On Monday, February 10, 2020, several members of the Jeffco Schools administration joined the Steering Committee meeting to discuss the process of implementation of CU-06 at D’Evelyn. The meeting was in response to the letter sent to the Steering Committee several weeks earlier by Jeffco Schools Chief of Schools/Deputy Superintendent Kristopher Schuh, which stated that in order for D’Evelyn to implement honors coursework, the district course review process must be followed.
During the meeting, we discussed the process and methods used to evaluate the level of academic courses in Jeffco Schools. At the conclusion of the meeting, I was charged with several tasks, all aligned with the objective of adapting the Jeffco Course Honors Review Process to meet the needs as outlined in D’Evelyn policy CU-06. I highlight the following key points of the process and agreements reached during the meeting on February 10, 2020:
The Task Force has contacted 31 colleges/universities to gather their feedback on the impact of these two elements of the policy. The colleges and universities represent a broad sampling of the nation’s colleges - public, private, in-state, out-of-state, highly selective, moderately selective, and non-selective. Additionally, they are researching the practices of other areas high school as to their choices of offering Honors and AP classes side-by-side. I look forward to reviewing the findings of the Task Force along with the D’Evelyn Steering Committee and our community members. I am grateful for both the efforts of the D’Evelyn CU-06 Task Force and the support of Jeffco Schools personnel in organizing and executing this process. An objective review of D’Evelyn coursework as compared to grade-level standards and expectations is an important step in validating each course prior to implementation, and I am optimistic that this process will lead our school community to a more broadly supported conclusion. I understand that this is an important issue in our school community. There are students, parents, teachers, staff, and community members that have a sincere, heartfelt, and vested interest in the outcome of this policy. As principal, I accept the important responsibility of leading our school through a thoughtful, collaborative process to evaluate our coursework relative to the Colorado Academic Standards, and ultimately support appropriate labeling and weighting for our classes. I am aware that the time and delay in implementation of this policy has caused frustration among some in our community. I understand your frustration yet ask for your support as we work together in our community to determine the level of our coursework using a common, systematic process of evaluation. It is important that we work together - students, teachers, parents, staff, and community members - to ensure that we are all working together to serve the very best interests of all D’Evelyn students, now and into the future. I am grateful for your support and understanding as we work to find a solution to the implementation of CU-06 in a manner that honors our school philosophy, supports all D’Evelyn students, and serves D’Evelyn students for years to come. I am committed to leading our school to a solid conclusion in this process that honors and reflects the interests of D’Evelyn students, teachers, families, and community members. While we will offer reminders of these upcoming meetings, it is expected that CU-06 will be discussed in the February 24th and March 9th Steering Committee meetings, as we look to establish a timeline and plan for the Course Review Process that we can share with our community. For those interested in following developments and learning more about this topic, I encourage you to attend those meetings. I hope that you enjoyed your Presidents’ Day weekend, and that it was a great time for rest, relaxation, and recharging during the busy month of February. Comments are closed.
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