DPS Snapshots Show with Natalie B. - District Updates for Jan. 31

1. Denver Schools Thrive Initiative Facility Utilization Survey

If you recall, on November 22 the Board of Education voted unanimously to approve the Superintendent’s Recommendation to close 7 schools and restructure grade levels for 3 schools to address the impact of declining enrollment in Denver.

Now, DPS wants to engage with the communities directly impacted by these closures to determine what to do with the closed buildings for the 2026-27 school year and beyond. If you were impacted by the recent school closures, please take the survey to provide feedback. The survey will be open until February 14. 

For more information and access to the survey, visit the Denver Schools Thrive Initiative webpage. 

2. Reminder to Submit Your ECE-4 Application for 2025-26

The Colorado Department of Early Childhood has announced that for the 2025-26 school year, families applying for ECE-4 must first submit a Universal Preschool Colorado (UPK) application, and the matching process will be completed through UPK (not through Denver Public Schools). For all the details on applying for preschool, check out the School Choice Website.  

3. Reminder: Immigration Resources for Families

A Family Resource Toolkit is available to DPS families in English and Spanish. It contains information and resources about rights, current DPS policies, training, mental health support, DPS resources, community resources and more. The toolkit is a comprehensive guide designed to assist families in creating personalized action plans in case of deportation or prolonged absence. It provides practical tools and advice on organizing critical documents, managing legal and financial matters, and developing communication strategies. Please take a few minutes to review this resource.

4. 2025-2026 School Year Calendars

The school year calendars for the 2025-26 school year are now available! We have the 2025-26 School Year Calendar linked in our shownotes. You can also visit the calendars webpage for more information. The calendars will be available in additional languages in early February.

5. Swansea Elementary Students Receive FREE winter coats 

Swansea Elementary fourth-grade teacher Amada Babb partnered with the nonprofit Operation Warm to secure free, brand-new winter coats for all Swansea students. With the help of Ms. Babb and parent volunteers, Swansea Elementary students were able to get fitted and pick out a new coat to keep them warm for the rest of this winter. The heart-warming video is linked in our show notes.