School Models

• All flexibilities available to district-run schools
• Option to budget on actuals
• Other areas available under the Innovation Schools Act, i.e. Human Resource waivers

• All flexibilities available to district-run and innovation schools
• Access to Student-Based Budgeting Plus (SBB+)
• Ability to pool resources across school sites
• Use of executive principal

• All flexibilities available to district-run, innovation and IMO schools.
• Group together with like schools, with own support and oversight structures.

• All flexibilities available to other schools
• Access to per-pupil, with buy-backs of charter and SPED fees
• Other areas available under the Charter Schools Act

Innovative Management Organizations, or IMOs, are a distinctive DPS network structure that organizes two or more schools together to support the implementation of shared educational models under an Executive Principal. The shared purpose of the IMO is to ensure effective implementation and support for the educational model at all schools in the IMO.

For more information, contact Angie McPhaul, Senior Manager of Authorizing.

Already existing innovation schools may pursue organizing into an innovation zone for shared learning. Innovation zones are a structure established under state statute for innovation schools that share common interests to create their own network or “zone.”

Starting a new iZone

Creating a new innovation zone:

• Innovation Zones with Governance Innovations: This type of zone operates separately from the district network structure and is overseen by an external organization and its board. This board is responsible for support and oversight of the member schools, although the district maintains ultimate legal responsibility.
• Innovation Zones within District Network Structure: This type of zone would allow schools the opportunity to organize around common interests, while remaining within district networks and reporting structures. Some additional autonomies would be available to these schools, but many decisions would still be made by the district.

Joining an existing iZone

There are currently three existing innovation zones with governance innovations:

• Beacon Network Schools: The Beacon Network uses the Beacon model, which includes personalized learning and many enrichment opportunities.
• Luminary Learning Network (LLN): The district’s first iZone is designed to empower school leaders and teachers with the autonomy needed to design and run excellent schools. The LLN currently has five member schools.
• Northeast Denver Innovation Zone (NDIZ): The district’s second iZone is designed to empower innovation schools in Northeast Denver to collectively leverage flexibilities, resources, and human capital in order to deliver an excellent education to students in schools that are committed to inclusivity. The NDIZ currently has four member schools.

At this time, neither iZone is accepting applications to join. However, when iZones are accepting applications, interested schools will have their readiness assessed by the iZone and DPS, which will also consider the iZone’s capacity to take on additional schools.

For more information, please contact Angie McPhaul, Senior Manager of Authorizing.

DPS charter schools are public, independently operated schools. Each charter school board has a contract with the DPS Board of Education that outlines their operating terms, including performance goals, program elements, and required compliance with State and Federal Requirements. In Colorado, charter schools are operated pursuant to the Colorado Charter Schools Act. All DPS charter schools are nonprofit organizations.

For more information, and for all interested applicants, please visit our Create New Schools page or contact Angie McPhaul, Senior Manager of Authorizing.