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Denver Public Colleges is setting formidable objectives for Latino college students, households, and staff in response to a report from earlier this 12 months that highlighted “severe limitations” to their success.
The La Raza Report was commissioned by the district and based mostly on historic analysis, in addition to dozens of focus group interviews and 1000’s of survey responses. Launched in March, it discovered unequal sources between colleges, a dearth of Latino lecturers, and a “perpetual undervaluing” of Latino tradition, amongst different points.
The 266-page report included 35 suggestions starting from these centered on systemic points to others centered on particular person colleges.
The district’s new Latine Pupil Success Staff labored with an advisory council to slim these suggestions down to 5 objectives, which have been introduced to the college board Thursday. The college board didn’t must vote on the objectives.
Maybe probably the most outstanding aim is for 80% of Latino college students in DPS to learn at grade degree by the top of third grade by 2027. Final college 12 months, 54% of Hispanic college students in kindergarten by third grade have been studying at grade degree or above, based on early literacy take a look at knowledge launched Thursday within the district’s annual report.
The opposite 4 objectives DPS goals to attain by the 2026-27 college 12 months are:
- to considerably improve the variety of Latino college students enrolled in rigorous courses and profession and technical teaching programs. In response to the annual report, 38% of Hispanic college students who attended district-run colleges final 12 months have been enrolled in rigorous courses, comparable to Superior Placement and college-level programs.
- to make sure DPS employees demographics match pupil demographics. Whereas 52% of the district’s 88,000 college students final 12 months have been Hispanic, solely 32% of DPS college leaders, lecturers, and paraprofessionals have been Hispanic, based on the annual report.
- to extend the proportion of Latino college students and employees who say on district surveys that they really feel a way of belonging and security, which the district hopes will improve pupil attendance and employees retention. The attendance charge for Hispanic college students was 86% final 12 months, barely under the district common of 88%. The retention charge for Hispanic employees was 88%, increased than the district common of 87%.
- to extend the variety of Latino households holding management positions on district and college committees that drive decision-making.
Board members praised the ambitiousness of the objectives. Additionally they inspired the district’s Latine Pupil Success Staff to work in tandem with its Black Pupil Success Staff, whose work was sparked by a equally important report on outcomes for Black college students and employees in DPS.
“As a dad or mum, when my youngsters began college and I checked out what have been the predictors that may occur to my twins, it wasn’t the very best,” board member Marlene De La Rosa mentioned. “I’ll proceed to be dedicated to supporting the work of this, as a result of I do need to see our Latino college students attain their potential and do all the things we imagine they’ll do.”
Now that the Latine Pupil Success Staff has recognized its objectives, it can start crafting a three-year implementation plan. The five-person La Raza Advisory Council, which incorporates native leaders with longtime ties to DPS in addition to former New York Metropolis Division of Training chancellor Richard Carranza, will meet quarterly to assessment and modify that plan.
Melanie Asmar is the bureau chief for Chalkbeat Colorado. Contact Melanie at masmar@chalkbeat.org .
