The Denver Public Schools Podcast

Round 1 of SchoolChoice for the 2027–28 school year opens Dec. 1 at 10 a.m. and closes Jan. 19, 2027, at 4 p.m.

To help navigate the process, DPS has launched a new video series featuring local DPS families to break down each phase of the process. Check out the first video linked in our show notes  for a two-minute overview of Round 1. 

You can also stay informed with important deadlines, tips and updates by signing up for the SchoolChoice newsletter, also linked in our show notes.

Story 2: Climate Champions Grant: Intent to Apply due by Friday, Oct. 16

Student-led climate action projects can apply for up to $10,000 in funding.  All grade levels and schools are eligible to apply. If you know students who might be interested, encourage them  to submit the Intent to Apply form linked in our shownotesl by Friday, Oct. 16. The Sustainability Team will follow up afterwards to help support your project team throughout the application process.

Our third story is about the Multilingual Educational District Advisory Committee 

Story 3:  MLE DAC on Oct. 21

All families are invite to the upcoming Multilingual Education (MLE) District Advisory Committee (DAC) on Wednesday, Oct. 21 from 9-11 a.m. at Columbian Elementary School. During this session, the team will share important updates regarding Multilingual Education (MLE) programs, program goals and data and Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) structures. 

Food, childcare and interpretation services will be provided, and attendees are encouraged to pre-register via the link in our show notes. Staff are also highly encouraged to attend and volunteer if possible. For more information, visit the MLE website. 

Our fourth and final story is about 

Story 4: Denver Mayor's Office Childcare for All Initiative 

Childcare for All, a new citywide initiative, brings together families, childcare providers, educators, employers and community members to identify solutions to access to high-quality childcare. Community feedback will help inform future recommendations to strengthen childcare across our city. The Childcare for All Survey and webpage are linked in our show notes. The survey closes on Oct. 18.

That’s all for this week. Thank you for tuning in to this episode of DPS Snapshots. Please remember to like and subscribe to our show to never miss an episode, and we’ll see you next time on DPS Snapshots. 

In this episode host Nicole Brady sits down with Tara Schneider, Senior Manager of Higher Education Academics in DPS, to discuss how Denver Public Schools is supporting students and families during Career and College Month this October. Learn about early college credit programs, financial aid support, and pathways for every student's post-secondary goals.

Key Topics Covered:

Exploring Post-Secondary Options: How DPS frames college and career readiness around student choice—whether attending a 4-year university, community college, trade school, or entering direct career training.

Earning Early College Credit: Free access to high school concurrent enrollment, AP, and IB courses to save time and tuition.

Guaranteed Admissions & Free Application Days: Partnerships with Colorado institutions (CU Denver, CSU, MSU Denver, and more) and details on Colorado Free Application Days (October 20–22).

Financial Aid Assistance: Guidance on FAFSA and CASFA forms with help from school counselors and Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) Future Centers.

First-Gen & Undocumented Student Support: Bilingual resources in all seven DPS consent decree languages and step-by-step family workshops.

Career & Technical Education (CTE): Over 90 CTE programs, industry certifications, Emily Griffith Technical College pathways, and hands-on work-based learning (internships, apprenticeships, and Spark middle school programs).

Action Steps for 9th & 10th Graders: Simple advice on how underclassmen can schedule time with counselors to explore options and start early.

Subscribe to Denver Public Schools Plus for more episodes and updates!

En este episodio Natalie Valencia, gerente de Trayectorias de Educación Superior de DPS, explica cómo el distrito ayuda a los estudiantes a explorar diversas opciones tras finalizar la escuela secundaria y cómo pueden recibir asistencia con la FAFSA y la CASFA para financiar sus estudios universitarios.

Temas clave abordados:

Exploración de opciones postsecundarias: Cómo DPS enfoca la preparación universitaria y profesional en torno a las opciones de los estudiantes, ya sea asistir a una universidad de 4 años, un colegio comunitario, una escuela técnica o ingresar directamente a la capacitación laboral.

Obtención de créditos universitarios tempranos: Acceso gratuito a cursos de inscripción simultánea, AP e IB en la preparatoria para ahorrar tiempo y costos de colegiatura.

Admisiones garantizadas y días de solicitud gratuita: Alianzas con instituciones de Colorado (CU Denver, CSU, MSU Denver, entre otras) y detalles sobre los Días de Solicitud Gratuita en Colorado (del 20 al 22 de octubre).

Asistencia con la ayuda financiera: Orientación sobre los formularios FAFSA y CASFA con el apoyo de consejeros escolares y los Centros Futuro de la Fundación de Becas de Denver (DSF).

Apoyo a estudiantes de primera generación e indocumentados: Recursos bilingües en los siete idiomas del decreto de consentimiento de DPS y talleres familiares paso a paso.

Educación Técnica y Carrera (CTE): Más de 90 programas CTE, certificaciones de la industria, vías de acceso en el Colegio Técnico Emily Griffith y aprendizaje práctico basado en el trabajo (pasantías, aprendizajes y programas Spark para secundaria).

Pasos a seguir para estudiantes de 9.° y 10.° grado: Consejos prácticos sobre cómo los estudiantes de los primeros años pueden programar una cita con sus consejeros para explorar opciones y comenzar desde temprano.

 ¡Suscríbete a Denver Public Schools Plus para ver más episodios y novedades!

Our first story is about the Annual Bond Report. 

The 2024 Bond Oversight Committee is proud to release the 2025-26 Denver Public Schools Annual Bond Report.  The annual report outlines the projects that have been completed, their impact and what projects are coming up next. During the 2025-26 school year, $394 million was spent and committed, funding:

• 734 critical maintenance projects.
• One million square feet of new concrete.
• 29 air conditioned schools.
• 117 focused learning environments.
• 17 secured safety vestibules.
• 13 comprehensive high school athletics upgrades.

To learn more about the Bond Oversight Committee and its work, visit the Bond website, linked in our show notes.

Our second story is about 2027-28 School Choice Dates.  

It’s never too early to start thinking about next year. For the 2027-28 school year, the SchoolChoice Round 1 application will open at 10 a.m. on Dec. 1, 2026 and close on Jan. 19, 2027 at 4 p.m, and  Families will be notified of placement results in late February. For more information on School Choice, visit the link in our show notes. 

Our third story is about Orange Shirt Day. 

On Wednesday, Sept. 30, the Native American Culture and Education (NACE) team invites our school and community to wear orange for Orange Shirt Day (PDF). This day honors Indian Boarding School survivors and recognizes Indigenous histories and resilience. And don’t forget to mark your calendars– Indigenous Peoples’ Day will be celebrated on Monday, October 12.

Our fourth story is about the DPS Poetry Book, 

Submissions for this year's DPS Poetry Book “denverpoets” are now open! All DPS students attending a non-charter school in ECE through fifth grade are invited to submit an entry via the link in our shownotes. Poems can be about any subject or written in any language.

Our fifth and final story is about guaranteed admissions to Colorado School of Mines.

Colorado School of Mines is offering guaranteed admissions to Colorado students who qualify and apply by the Nov. 1 priority application deadline. To qualify, students must be Colorado residents, have a 3.8+ unweighted GPA or an unweighted GPA plus a minimum 1420 SAT or 32 ACT composite. Students cannot have a grade below a B- in any math or science course and must have already completed pre-calc or trigonometry. Students must also have completed three years of lab-based science. To learn more, visit the Mines Golden Guarantee, linked in our show notes. 

En este episodio del pódcast EDUCA DPS, el locutor Beto Gaytán conversa con la Dra. Cori Canty, gerenta de mejora escolar y asistencia, sobre el papel fundamental que desempeña la asistencia regular en las Escuelas Públicas de Denver (DPS).

• Por qué la asistencia importa: La asistencia constante impulsa tanto el éxito académico como el desarrollo social y emocional. Es especialmente vital desde la educación infantil hasta 3.º de primaria, donde faltar a clase dificulta la transición de "aprender a leer" a "leer para aprender".
• Ausentismo crónico: Se define como perder el 10 % o más del año escolar (sea justificado o no). Las tasas alcanzaron su punto máximo durante la pandemia y, aunque están mejorando, siguen siendo un desafío clave.
• Iniciativas de DPS: El distrito colabora con la Fundación Denver Broncos y Attendance Works, ofrece incentivos para los estudiantes y envía reportes de progreso mensuales a las familias.
• Consejos para las familias: Monitorear la asistencia a través del Portal de Padres (Parent Portal), establecer rutinas nocturnas constantes y mantener una supervisión activa con estudiantes de todas las edades.

In this episode of the DPS EDUCA in English podcast, host Nicole Brady talks with Dr. Cori Canty, Manager of School Improvement and Attendance for Denver Public Schools, about the importance of consistent attendance and a new partnership with the Denver Broncos Attendance Network.

• Why Attendance Matters: Consistent attendance drives both academic success and social-emotional development. It is especially vital from early childhood through 3rd grade, where missing school hinders the transition from "learning to read" to "reading to learn."
• Chronic Absenteeism: Defined as missing 10% or more of the school year (justified or not). Rates peaked during the pandemic, and while improving, they remain a key challenge.
• DPS Initiatives: A new partnership  with the Denver Broncos Foundation and Attendance Works, offers student incentives, and sends monthly progress reports to families.
• Tips for Families: Track attendance via the Parent Portal, set consistent evening routines, and maintain active guidance for students of all ages.

Our first story is about Hispanic Heritage Month.

Denver Public Schools is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, which takes place annually from September 15 to October 15. Today, 52% of nearly 90,000 students and more than 35% of our 18,000 staff identify as Hispanic or Latino. The lived experiences of our Latine students, families and staff remain central to our districtwide priorities. The DPS Latine Student Success team leads ongoing work dedicated to the academic achievement of our Latine scholars. We wanted to use this moment to share some key highlights from the Latine Student Success Impact Report, reflecting the remarkable progress and dedication of our students, educators and community. Key achievements include: 

• Achieving the largest READ Act growth across the district -> a 21% Growth in Foundational Reading Skills
• Significantly decreasing the number of students reading significantly below grade level. -> an 18% Reduction in Below Grade Level Readers: 
• Demonstrating outstanding biliteracy outcomes in Spanish reading ->  77% Proficiency  in Bilingual K–3 Classrooms:
• Strengthening partnerships with families through targeted outreach and building deep relational trust within our school communities through professional learning. -> Family Engagement & Leadership Institute (FELI) Success. 

The LSS team recently made an Instagram page so staff and families can stay close to the impactful work they are doing. Give them a follow, and be on the lookout for local Hispanic Heritage Celebrations celebrations happening at schools and across Denver. 

Our second story is about the Denver Special Education Advisory Committee

Story 2: Denver Special Education Advisory Committee (DSEAC)

The Denver Special Education Advisory Committee (DSEAC) is a district-level advisory group dedicated to improving outcomes for students with disabilities through collaborative and intentional community engagement. DSEAC membership includes parents, families and caregivers of DPS students with disabilities, DPS educators, school administrators, advocates, community partners and district leaders. If you are interested in participating in DSEAC,  head to our show notes to complete the DSEAC Membership Application.

Our third Story is about the BESS Screening Window

Story 3: BESS Screening Window is Now Open 

The Behavioral and Emotional Screening System, better known as BESS, is now open. The BESS is a proactive screening tool, not a diagnostic assessment or evaluation. DPS has utilized the BESS for nearly a decade to support student mental health and screenings occur multiple times annually for all students across the district. A form can be completed in less than 5 minutes! Guardians can go to: tinyurl.com/bessparent, Enter your student’s DPS ID and date of birth (MM/DD/YYYY) and  complete the screening form.  To learn more, visit the link in our show notes (https://ess.dpsk12.org/o/studentequity/page/dpsscreening) or contact your student’s school. 

That’s all for this week. Thank you for tuning in to this episode of DPS Snapshots. Please remember to like and subscribe to our show to never miss an episode. We’ll see you next time on DPS Snapshots. 

Communications Manager Nicole Brady sits down with Dr. Stacy M. Park, Denver Public Schools’ new Chief of Academics. Dr. Park shares her journey in education, the personal reason she always includes the "M" in her name, and how the  academics team under her leadership will work to drive success in DPS.

Highlights of the episode include:

• Inside the Academics Team: How curriculum, special education, multilingual learning, and career readiness work together.
• What's New in Classrooms: Updates on curriculum in DPS
• Celebrating Academic Growth: What recent CMAS growth and back-to-back "Green" district performance ratings really mean

Subscribe to the DPS Podcast for updates throughout the school year

Story 1: Attendance Awareness Month 

Our goal at DPS is to ensure every learner thrives. And one way we as the collective DPS Community can do that is by identifying and removing barriers that keep our students from coming to school each day. When students are not at school, they not only miss out on valuable learning opportunities for the time they were absent, but they can experience long-term impacts that hinder their development in reading by third grade, achieving in middle school and graduating from high school.

You’ve likely heard the phrase “chronic absenteeism” before. Chronic absence is missing 10% or more of the time enrolled in school due to absence for any reason, including arriving late, leaving early, excused and unexcused absences, and suspensions. Missing 10% of school is approximately the equivalent of missing two days per month.

If your child is experiencing obstacles that keep them from attending school, please let your school know. Schools may reach out to a family to learn about why a student was absent. This is to ensure that the absence is recorded correctly in the attendance system, as well as to help the school identify relevant and specific resources to connect families to.

That being said, there are a number of reasons that students miss school, sickness being one of them. At the start of the school year and when returning from breaks, it’s common for students to get sick. The Attendance webpage (linked in our show notes) provides guidance on when to keep children home if they aren’t feeling their best and when to send them to school. If your child is too sick to come to school, please either call the school’s front office or submit an online absence by following the steps in this guide, linked in our show notes.


Families are encouraged to plan ahead with calendars. Access the 2026-27 school year calendar via the link in our show notes  to plan appointments and vacations around important days to ensure your child does not miss valuable learning time.  Most schools have a school-specific calendar, so be sure to also check your student's  school calendar for any important, school-specific dates.

Our second story is about a Cognitive Testing Opportunity for all students.

Story 2: Cognitive Testing Opportunity for All Students

Each fall and spring, the Gifted and Talented Department offers cognitive testing for students in grades ECE through 12 to support data collection toward gifted identification or eligibility for gifted magnet sites. All first- and fifth-graders are tested automatically through universal screening. Families of all other students can register online. The form linked in our show notes is accepting responses for fall testing until October 2, 2026 by 11:59 pm by Oct. 2

Our third Story is about celebrating Colorado 150 with the DPS community. 

Story 3: Celebrating Colorado 150 at DPS 

All members of the DPS community are invited to attend EduKitchen, a student cooking competition and community event, on Saturday, Oct. 3 from 10 a.m.-noon, celebrating 150 years of cooking and culture in Colorado! This event is being hosted at the cafeteria on the DPS Mosaic Campus (7150 Montview Blvd., Denver, CO 80220).

Earlier this year, students, staff and community members sent in their favorite recipes to help create a DPS Community Cookbook. On Oct. 3,  Nine lucky DPS students will compete in a culinary competition, making three recipes from this Community Cookbook.

Attendees will have the chance to test their historical and culinary knowledge with trivia, listen to the stories of inspiring guest speakers, watch local celebrity chefs judge the student dishes and of course, snack on delicious food! This event is free and open to the public, and we hope to see you there.  You can RSVP for EduKitchen via the link in our show notes. 

Our fourth and final Story is about celebrating Harvest Week with DPS Sustainability. 

Story 4 : DPS Harvest Week 

Harvest week is September 21-25, and DPS Sustainability is asking school gardens to celebrate their harvest, but also celebrate the students, staff, parents, and volunteers who are growing food and building community in the process. If you are interested in planning an event during Harvest Week, reach out the Sustainability team via the form linked in our show notes. Participating schools will have the opportunity win prizes for your school garden! If you have questions, email the Sustainability team. 

That’s all for this week. Thank you for tuning in to this episode of DPS Snapshots. Please remember to like and subscribe to our show to never miss an episode. We’ll see you next time on DPS Snapshots.

 Story 1: Community Engagement Sessions to Review Enrollment Boundaries and Zones

DPS is continuing to host community engagement sessions in every region in September to learn more about what communities value as DPS reviews enrollment boundaries and zones.

You can attend one of four remaining engagement sessions. The remaining meetings are being held on the following dates from 6-8 p.m.  

• Thursday, Sept. 10, 6-8 p.m. at Lincoln High School
• Monday, Sept. 14, 6-8 p.m. at Northfield High School
• Tuesday, Sept. 22, 6-8 p.m. at CEC Early College
• Thursday, Sept. 24, 6-8 p.m. at Bruce Randolph School

Food and childcare will be provided at all sessions. Please register via the link in our show notes before attending. 

Story 2: Addressing Significant Disproportionality in DPS

Denver Public Schools has been placed under an Action Plan by the Colorado Department of Education for IDEA Significant Disproportionality.

Compared to Their Other Race Peers:

• Asian students with Individualized Education Plans, or IEPs, are more than twice as likely to spend less than 40% of the day in general education settings.
• Black students with IEPs are more than twice as likely to receive out-of-school suspensions.

There is an opportunity for involvement as we improve. Join the Significant Disproportionality Action Committee to lead districtwide initiatives targeting the root causes affecting equitable placement decisions for Asian students and discipline for Black students.

The Subcommittee will focus on: 

• Professional Learning: Develop professional learning for staff across DPS on cultural/linguistic factors and school behavior responses.
• Policy and Procedures: Create and revise policies, procedures and practices regarding cultural/linguistic frameworks and discipline.
• Systems and Resources: Research assessments and assessment practices for MLL students and establish cultural liaisons.
• Student Outcome Improvement: Improve district tools for teachers to elevate the quality and implementation of IEPs and actionable Behavioral Improvement Plans (BIPs).

Are you are interested in driving change? Complete the Action Committee interest form linked in the show notes. 

Story 3:  Guidance for Requesting Interpretation and Translation Services  

DPS is proud to serve over 36,000 multilingual learners who speak 193 different languages, creating a vibrant and diverse learning community. Our goal is to ensure that all families feel welcomed, valued and empowered to engage with and shape our system. School based staff are able to request Interpretations and translations services for school functions and community events. These services must be requested at least 10 business days (meaning Monday through Friday) prior to the meeting, event or deadline. DPS staff can access the DPS Interpretation and Translation Guidance (Google Doc) linked in our show notes  for detailed information on these services.

Visit the Interpretations page and the Translations page on The Commons for more information and to submit requests.

Please remember to like and subscribe to our show to never miss an episode. We’ll see you next time on DPS Snapshots.