| Denver, Colorado…Home of the Mile-High | | | | be well educated; and possessing excellent |
| stadium, a city with amazing scenery and a | | | | math skills is important. |
| high altitude. It is one in which Denver | | | | |
| Public Schools have set lofty goals for | | | | Offering more after-school help is a |
| themselves. All school districts have mission | | | | wonderful way for students in need to meet |
| statements, visions, and school improvement | | | | the above goals. Giving support to Denver |
| plans. Denver Schools break their goals down | | | | Schools students who are having a hard time |
| into three areas: | | | | will not only raise test scores (which this |
| | | | writer hopes isn't their only motivation), |
| 1. Set high expectations for all students. | | | | but will also help raise the students' |
| | | | confidence in themselves as well. |
| 2. Raise the overall achievement level. | | | | |
| | | | Strengthening Denver Schools, especially at |
| 3. Close the achievement gap. | | | | the middle and high school levels is vitally |
| | | | important if they truly intend to meet their |
| How well are the Denver Schools going? Well, | | | | goals of improvement. Middle- and high |
| to meet these goals, the district is focusing | | | | school-age students are going through lots of |
| on six strategies; enhancing literacy skills, | | | | changes. Not only are their bodies changing |
| enhancing math skills, offering more | | | | and their emotions are running wild. Members |
| after-school help, strengthening middle and | | | | of the opposite sex have become extremely |
| high schools, improving professional | | | | important and hormones are raging. Peer |
| development for principals and teachers, and | | | | pressure has reached an all-time high, and |
| increasing parental involvement. | | | | the desire to fit in and be like everyone |
| | | | else is strong. Denver Schools must recognize |
| Let's take a closer look at these strategies. | | | | these challenges their students are facing |
| | | | and work to be more supportive. Improving |
| Enhancing literacy skills is one way that | | | | professional development for principals and |
| Denver Schools will reach the three goals | | | | teachers, the 5th strategy that will help |
| mentioned above. Improving the literacy of | | | | Denver Schools meet their goals, will also |
| all students, whether they are high achievers | | | | help them strengthen their middle and high |
| or students who struggle with reading is a | | | | schools. |
| necessity. Denver Schools realize this and | | | | |
| are working to improve the literacy skills of | | | | The importance of parental involvement may |
| their students. | | | | seem to be a no-brainer to some, but there |
| | | | are a surprisingly large number of parents of |
| Enhancing students' mathematics skills is | | | | Denver Schools students who do not realize |
| another strategy adopted by Denver Schools to | | | | how much their involvement in their child's |
| reach their goals. Again, looking to the | | | | school contributes to their success. It |
| future of their students is the motivation | | | | doesn't matter if the parent volunteers at |
| here. One of the Denver Schools main purposes | | | | the school, attends school functions, or |
| is to turn out well-rounded, productive | | | | simply helps with homework - it all |
| members of society. In order for our future | | | | influences the success of their Denver |
| leaders to contribute their best they need to | | | | Schools student. |