The Denver Public Schools Podcast
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The Denver Public Schools Podcast
DPS Snapshots Show with Natalie Brigham - District Updates for Feb. 7
- Denver Schools Thrive Initiative Facility Utilization Survey
DPS wants to engage with the communities directly impacted by the school closures announced late last year 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.
You can access the survey in our show notes or by visiting the Denver Schools Thrive Initiative webpage.
2.National Assessment of Educational Progress
Last week, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) released their 2024 NAEP results. DPS showcased consistent performance across all four tested areas, with fourth-grade reading and math gains surpassing those of the state of Colorado.
DPS is a top performer in the 2024 Trial Urban District Assessment (TUDA), ranking second in eighth-grade reading and sixth in fourth-grade reading among participating urban districts.
The district showed improvements in fourth- and eighth-grade reading from 2022, while national public schools experienced declines. Notably, the district's 2024 scores in three out of four tested areas are similar to the 2019 pre-pandemic levels, while national public schools reported significant decreases in all four assessments.
3. New High School Diploma Endorsement Announced: The Seal of Climate Literacy
A new CO Senate Bill has enabled qualifying graduates to obtain a special diploma endorsement called the Seal of Climate Literacy. Students must pass 20 credits of qualifying high school coursework, and complete an experiential learning project in grades 6-12 that addresses climate change in their local community. You can explore more information on how to qualify and apply by visiting the link in our shownotes .
4. National Signing Day
On Wednesday, 30 DPS student-athletes participated in National Signing Day. National Signing Day marks the opening of the final signing period for the Class of 2025 where any remaining uncommitted or unsigned players sign with their schools. This is a major milestone for a student-athlete and an incredible achievement that many of these students have been dreaming of and working towards. Congratulations to all those who signed and good luck on your future teams!
5. Student Voices Podcast Network Inaugural Summit
More than 60 students, educators and teachers came together to attend the first-ever Student Voices Podcast Network (SVPN) Summit. The summit focused on digital storytelling, identity, and the power of podcasting. The summit challenged students to brainstorm fresh ideas and explore their own stories. Given the topic of the summit, I may be a teeeeny bit biased, but I am so proud of these students for pursuing this opportunity and advancing their storytelling skills.