By Donna Li, Steering Committee Vice Chair Happy New Year and thank you all for being a part of this wonderful community! As you know, in May of 2019, the Steering Committee consented the CU-06 policy and associated regulations to add the honors label to students’ transcripts for D’Evelyn high school courses in English, science, and social studies. The honors-level rigor of our courses is currently described in D’Evelyn’s four-page school profile but is not indicated on transcripts. The policy also provides for the weighting of those courses on a 5.0 scale, similar to most Jefferson County high schools. The implementation of this policy has been delayed due to complications at the district level. On October 22, 2019, the Jefferson County School District communicated to D’Evelyn its expectation that the approval of CU-06 comply with a specific district process. On December 3, 2019, the Steering Committee responded to the district by explaining that we engaged in a similar process in 2013, after which we concluded that these courses are indeed taught at an honors level. We also described accountability measures that are in place to ensure the honors-level rigor of our courses. Additionally, to recognize the district’s request, we established a task force to study questions regarding the implementation of CU-06. On December 24, 2019, the Steering Committee received an email from the district stating their intent to attend the January 27, 2020, Steering Committee meeting. Again, on January 7, 2020, the district communicated that when its team attends the January 27th meeting “[W]e will discuss how the District Team will coordinate and facilitate the Jeffco Honors Course Plan Review Process for D’Evelyn Jr/Sr High School. This process will take the place of the Task Force.” At the Steering Committee meetings on January 13th and January 27th, we will discuss the district’s intended plan to coordinate and facilitate the aforementioned process to evaluate the appropriateness of honors labeling at D’Evelyn, a process which will inevitably further postpone the implementation of CU-06. We will also consider the impact that the imposition of this process at D’Evelyn would have on our school’s autonomy and governance. All Steering Committee meetings are open to the public, and we cordially invite all community members to attend. The meetings are scheduled to begin at 4:30 pm either in the main office conference room or in the library, and the meeting agendas are available on the Steering Committee website. We appreciate the interest and participation of D’Evelyn families in this important matter. |
The Steering Committee is the governing board of the school and establishes policies designed to maintain and enhance its liberal arts philosophy. The Steering Committee appoints Directors to the Board of the D'Evelyn Education Foundation. Archives
March 2023
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