• District Updates for Nov. 11, 2026
    Nov 11 2026

    Story 1: The DPS Panorama Family Survey Is Open

    The DPS Panorama Family Survey opened on Monday! The survey will close Dec. 6. The survey takes approximately five to seven minutes to complete. All responses are anonymous and confidential: identifiable information (such as race, school, grade, etc.) is self-reported and not required. Your feedback will never be viewed on its own. All feedback is combined and viewed together to understand the whole-school experience. The survey is linked in our show notes and is available in Amharic, Arabic, Dari, French, Nepali, Somali, Spanish and Vietnamese. It is compatible with adaptive digital technology so all families can share their feedback.

    Story 2: DPS Bond and Mill Levy

    Thank you to everyone who participated in Tuesday's election and demonstrated their engagement in issues affecting public education. Several measures on this year's ballot have important implications for Denver students, families and staff. DPS will continue to provide updates as election results are finalized and implementation details become available.

    One of the issues on the ballot was Denver Ballot Issue 4A (City and County of Denver): which is a $44 million property tax mill levy override providing supplemental operating revenue to Denver Public Schools.

    Ballot Issue 4A:

    • Expands access to high-demand CTE courses, vocational certifications and career preparation classes for Denver high school students.
    • Allocates $4.9 million annually to expand mental health counseling resources and individualized education support services.
    • Distributes a proportional share of funds (approximately $9.3 million) to district-authorized charter schools to support any of the named items on the ballot.

    Impact on Employees

    • Every full-time Denver Public Schools employee will receive a $1,750 annual salary increase. The increase will first be seen on the Dec. 22, 2026 paycheck.

    Story 3: Student Winter Relief Drive

    Help every student stay warm, safe and comfortable this winter season! DPS is collecting new and gently used winter apparel, as well as toys to support our Emily Griffith Technical College (EGTC) students and their families! Drop off donations are being accepted now-Dec. 3 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Emily Griffith Campus in the lobby or on the sixth floor in Room 653. All donations will be distributed directly to the student population.

    Story 4: Link to SPF Rating Now Available in School Finder

    Reminder, the SchoolChoice Round 1 window opens on December 1 at 10 a.m. Before you apply, find the school that best fits the needs of your student. Use the DPS School Finder tool, linked in our shownotes, to locate your neighborhood boundary school, learn which schools are in your Enrollment Zone and explore programs. All School Finder profiles now link directly to each school’s School Performance Rating (SPF) on the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) website. The SPF ratings shown on the CDE website will reflect 2025 ratings until 2026 ratings are finalized in December.

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    4 min
  • Mental Health and Suicide Prevention: EDUCA DPS Podcast
    Nov 6 2026

    In this episode of the EDUCA DPS Podcast, host Nicole Brady sits down with Dr. Jane Linneman—a school psychologist and Student Safety Coordinator for Denver Public Schools (DPS)—for an essential discussion on suicide prevention, student mental health, and psychological safety.

    Learn how DPS supports the whole child by combining mental health resources with physical safety measures, early intervention strategies starting as early as 5th grade, and community partnerships. There's also advice for parents for starting direct, comfortable conversations about mental health and suicide at home without fear.


    If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available 24/7:

    988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 (Available nationwide)
    Safe 2 Tell Colorado: Call 1-877-542-7233 or submit a tip anonymously at safe2tell.org
    The Trevor Project (LGBTQ+ Youth): Call 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678-678
    I Matter (Free Colorado Youth Therapy): Visit imattercolorado.org
    Second Wind Fund: Visit thesecondwindfund.org


    📲 Subscribe to Denver Public Schools: @DenverPublicSchoolsPlus
    🎙️ Listen on Podcast Platforms: Search Educate DPS on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.
    🌐 Learn More: Visit dpsk12.org for more student safety and mental health resources.


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    20 min
  • Salud Mental Juvenil y Prevención del Suicidio: EDUCA DPS Podcast
    Nov 6 2026

    En este episodio del podcast Educa DPS, el anfitrión Beto Gaytán conversa con Grant Van Pelt, psicólogo de las escuelas públicas de Denver y especialista en salud mental, sobre un tema fundamental para nuestras familias: la prevención del suicidio, la salud mental en los estudiantes y la importancia de la comunicación abierta sin miedo. Descubre cómo el distrito escolar apoya el bienestar de los estudiantes mediante estrategias de intervención temprana, protocolos de seguridad detallados y alianzas con recursos comunitarios.

    Recursos de Apoyo y Líneas de Crisis 24/7

    Si tú o alguien que conoces está pasando por un momento difícil o de crisis, hay ayuda disponible todo el año:
    Línea de Prevención del Suicidio y Crisis (988): Llama o envía un texto al 988 (Disponible 24/7 en español e inglés).
    Safe2Tell Colorado: Llama al 1-877-542-7233 o haz un reporte anónimo en safe2tell.org.
    The Trevor Project (Juventud LGBTQ+): Llama al 1-866-488-7386 o envía un texto con la palabra START al 678-678.


    Suscríbete al canal de YouTube: @DenverPublicSchoolsPlus
    🎙️ Escúchanos en plataformas de podcast: Busca Educa DPS en tu aplicación de podcasts favorita.
    🌐 Más información: Visita dpsk12.org para conocer más recursos de seguridad estudiantil y bienestar mental.


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    24 min
  • District Updates for Nov. 4, 2026
    Nov 4 2026
    Story 1: SchoolChoice 101: Boundary School vs. Enrollment ZonesEvery K-12 student in Denver is guaranteed a seat at a DPS school, but do you know how your address impacts your options?In the second installment of the SchoolChoice video series, DPS is breaking down the difference between Boundary Schools (aka a single neighborhood school assigned to your address) and Enrollment Zones (aka a geographic area shared by several nearby schools). With Round 1 opening in less than a month on Dec. 1, now is the perfect time to start exploring! Watch the quick two-minute video linked in our show notes, then head over to the School Finder to explore your options. Families are also encouraged to stay connected by signing up for the SchoolChoice newsletter; where you’ll get key updates, deadlines and helpful tips delivered straight to your inbox. You can subscribe by visiting our show notes. Story 2: FACE University Did you know that FACE University Online brings you a new online course every Wednesday at 5 p.m.? Tune into these upcoming sessions: Today, Nov. 4: session titled SchoolChoice MLE and Seal of BiliteracyNov. 11: Family Meals Challenge 1: Benefits of Family Meals Nov. 18: Family Meals Challenge 2: Managing Screen Time, Social Media and SleepAll of these sessions are linked in our show notes. Story 3: Native American Heritage Month & Employee Celebrations In November, DPS recognizes National Native American Heritage Month. It is a dedicated time to honor the vibrant cultures and creations of our Native American peoples. While acknowledging the painful and complex histories of tribal nations, we also celebrate the tremendous accomplishments and contributions of Native peoples, who continue to be leaders and a source of inspiration.As always, it is important that we ground ourselves in the DPS Land Acknowledgement. The DPS Land Acknowledgement states: The DPS community acknowledges our Indigenous relatives who have lived in and cared for this ancient Land from time immemorial. We honor the deep, enduring relationship that the Arapaho (Hinono'ei), Cheyenne (Tsitsistas), Southern Ute, Ute Mountain Ute (Nuuchu), and citizens of all Tribal Nations maintain with the waters, plants, and living beings that call this place home. We pledge our respect for those enduring Indigenous connections to the place we now call Colorado.In addition to Native American Heritage Month, we are also celebrating: National School Psychology Week! On Nov. 9-13, we celebrate National School Psychology Week to recognize the work of school psychologists in helping students succeed. School psychologists work on prevention and intervention at all grade levels and lead mental health screening efforts like the Universal Social Emotional and Behavioral Screening (BESS).On Nov. 18, we will celebrate National Education Support Professionals Day! National Education Support Professionals Day and honor the efforts of every staff member who works to meet the academic, social and emotional needs of all students. Paraprofessionals, food service workers, bus drivers and mechanics, custodians and facility managers, school secretaries and clerical staff, nurses and health aides, maintenance employees, security personnel, landscapers and groundskeepers, technicians and more help create safe and welcoming learning environments for everyone.Last but not least, On Nov. 20, we celebrate Substitute Educators Day and recognize the effect guest educators have on our schools. They make a significant impact in maintaining what a teacher has in place for their classes, making sure that students continue learning and classrooms run smoothly.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.
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    4 min
  • District Updates for Oct. 28, 2026
    Oct 28 2026
    Story 1: DPS Panorama Family Survey Opens This Semester

    DPS is rolling out a new districtwide survey strategy with a new platform, Panorama Education, this semester. This work was initiated last school year, when the district began building an intentional survey approach that produces meaningful, actionable feedback to strengthen how our organization measures and understands student, family and staff experiences.

    With the new platform, every question is designed to respect guardians’ time and help build a true partnership between families and schools. When families take the DPS Panorama Family Survey, their experience will feel different from the previous district surveys. In the past, surveys often felt like a large list of questions. This new survey will focus on five key topics at a time, making it brief and easy to complete. Panorama will enable DPS to look closely at feedback across different groups of families to make sure every school community gets the specific support and resources it needs, and that DPS can act upon your input.

    More details will follow in the coming weeks.


    Story 2: EduKitchen Episode 1: Celebrating 150 Years of Cooking and Culture in Colorado

    EduKitchen, the district's first student-cooking challenge, brought together nine young chefs to celebrate Colorado's 150th birthday while mastering real kitchen skills. Watch the magic unfold in Episode 1, linked in our show notes, where you'll witness big flavors, sizzling suspense and genuine kitchen moments. This event was made possible by the Colorado 150 Commission.

    Stay tuned for two more episodes and see which students take home the title.


    Story 3: Eco-Schools Celebration

    This year, a record ten DPS Schools earned a Green Flag, the highest level of Eco-Schools Certification from the National Wildlife Federation, recognizing school-wide involvement in sustainability efforts. Additionally, 16 DPS schools earned Gold, Silver or Bronze Certification. Watch the video linked in our show notes to see how schools celebrated and some of their work in action.


    Story 4: Student Artwork in Denver International Airport

    Last week, 40 students had the opportunity to visit their artwork on display in Terminal C at the Denver International Airport. In celebration of 150 years of Colorado history, this exhibition showcases artwork from Denver School of the Arts, Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy and Hill Campus of Arts and Sciences, offering a powerful and personal perspective on the landscapes, cultures and communities that shape our state. Each piece of artwork tells a story of Colorado’s past, present and future. If you are traveling, stop by the exhibition, located on the upper mezzanine of Concourse C! It is on display until Monday, Nov. 2.

    The photos linked in our show notes are provided courtesy of Denver International Airport.

    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.

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    3 min
  • EDUCA en Vivo desde la Cumbre de Excelencia Inclusiva
    Oct 23 2026

    Bienvenidos a un episodio especial del podcast EDUCA DPS! Transmitiendo en vivo desde la histórica Escuela Preparatoria Montbello, su anfitrión Beto Gaytán se reúne con destacados líderes educativos de Colorado en la Cumbre de Excelencia Inclusiva, un evento coorganizado por las Escuelas Públicas de Denver (DPS) y la Asociación de Ejecutivos Escolares de Colorado (CASE).

    En este episodio en español, conversamos sobre equidad, representación, superación académica y el poder del bilingüismo con invitados muy especiales:

    Dra. Karla Loria – Superintendente del Distrito Adams 14

    Xochitl Gaytán – Presidenta de la Mesa Directiva de DPS

    Dr. Alex Marrero – Superintendente de las Escuelas Públicas de Denver

    Dra. Patricia Hurrieta – Directora del Equipo de Éxito Estudiantil Latine

    ¡Descubre las historias, estrategias y visiones que están transformando la educación pública para más de 800,000 estudiantes en todo Colorado!

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    32 min
  • EDUCA on the Road at the Inclusive Excellence Summit
    Oct 23 2026

    In the episode of EDUCA in English, host Nicole Brady is live at Montbello High School for the inaugural Inclusive Excellence Summit, co-hosted by Denver Public Schools (DPS) and the Colorado Association of School Executives (CASE).

    Hear from key education leaders and visionaries from across Colorado and beyond as they discuss equity, diverse leadership, and strategies for empowering every student

    Guests include:

    Dr. Pedro Noguera – Dean of the Rossier School of Education at USC

    Dr. Christina Kishimoto – Founder & CEO of Voice for Equity LLC

    Dr. Alex Marrero – DPS Superintendent

    Dr. Jennifer Wolf – Director of Native American Culture and Education Services (NACE) at DPS

    Xochitl Gaytán – President of the DPS Board of Education

    Carlos Moreno – Co-Executive Director of Big Picture Learning

    Stay tuned to learn what inclusive excellence means in practice and how leaders are shaping the future of public education!
    930/5000



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    33 min
  • District Updates for Oct. 21, 2026
    Oct 21 2026
    Story 1: Update on the Redrawing Our District Equitably InitiativeAfter hearing from families, staff and community members across the district through the Redrawing our District Equitably initiative, Superintendent Dr. Marrero made a recommendation to the Board of Education to make no changes to school boundaries and enrollment zones this fall. The district has completed all work in regard to this initiative and existing school boundaries and enrollment zones will remain in place for the 2027-28 school year.The Board has begun working on a revised Executive Limitation, EL-18, which would consolidate EL-18 School Consolidations and Closures and EL-19 Enrollment Boundaries and Zones. There could be Board of Education action on this policy as soon as Oct. 26, 2026. If there are school closures in the future, then school boundary or enrollment zone changes would likely be required as part of a closure. However, those changes would take place after the 2027-28 school year. We anticipate sharing an update on this work later this fall if the Board of Education formally adopts the revised policy.Given the upcoming SchoolChoice Round 1 window, school boundaries and enrollment zones will remain unchanged for the 2027-28 school year.More information on Redrawing our District Equitably is linked in our show notes. Story 2: Red Ribbon Week Red Ribbon Week takes place annually from Oct. 23-31 and is an opportunity to promote youth drug prevention and celebrate healthy choices. Data shows that the majority of youth are making healthy decisions. In the past month: 97% of students abstained from smoking cigarettes.90% of students refrained from vaping.90% of students chose not to use marijuana.81% of students abstained from alcohol.For evidence-based prevention resources, quitting support and family guidance, visit the Substance Use Prevention and Intervention website, linked in our show notes.Story 3: Emily Griffith Technical College and DPS Purchase Centennial Hall from Urban Land ConservancyEmily Griffith Technical College and DPS have officially closed on the purchase of Centennial Hall on the Mosaic Community Campus! This historic 66,000 sq. ft. building will soon house Emily Griffith Technical College student and alumni services, career coaching and services, classrooms, college administration and operations. Stay tuned for updates on how the district will prepare this vibrant, historic space for students, staff and alumni!Story 4: Submit Student Art for the DPS Holiday CardStudents and teachers are invited to submit student artwork for this year’s DPS holiday card. We are looking for creative art inspired by winter holidays and traditions. This could mean snowy scenes, seasonal celebrations, time with loved ones or something uniquely meaningful to the student artist! All traditions and perspectives are welcome; artwork does not need to represent a specific religious holiday.Submit photos of student artwork through the DPS Holiday Card Art Submissions form, linked in our show notes. Submissions are due by Nov. 6. Winners will be notified if their art is selected via the contact information provided in the submission form.Story 5: Three DPS Schools Named Among America's Healthiest SchoolsCompassion Road Academy (CRA), Downtown Denver Expeditionary School (DDES) and William (Bill) Roberts K-8 School have been recognized among America's Healthiest Schools for 2026 by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation and Kaiser Permanente. The schools were recognized in the following categories:CRA: Social-emotional Health and LearningDDES: Social-emotional Health and Learning, Staff Well-beingWilliam (Bill) Roberts: School Health Services, Nutrition and Food Access, Family and Community EngagementCongratulations to these three schools for being nationally recognized for their work in supporting student, staff and family well-being!
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    4 min