding in question supports teacher training, services for English learners and migrant students, and other equity-driven education programs. DPS says a $10 million shortfall now looms over the district's budget. "Schools have their staffing set. Our programs are ready to begin in August 2025. The budget is in place," Carpenter said. "To get news that these funds -- fully legal and appropriated by Congress -- are not coming? That's just not right." According to the U.S. Department of Education, the delay is due to a review of whether the grants align with President Trump's priorities -- a move that could prompt legal challenges. "There's likely to be litigation about this," Carpenter said. "If it turns out the executive branch can just say, 'We're not going to spend the money Congress appropriated,' then sometime this fall, DPS will have to make very difficult decisions to balance the budget without those funds." Statewide, nearly 37% of Colorado students are Hispanic. In Denver Public Schools, that number rises to about 50%. During the 2023-24 school year, the district welcomed more than 2,700 newcomer students. District leaders emphasize that the delay is not just a financial issue, but one of educational equity. "DPS is probably providing more multilingual services than any other district in the entire state," Carpenter said. "These are real dollars that impact real people's lives. You don't just cut $10 million out of the budget without serious consequences. It will be felt." Gov. Jared Polis spoke about the funding freeze, calling it a direct attack on Colorado students, teachers, and families. "This funding for our schools is already obligated, and it's absurd that the federal government withheld it. Investing in education and ensuring that Colorado children have the best possible future has been a top priority, and it's disappointing to see the federal government hurt students and teachers. This funding freeze is a direct attack on children, families, and Colorado educators and would take away critical resources from our schools. My administration has taken major steps in ensuring every Colorado student and educator has the best environment to learn and grow, from free, full-day kindergarten and preschool, and fully funding Colorado schools. We remain committed to protecting needed resources for Colorado schools and urge the Trump administration to reconsider this harmful freeze." Colorado Education Commissioner Susana Córdova added a statement as well: "Unless federal funding levels are restored, Colorado is projected to lose more than $70 million in education support for the 2025-2026 school year based on current allocations for Title I-C, II-A, III-A, IV-A, and IV-B programs. These funds are essential to supporting students, educators, and communities across all 178 school districts and BOCES. Without them, schools may face significant cuts to programs and services that families and educators rely on. These programs help ensure every child-no matter where they live-has the opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed." School districts across the state -- and the nation -- could face similar impacts if the funds remain frozen. District leaders are urging the U.S. Department of Education to act quickly or risk long-term harm to public education systems.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
Teacher sued for allegedly giving Denver middle school students marijuana brownies
DENVER (KDVR) — The parents of two 12-year-old students in the Denver Public School district are suing a language arts teacher, accusing her of baking and distributing marijuana-laced brownies to the two children. Sharon Wilson, a 6th-grade language arts teacher at Kepner Beacon Middle School, is accused in a civil lawsuit of placing 'her students in direct danger after she personally baked and distributed home-made brownies laced with tetrahydrocannabinol,' or THC, the psychoactive ingredient of marijuana. Denver Public Schools will not close additional schools in 2025 The lawsuit alleges that Wilson held a writing contest for her 6th-grade class and, instead of providing a 'typical prize,' she gave them the laced brownies on June 4, 2024. The lawsuit says that the teacher admitted to 'making the brownies for' the two minors. The lawsuit alleges the two children ate the brownies and soon thereafter, 'began to feel sick and strange with symptoms including: difficulty walking, difficulty focusing, and overall feeling like something was happening to their bodies that they did not understand.' Both students required help making it out to their parents' vehicles at the end of the day, the complaint alleges. The lawsuit states that one of the children's mothers first thought her child had eaten peanuts, resulting in an allergic reaction, and texted Wilson to get more information. '(Wilson) responded via text message, admitting she did make the brownies because (the students) won (Wilson's) contest,' the lawsuit states. A screenshot of the text message exchange is included in the lawsuit, showing that the mother said her child was exhibiting 'red eyes' and dizziness, and asking what ingredients were in the brownies. Denver changes its mind and will keep center that aids homeless open afterall 'They are from scratch,' Wilson responded, in part. 'Maybe it is the unsweetened chocolate? I also use sugar, flour, Mexican vanilla, salt, baking soda, eggs.' 'Another student had one too, they made the most words with Greek and Latin roots, so they won the prize,' Wilson continued in her text with the parent. 'The other student hasn't reported any allergy symptoms. I'm so sorry, it sounds like an allergic reaction.' Both students were independently taken to urgent care that day, according to the lawsuit. Blood tests reportedly showed that each child had THC levels in their system. The Colorado Bureau of Investigations reportedly tested the brownies and found they did have marijuana. Denver Public Schools provided a statement about the teacher to FOX31 on Thursday. Middle school teacher Sharon Wilson was placed on paid administrative leave at the end of the 2023-2024 school year. This is standard procedure for Denver Public Schools until a matter is resolved. Wilson separated from DPS in August 2024, before the start of the 2024-2025 school year. Personnel information is confidential therefore, we cannot provide further details on this situation. Denver Public Schools FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox Wilson is also facing a criminal case in the matter out of Denver County Court, the parents alleged in their lawsuit, saying she faces a charge of misdemeanor child abuse. The parents are seeking a jury trial to determine compensation for pain and suffering, mental and emotional distress, and other damages. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Google funds STEM program for Denver Public Schools
DENVER (KDVR) — Google has awarded Denver Public Schools $150,000 in funding for STEM programs that will be used across the DPS system, the Denver Public Schools Foundation announced in a press release. 'No Kings' protest to go on in Parker despite town's requested cancellation DPS said that the funding will be used to help open new pathways for students and educators to engage with emerging technologies, with a special focus on quantum computing. 'Introducing students and educators to quantum computing early matters. Thanks to we are building a foundation for lifelong curiosity, innovation, and success in STEM careers,' said Sara Hazel, President & CEO of DPS Foundation, in the press release. 'We are grateful to for their commitment to supporting innovative learning opportunities for our students and educators. We know that the future in tech is limitless and want to ensure DPS students have the opportunities they need to be at the forefront of this industry.' Part of the funding will support Quantum Camp, also known as QCaMP, which is a program that will take place over the summer and allows students and educators to participate in the innovative industry. 'The quantum revolution is here. We need curious young minds to unlock its full potential,' said United States Senator John Hickenlooper. 'This funding will help position Colorado and our students at the front of the next scientific era of innovation.' Colorado officials are investing resources into QCaMP at DPS to help students be 'future ready' and want to help students open new career pathways through the programs and investments. 'As a former principal, I've seen firsthand the impact investments like these can make in a student's life,' said Denver Mayor Mike Johnston. 'I want to thank the funding and the DPS Foundation for opening new doors and creating new pathways for our future innovators and dreamers here in Denver.' The program will have DPS educators complete a training course, which will help them understand the concepts themselves, while also teaching them fun lesson plans and ready-to-use classroom concepts. The teachers will also be able to apply the education to real-world situations and the societal impact of quantum computing. At the end of the training, 10 DPS educators and two instructional coaches will commit to bringing quantum learning to their classrooms. 'Colorado is leading the way in quantum technology, and as the largest school district in the state, it's crucial that Denver Public Schools educators have the resources they need to bring these groundbreaking concepts directly to students,' said DPS Superintendent Dr. Alex Marrero. 'Our mission is to ensure that every DPS student has the skills and knowledge to thrive in the industries of tomorrow. A big thank you to for their support in making this vision a reality.' Driver with suspended license clocks over 100 mph on I-70: police QCaMP begins on July 21 and will last for a week. After the camp is completed, a professional development week will commence on July 28 for DPS educators and the instructional coaches. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Democratic Debate Over Private School Choice Reveals Post-Election Tensions
For 11 years, Jennifer Walmer led Democrats for Education Reform Colorado, the state chapter of the national organization that advocates for school choice. Among the biggest wins of her tenure, she counts increases in charter funding and twice electing Democrat and school reformer Gov. Jared Polis as governor. After serving as chief of staff for the Denver Public Schools, she fully expected to finish her career at DFER. Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter 'We worked hard to build power in the Democratic Party specifically around accountability, choice and the role of public charter schools,' she said. 'Everything had always been grounded 100% in public education.' But last year, she said she 'saw the writing on the wall' when the organization's leader embraced Education Savings Accounts and other forms of private school choice. She is among several who have since left the group over the issue. In a May 5 policy paper, DFER CEO Jorge Elorza, former two-term mayor of Providence, Rhode Island, suggested that instead of 'rejecting them offhand,' his party should explore how ESAs can advance Democratic values like uplifting needy families and protecting civil rights. Eighteen Republican-led states now have such programs, which parents can use for private school tuition or homeschooling. Most Democrats say vouchers and ESAs lack accountability and threaten funding for public schools. To Alisha Searcy, who joined DFER just last year, Elorza's about-face felt like a betrayal. 'DFER has done extraordinary work to get courageous Democrats elected to push bold policies that would truly improve public education,' said the former Georgia state legislator. She was hired last year to expand the organization's reach into her state, Alabama and Tennessee, but resigned in May. 'We need a strong Democratic voice, now more than ever. This move to embrace vouchers and ESAs is the exact opposite.' Related The issue has brought bubbling to the surface a debate that was previously restricted to Democratic backrooms. Elorza took the helm of DFER at a time when polls began to show that voters were losing confidence in Democrats as the party they most trusted on education. Parents, the surveys suggested, were more preoccupied with whether their kids were recovering from pandemic learning loss than how schools were teaching issues of race or gender in the classroom. The soul searching only intensified in the aftermath of President Donald Trump's election. Founded in 2007, DFER always advocated for wider public school options. Leaders worked with the Obama administration and reform-minded Democrats to support policies like magnet schools, dual enrollment and lifting state caps on charter schools. Now, Republicans and their push for parental rights are dominating the education conversation, including a recent proposal to enact a national tax credit for private school choice. Elorza is among those who say the party needs to be open to more options for families if it's going to regain its edge with voters, especially parents. But he recognizes the risks. 'There are a lot of Democrats who are choice curious,' he told The 74. 'They'll say privately that they're open to the idea of choice, including private school choice, but that the politics of it are just so darn challenging.' In a recent op-ed, he pointed to Pennsylvania as the best opportunity for a swing state to pass an ESA program. Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro came close to supporting such a bill in 2023. Some observers say Shapiro and Elorza are outliers in the party. During the Obama years, DFER 'nudged' the party toward school reform policies like merit pay for teachers and maintaining strong assessment systems, said David Houston, an assistant education professor at George Mason University in Virginia. But now it's 'further from the center of Democratic politics.' The recent departure of other DFER staff offers further evidence that Elorza's position doesn't reflect the Democratic mainstream. Will Andras served as political director in Colorado for Education Reform Now, a think tank affiliated with DFER that Elorza also leads. Andras left last year, shortly after DFER joined the No More Lines Coalition, a group of organizations that advocate for open enrollment and removing school attendance boundaries. The member organizations, funded largely by the conservative Koch network, also support vouchers and ESAs. In his resignation letter, Andras referenced the change in direction since Elorza came on board in 2023. 'The last six months have shown that the organization I have devoted a substantial portion of my professional career to help build no longer aligns with my political or personal values,' he wrote. Jessica Giles, who led the D.C. chapter, posted similar words when she walked away in May. It's one of several chapters to close since Elorza became CEO. The Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts and DFER South chapters have also shut down. Elorza said he respects their stance. 'There are a lot of folks who put a great deal of stock into this public-private distinction, and I think it comes from a principled place,' he said. 'But I truly believe that it is in the party's political best interest to be open minded to any approach that moves the needle for kids and families.' Related Backed by far-right billionaires, the private school choice movement has been on a winning streak since 2022, when Arizona passed the first universal ESA. 'The political winds are shifting,' Corey DeAngelis, a self-described 'school choice evangelist' and fellow at multiple think tanks, said at a conference in Atlanta in April. 'If Democrats are smart, they'll stop the Republicans from being able to pick up the football and win on this issue.' He pointed to Louisiana, where six House Democrats — one-fifth of the party's caucus — voted last year for the LA GATOR Scholarship, an ESA that starts this fall. One of them, Rep. Jason Hughes, passionately defended his vote on the House floor. 'As I watch children in poverty, trapped in failing schools, who can hardly read, I'll be damned if I will continue to defend the status quo,' he said. Rep. Marlene Terry, a Missouri Democrat, delivered an equally heartfelt speech in May after caucus leaders took away her committee assignments when she supported a $50 million increase to the state's ESA program. 'I will vote how I please, when I please and where I please,' she said. 'No one can take away my voice. I will not be silent.' While her own children attended public school, she said families in the St. Louis-area district she represents are frustrated that their schools have lacked full accreditation for 15 years. 'That's a long time for families to wait for improvement,' Terry told The 74. Riverview Gardens, a majority Black, high-poverty district, regained local control from the state in 2023, but leaders are still working to make continued gains in attendance and teacher retention. 'That's why I support giving families a range of high-quality public options, including public charter schools, and — when absolutely necessary — scholarships to attend other schools if no viable public options exist.' Some Democrats agree with Elorza that the party shouldn't distance legislators like Terry. In a recent blog, Virginia Board of Education Member Andy Rotherham, who served in the Clinton White House and co-founded Bellwether, a think tank, said Democrats need to welcome 'a much wider range of perspectives on these questions,' given school choice's surge in popularity since the pandemic. 'This is America — we like choice,' he wrote. 'Being on the wrong side of that culturally and politically is not a great place to be.' Related Using an ESA can be particularly uncomfortable for a lifelong Democrat — especially In Arizona, where Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs has called the program a 'billion dollar boondoggle' and wants to set income caps on families using it. Kathy Visser, who administers a ESA Facebook group for parents and vendors, knows some who left the forum because they felt that it was 'not a safe space for Democrats.' 'I hate election time because it's always a mess in the group,' she said. 'People think we should be able to talk about ESAs without talking about politics, but when you've got one party so solidly entrenched against it, it's really hard.' Some Democrats who use ESAs say they hold their noses when it comes to other aspects of the Republican agenda. Christina Foster, whose daughter has used an ESA in the past, said she gets 'heart palpitations' when she has to decide on a candidate. She's board chair for Arizona's Black Mothers Forum, which runs microschools serving students using ESAs, and wants to protect the program. But in the 2024 election, she voted for Democrats. 'Some of those Republicans were not supportive of minority rights, immigration rights, women's rights. Those are very important to me,' she said. 'I said 'OK, unfortunately, I'm going to have to vote against the ESA.' For those within the traditional K-12 system, the choice to use an ESA can be tricky. As a kindergarten teacher in Arizona's Peoria district, Melanie Ford is familiar with anti-ESA talking points about how the program undermines funding for traditional schools and is susceptible to waste and fraud. But she overlooked those arguments when public school no longer seemed like a safe place for her transgender son Ash. He avoided using the bathroom all day because students said he didn't belong in the boys' or the girls' restroom. For the 2023-24 school year, Ash used an ESA to attend the Queer Blended Learning Center, a microschool for middle schoolers in Phoenix that incorporates LGBTQ history into the curriculum. Ford told her colleagues that despite her support of public schools, she had to think first about her son. Ash has since returned to a public high school, where he plays on a drumline in the marching band and has straight A's, his mother said. But using the ESA allowed him to transition in a more supportive setting. 'He didn't have to deal with the comments from peers that slowly rip a person apart from the inside out,' she said. 'He could grow into himself without judgement from others and this was so important for his mental health.' While some Democrats, as Elorza suggested, may think an ESA is the best option for their children, that interest hasn't risen to the national level. No Congressional Democrats, for example, have endorsed the federal Educational Choice for Children Act, the tax credit scholarship program tucked into the Republicans' reconciliation bill. In some states, vouchers remain unpopular, said Joshua Cowen, an education professor at Michigan State University and a strong opponent of directing public funds to private schools. He points to Kentucky, where 65% of voters rejected a private school choice measure last November. Coloradans also defeated a school choice-related proposition, and voters in Nebraska repealed a voucher program. While the Democratic party may embrace vouchers in the future, that day is a long way off, said Ravi Gupta, a former Obama staffer who runs a nonprofit media company. On an intellectual level, he's intrigued by ESAs. Democrats, he said, would never say Medicaid should only be used at a public hospital or Section 8 vouchers only in a housing project, so why doesn't the same principle apply to education? 'Twenty years from now, do I think that could be the reality?' he asked. 'I think it's very likely, but it will take some time.' Disclosure: The Charles Koch Foundation funds Stand Together Trust, which provides funding to The 74. Andy Rotherham sits on The 74's board of directors.
CBS News
11-06-2025
- General
- CBS News
Denver Public Schools is helping make sure kids don't go hungry this summer
Denver Public Schools launched its Summer Food Service Program at dozens of schools across the city to make sure every child keeps hunger at bay while on summer break. Breakfast and lunch are free for all children, age 18 and younger, on weekdays. New to the program this year is food that is locally grown, which is featured in the meals. The Colorado Department of Education has 635 summer meal sites open statewide to provide meals free of charge to all youth ages 18 and younger. CBS "The kids are getting our normal school menu, but they're also getting farm-grown locally by Denver Public Schools produce that is added to the summer meals and breakfast," said DPS Summer Meals Engagement Coordinator Lindsey Long. According to DPS, "The Summer Meals Program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered by the Colorado Department of Education's School Nutrition Unit in partnership with community-based program sponsors. Last year, program sponsors provided more than 1.9 million meals to Colorado youth." Denver Public Schools launched its "Summer Food Service Program" at dozens of schools across the city. CBS Meals are provided free of charge to anyone aged 18 and younger, no registration, identification, or proof of income or enrollment is required to enjoy a summer meal. The Colorado Department of Education says 635 summer meal sites are open statewide to provide meals free of charge to all youth ages 18 and younger. Visit to find a nearby meal site. Additional Information from Denver Public Schools: About the Summer Meals Program: • Meals are free to all kids and teens 18 years and younger. In rural locations, some meals may be taken home to eat. • Parents do not need to apply to the program for their children to get free summer meals. • Organizations that can administer the Summer Meals Program include schools, non-profit organizations, government entities, camps, universities, and community and faith-based organizations. • Parents and youth can find summer meal sites by visiting • Meals served follow USDA nutrition guidelines. About the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program: • Summer EBT provides $120 per eligible school-aged child to buy groceries. • Funds to purchase groceries are placed on EBT cards. • The program is led by the Colorado Department of Human Services with support from CDE. • To learn more about Summer EBT, visit
