Have you Heard podcast, “For more than a decade, Denver has been a model for a brand of school reform centered on closing low-performing schools, opening charter schools and rewarding teachers for boosting student test scores. But a diverse coalition of opponents says it’s time to put the brakes on that approach and showed its strength at the polls in November by “flipping” the Denver School Board.“
2026
July
- Zero charter schools have applied to take over the Denver schools that might close for low performance | Chalkbeat
- A few charter schools asked about the process, said Paige Neuharth, the district’s director of authorizing and accountability. But it’s likely that the high level of uncertainty, coupled with the hard task of reversing a school’s academic trajectory, meant that charter schools decided not to raise their hands this time, she said.
June
- Denver Public Schools aims to repurpose six school buildings after permanent closures | CBS News
- Denver Public Schools is looking at what to do with some vacant school buildings. Due to declining enrollment and subsequent budget issues, the district closed or restructured 10 of its schools last year. Six buildings are now vacant, and there could be more in the near future. Rather than sell or let the buildings sit, they’re coming up with different ways to keep and repurpose them.
- Conservative School Activists Say They Are ‘Working Directly With the U.S. Department of Education’ | CTR
- Earlier this year, ProPublica reported that, under Trump-appointed Education Secretary Linda McMahon, the Department of Education has worked closely with or even hired activists from far-right school activist groups such as Moms for Liberty and the America First Policy Institute – the latter of which McMahon co-founded. Under McMahon’s leadership, the Education Department has targeted schools it claims are discriminating against white people or continuing to protect transgender students despite federal demands. As part of this campaign, it has put pressure on schools in Denver and Jefferson County, with the investigation into Cherry Creek schools being the most recent.
May
- Denver Public Schools sees 44% increase in school bus fuel costs | Denver 7
- Science of reading for all: Proposal would require Denver schools to use research-backed literacy lessons | Chalkbeat
- Denver Public Schools rolled out a science of reading curriculum called Core Knowledge Language Arts to elementary students over three years, starting in 2022-23 and ending in 2024-25. To comply with a federal court order on how DPS serves English language learners, the district also introduced a new Spanish reading curriculum, called Caminos.
April
- Denver school board adds a school to the district’s last remaining innovation zone | Chalkbeat
- Superintendent says expanding Denver’s last innovation zone would increase school segregation | Chalkbeat
March
- Marrero argues DPS board’s outside counsel policy undercuts superintendent’s role
- Denver Schools Superintendent Alex Marrero Discusses Difficult Decisions Behind School Closures
- Denver asked for proposals for reusing vacant school buildings. Here’s a sneak peek at some ideas.
Feb.
Jan.
2025
Dec.
- Denver Schools Enrollment Dropped by 1,200 as Immigrant Students Left the City | Westword
- Denver Public Schools enrollment drops, district numbers show; net loss of new-to-country students | CBS News
- 2 Denver schools are safe from closure due to ratings bump, but 4 others remain at risk | Chalkbeat
Nov.
- Xóchitl Gaytán elected as president of Denver school board for a second time | Chalkbeat
- Denver school board’s weekend swearing-in ceremony draws scrutiny | Denver Post
- Under new policy, 6 DPS schools are at risk for closure or replacement if test scores don’t improve | 9 News
- Denver schools foundation restarts pandemic-era food fund to help feed families during SNAP delays | Chalkbeat
- Superintendent Alex Marrero says he’s staying in Denver after report he’s finalist for Chicago job | Chalkbeat
- Denver school board adopts policy on when to hire an outside attorney | Chalkbeat
2025 School Board Election
Progressive school board candidates make inroads in races across Colorado | Chalkbeat
Oct.
- Denver school board member John Youngquist accuses superintendent, district staff of retaliation | Denver Post
Sept.
- Denver board held behind-the-scenes talks on Marrero’s contract | Denver Gazette
- Four seats, 13 candidates: DPS board election could reshape Colorado’s largest school district | Denver Gazette
- Xóchitl ‘Sochi’ Gaytán runs for reelection to represent southwest Denver on the school board | Chalkbeat
- All-gender school restroom: Denver asks feds for 90 days to negotiate resolution per Title IX | CBS Denver
Aug.
- US Department of Education finds DPS violated Title IX by converting girls’ bathroom to all-gender option | 9 News
- The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights found Colorado’s largest school district violated Title IX when it converted a girls’ bathroom to a facility everyone can use.
This all started back in January. Denver Public Schools converted the East High School restroom over winter break, creating a gender-neutral bathroom available for all students to use. The district previously stated that the request for the expanded option came from students.
- The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights found Colorado’s largest school district violated Title IX when it converted a girls’ bathroom to a facility everyone can use.
- Dark money spending could overshadow local priorities for Denver schools | Colorado Newsline
2023
- Parent sues DPS for discrimination after school refuses to display ‘heterosexual pride’ flag | 9 News
- Denver parent’s request to put ‘straight pride’ flags in classrooms denied
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