DPS has now released its 2021 application materials for schools seeking to open in fall 2022. This year, DPS is not making facility support available for new quality schools. Under the policies of the Denver Board of Education, DPS only makes facilities available on the basis of enrollment or restart/turnaround needs. When such needs exist, DPS will provide facility support for new quality schools subsequently selected through community-based processes to meet those needs. Based on DPS’s most recent Strategic Regional Analysis, however, existing schools will meet enrollment needs at least through the 2022-2023 school year in all areas of our city. Furthermore, enrollment is declining in many areas of our city, due to a decline in the number of school-aged children. DPS also has not identified any schools for restart/turnaround under the Board of Education policy and process guiding those decisions. Finally, we note as well that there are already a number of approved new schools that have not yet opened due to facility or enrollment challenges, as well as other factors.
We simultaneously recognize our responsibility under Colorado law to consider new school applications annually. The 2021 application release introduces the rigorous Quality Authorizing Process DPS offers for developers of new district-run and charter schools and provides important contextual information, which include a focus on designing for equity, that we encourage school developers and community partners to consider as they design new programs.
To learn more about the process or to apply, read the application materials below. Letters of Intent are due February 26, 2021 by 12PM to CNQS@dpsk12.org.
See below for supports available to applicants.