Frequently Asked Questions
| Author: | Web Services | |||
| Posted: | 9/20/2006; 8:33:42 AM | |||
| Topic: | Frequently Asked Questions | |||
| Msg #: | 12 (top msg in thread) | |||
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Who can submit a Beacon School proposal?
Leadership teams wishing to improve their existing school or seeking to relocate to a new building. Leadership teams must include teachers and principals and may include other educators, parents, and community members.
How do we become a Beacon School?
Submit a proposal that is recommended by the Beacon School Advisory Committee and approved by the Denver Public Schools Board.
How and when will success be measured?
Beacon School Plans will be, in general, three year plans. The school faculty and the school leadership team will routinely measure progress toward goals and objectives set in the Beacon School Plan.
What happens if Beacon Schools are not successful?
All local, state and federal accountability rules, including those established via the Balanced Score Card, apply to Beacon Schools. The district will take action when schools are underperforming or unable to make progress toward the goals in their Beacon School Plans. Beacon Schools will routinely evaluate progress toward benchmarks and goals established with their faculty and will make annual progress reports to the Superintendent’s Beacon School Advisory Committee.
How does this fit into the Denver Plan and the DPS/DCTA Agreement?
In the 2006 negotiations, DPS and DCTA created the Beacon Schools program with the understanding that it is essential for teams of principals and teachers to transform school performance in Denver. Selected proposals will have demonstrated their ability to exceed the expectations outlined in the Denver Plan. Selected proposals will comply with the DCTA Agreement, except where specific waivers are sought and approved.
Teachers who work in Beacon Schools will make a concerted choice to do so and will have to "sign up" for a Beacon School's vision, mission and program. What constitutes "concerted choice" and what does it mean to "sign up?"
Once the Beacon Schools are identified, teachers will determine, in conjunction with the staffing cycle, whether or not they would like to stay at that school or transfer to another school or position. When deciding to stay at a Beacon School, teachers will not be required to re-interview for a position. Teachers will, however, sign a new job description aligned to the Beacon School's Education Program. If a teacher signs the new job description, he/she will have made a formal commitment to that school and will not be able to participate in the internal or subsequent interview cycles. If a teacher chooses not to stay at a Beacon School, that teacher will be eligible for the traditional transfer cycle and will be guaranteed three interviews at open positions of their choice.
Are Beacon Schools exempt from the process of "direct placement" during teacher staffing?
Schools will not be exempt from the direct placement process.
Are parents and students involved?
Beacon School proposals will incorporate evidence of community and student engagement in the plan development and implementation. Further, parents and community members are eligible to serve as members of a leadership team.
Can the community come forward without a principal/staff leadership team and present a Beacon proposal?
The spirit of the Beacon School initiative is staff collaboration and alignment around a coherent and consistent instructional program.
What resources are available?
The district and association are committed to provide ongoing technical assistance and instructional support; schools may also apply for school innovation grants.
What is the timeline for submitting proposals?
|
Date |
School Innovation Grants (SIG) |
Beacons Schools |
|
April |
Request for Proposal opens for 2008-09 school year. | |
|
April 25 and April 30 |
Information sessions and grant workshops held for interested applicants: Session 1: April 25th, 3:00-4:00 p.m., 900 Grant Session 2: April 25th, 4:00-5:00 p.m., 900 Grant Session 3: April 30th, 3:00-4:00 p.m., 900 Grant Session 4: April 30th, 4:00-5:00 p.m., 900 Grant | |
|
June 1 |
Letter of Intent deadline (Beacon/SIG) | |
|
July 1 - September 1 |
Executive Summary deadline (Beacon) | |
|
August 1 -October 1 |
Final Proposal submission deadline (Beacon) | |
Can Beacon Schools apply for School Innovation Grants?
Beacon Schools may apply for School Innovation Grants to support start-up related activities associated with rolling out their programs. Applicants interested in a proposal for Beacon status and School Innovation Grant support only need to complete one proposal.
Given some of the unique factors that surround Beacon Schools (e.g., joint decision-making with DCTA) and School Innovation Grants (e.g., use of Mill Levy funding) joint proposals will be reviewed separately in both the Beacon School and School Innovation Grant committee processes.However, some staff members will serve in both settings so that where success of the proposed reform strategies is contingent on approval in both settings, the appropriate communication can take place.
Joint proposals will be subject to the decision-making timeframe outlined for School Innovation Grants.Visit http://sig.dpsk12.org for SIG timeline details.
When are Beacon Schools expected to open?
The second cohort of Beacon Schools will be approved by the DPS Board to open in the Fall of 2008.
How many Beacon Schools will be approved?
The exact number of schools approved will be dependent on the actual number of proposals received and the quality of such proposals.
The district refers to the importance of majority staff support for Beacon programs in existing schools. What constitutes a majority?
There is no stipulated percentage; decisions will be made based on the evidence of staff support that is presented.
Can Beacon School proposals suggest something other than the prescribed district curriculum?
Yes, as long as the proposed curriculum is research-based, aligned with state content standards, and exceeds the Denver Plan.
Will magnet school programs be eligible for the Beacon School Initiative?
Magnet School implies paid transportation, thematic program and special admissions criteria. Beacon Schools will not have paid transportation arrangements. Thematic programs and special admissions criteria will be considered on a merit basis. Schools that are currently designated as magnets can retain their status and submit a Beacon School proposal.
If my team is pursuing a Beacon School in a different building, how will I know which buildings are eligible for use?
The district will not publish a list of "available buildings." Your team should propose the type of facility you need to support the education plan you are presenting. The district will advise teams on facilities opportunities as appropriate.
Will the teacher contract look the same for teachers employed in Beacon Schools?
Yes. The basic employment contract will remain the same; however, job descriptions may be different as proposed by applicants. Further, if a leadership team elects to pursue contract waivers as a component of their proposed Education Plan, those waivers will be considered with the proposal.
What is the relationship between the new DPS Beacon Schools Initiative and the existing Beacons Initiative?
The new Beacon Schools initiative is a concept that DPS has developed to allow the best ideas of our employees to emerge. In Beacon Schools, teachers and principals will make a deliberate choice to work together to establish coherent and consistent instructional practice that leads to high academic performance for all students. The concept was agreed to in the 2006-2007 contract negotiation.
The Beacons Initiative began in Denver and DPS in 1998 as a partnership between Rose Community Foundation, The Piton Foundation and DPS. Based on a New York City model which has since become national, the Beacons are school-based centers which provide education, recreation and enrichment activities to students and adults during out-of-school time. In DPS, we currently have five Beacon centers at Lake, Rishel, Kunsmiller, Force, and Johnson.
