A+ Colorado

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Press Release: ¡Ya Basta! – Enough Already! Southwest Denver Schools have been ignored too long.

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COALITION CALLS ON DPS BOARD TO CREATE COMMITTEE ON SOUTHWEST DENVER

A group of education organizations are continuing their call on the DPS School Board to take comprehensive action in southwest Denver.  The call for a committee follows the release of a report “Ya Basta, Enough Already,” that examines the severe lack of high-quality schools and seats schools in southwest Denver. Representatives from the coalition will speak directly to the DPS School Board on Thursday, June 12 to demand action.

“We hope that the Board takes a look at the entire southwest region, not just a few schools, and comes up with a strategy to ensure these kids receive the education opportunities that they deserve,” said Van Schoales, CEO of A+ Denver.

The report finds that of the 42 schools in southwest Denver, only 3 schools were given the highest rating on the School Performance Framework and that only about one student out of every 10 are college or career ready by the time they finish high school. This region of Denver serves over 22,000 kids (more than 25% of the entire Denver Public Schools District) and has a 90% low income and 84% Latino population.

Read the full report:
English | Español

“Ya Basta breaks down the needs and issues for the southwest community in a very clear-cut way that not only speaks to parents, but to business and civic leaders,” said Mike Ferrufino, past chair of the Denver Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and KBNO Spanish Radio Group. ” He emphasized, “the time is now for us all to stand up for southwest kids.”

DFER-Colorado, Padres Unidos, and Stand for Children have distributed about 5,000 copies of the report to southwest Denver homes to educate parents and encourage them to join us on this fight.

For more information please visit:
http://www.aplusdenver.org/southwestdenver

About the coalition: A+ Denver, Democrats for Education Reform Colorado, Latinos for Education Reform, Padres & Jovenes Unidos, Stand for Children Colorado and Together Colorado collaborated this past year to write the report and to start an important and urgent conversation in southwest Denver.

Contact: Van Schoales
Cell: (303) 725.1151