Initiatives

The district’s mission is clear... to provide all students the opportunity to achieve the knowledge and skills necessary to become contributing citizens in our society. Watch here as DPS continues to challenge itself, reform and grow.

SPF Ratings

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2009 Performance Summary

SFP Rating	No. of Schools	%
Distinguished	9	6.4%
Meets Expectations	54	38.6%
Accredited on Watch	52	37.1%
Accredited on Probation	25	17.9%
Total	140	100.0%

Ratings

Every DPS school, except those in their first year of operation, will be assigned one of the following accreditation ratings annually, every September, using data collected during the previous school year: Distinguished, Meets Expectations, Accredited on Watch or Accredited on Probation (see the definitions below). Ratings affect how much autonomy schools are given, support needed, corrective action taken and compensation earned by principals, assistant principals and teachers. While teacher compensation is not listed below, in the fall of 2008, the district and the Denver Classroom Teacher Association agreed on changes to ProComp that align teacher incentives with the SPF. All DPS schools currently meet minimum accreditation standards and are accredited with the state. DPS will not operate schools that do not meet the minimum accreditation requirements.

Distinguished

Performance	Autonomy	Compensation
Distinguished schools exceed district expectations and achieved high status and high growth.	Distinguished schools experience greater autonomy in the implementation of the common curriculum, especially in the areas of budget, school improvement planning and school supervision.	Principals and assistant principals in distinguished schools receive compensation for achieving this rating. In addition, they may qualify for incentives based on outstanding growth in student learning.

Meets Expectations

Performance

Autonomy: Continued Growth

Support: Declining Growth

Compensation

Schools that meet expectations may have achieved highly in either the area of growth or the area of status, and in some cases achieved well in both areas and are on the cusp of distinction.

Schools that meet expectations, that continue to maintain or improve performance levels experience greater autonomy in the implementation of the common curriculum, especially in the areas of budget, school improvement planning and school supervision.

Schools that meet expectations and decline in performance receive increasing instructional supports, such as close supervision, targeted professional development and assistance using data to drive instructional and operational decisions.

Principals and assistant principals in schools that meet expecations receive compensation for achieving this rating. In addition, they may qualify for incentives based on outstanding growth in student learning.

Accredited on Watch

Performance	Support	Corrective Action	Compensation
Schools on Watch perform below district expectations. Improvement is needed on both growth and status measures.	These schools receive increased instructional supports, such as close supervision, targeted professional development and assistance using data to drive instructional and operational decisions.	Schools on Watch showing a lack of improvement are subject to interventions such as replacement of staff or change in the academic program. Sanctions mandated by state and federal requirements are followed.	Principals and assistant principals in Schools on Watch showing outstanding growth in student learning receive incentives.

Accredited on Probation

Performance

Support

Corrective Action

Compensation

Probationary schools are DPS's lowest performing school. They perform significantly below district expectations and significant improvement is needed in the areas of growth and status.

These schools receive increased instructional supports, such as close supervision, targeted professional development and assistance using data to drive instructional and operational decisions.

Probationary schools showing a lack of improvement require annual budget approval and quarterly budget review. Additional fiscal resources may be allocated to support targeted intervention strategies. The district may replace staff, change the academic program, or close the school. Sanctions mandated by state and federal requirements are followed.

Principals and assistant principals in Probationary schools showing outstanding growth in student learning receive incentives.