This afternoon I had the pleasure of attending the groundbreaking ceremony for Aspen View Academy. Aspen View is a new charter school in DCSD that will be opening in fall 2013. Parents, kids, school district officials and community members came to stand in a field under and around a small tent to celebrate the fulfillment of several parents' dreams. These parents decided that they wanted to open a school, with their choice of curriculum, location, and a particular vision for their kids' future.
The excitement in this group was palpable. The Cub Scouts who presented the colors, the parent leadership who spoke, the elected officials who congratulated the entire school community--all seemed to understand that this was an extremely exciting moment that will culminate in a new set of opportunities for kids' education. The recognition of the partnership with the District and our efforts to maximize choice, by numerous people at the ceremony, was particularly gratifying. I am continually impressed by the tremendous talent and innovative spirit we have in our community. I am so proud to be part of this District.
I have had several very engaging conversations lately with people who want to know more about charter schools. There's a lot of needless mystery surrounding these public schools of choice. A decade ago, DCSD was the first district in Colorado to open a charter school. Today we are approaching a dozen. This week I will write a series of posts describing what charter schools are, how they work in Colorado, and how they are different from neighborhood schools.
Parents in DCSD want to be informed and involved in their kids' education. They can determine whether a charter school is right for their individual family. No matter what type of school a family chooses, we want to be there for them to help facilitate this. Today's ceremony, with children energetically digging with shiny shovels and hard hats, represents a new chapter in our endeavours.
