Dougco board approves ‘voucher charter’

June 26th, 2011

CASTLE ROCK Douglas County school board members on Monday unanimously approved a charter school that will serve up to 500 students receiving vouchers this fall as part of the districts pilot Choice Scholarship Program.

The 7-0 approval comes with one condition that members of the district accountability committee, who wont see the charter school application until next month, get the chance to review it and provide input to the board.

That step isnt likely to make a difference. Colorado law requires every school district to have an accountability committee of parents and community members but its powers are limited to recommendations.

Including the condition in its approval, however, means the Dougco board wont need to seek an additional waiver for its unusual charter from the State Board of Education, which is expected to vote in August on a host of waivers for the voucher charter.

Most charters ask the State Board for certain waivers such as waiving state law on the employment of teachers so charters have greater control over those they hire and fire.

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State board approves BEST grants

August 9th, 2010

The State Board of Education Wednesday approved $252.1 million in school construction projects and ruled against the Adams 12 Five Star Schools in a dispute with the Prospect Ridge Academy charter school.

The board’s actions were just two of several key decisions and discussions that came during its daylong meeting. The board heard a discouraging report about future state funding of schools, was briefed about a new Department of Education initiative on educator effectiveness and approved the first innovation schools application from a district other than the Denver Public Schools.

BEST grants

The board unanimously approved without change the latest recommendations of the Capital Construction Assistance Board, which supervises the Build Excellent Schools Today program. T

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Tags: Board, State Board