Basic Profile

Opened In

2010

Grades

Early Childhood Education- 8

Environment

Urban

Type

District - Site-Governed

Autonomies

Program

Determine learning program

Set school-level policy

Determine professional development

Determine authorizer assessments

Determine state assessments

Personnel

Select colleagues

Evaluate colleagues

Transfer or terminate colleagues

Determine tenure policy

Select leaders

Administrative

Determine school budget

Set staff pattern

Determine compensation

Determine teacher workday

Set schedule

Teacher Authority Is...

De Jure

Denver Green School uses Colorado’s Innovation Schools Act to waive the parts of state law that describe schools as managed by a principal and replaced it with a teacher partnership model. They also waived other aspects of state law, district policy and some provisions of the collectively bargained agreement to gain substantial autonomy over what happens at DGS.

About the Learning Program

DGS is a Neighborhood Innovation School—meaning we implement our own unique program design, approved through a rigorous process by the Denver School Board. Our emphasis on project-based learning allows teachers and students to engage in relevant, self-directed, teacher-facilitated learning. One of the main differences is that we use a different research based curriculum for Math and Reading, allowing teachers more flexibility in planning and students to be more engaged.