More than 100 schools in Denver will be closed Thursday as teachers and other educators plan to rally at the Colorado State Capitol to protest the state’s funding of K-12 schools.
Thousands of educators from across the state are expected to attend the event led by the Colorado Education Association, the state’s largest teachers union.
While some districts are on spring break, others such as the Boulder Valley School District, Adams 12 Five Star Schools and the Aspen School District, have canceled all classes districtwide Thursday as employees have called out of work to attend the rally.
At DPS alone, as many of 1,000 employees have expressed interest in attending, said Rob Gould, president of the Denver Classroom Teachers Association.
“Our educators, they’re very concerned about the funding cuts,” he said.
DPS, which has more than 200 schools, will keep 30 district-run schools open Thursday by using substitutes and central office employees.
Another 55 DPS charter and innovation schools will also remain open, according to a list sent out by Superintendent Alex Marrero on Tuesday.
The rest of the district’s schools will be closed, with classes resuming Friday.
“While we support fully funded education, we wish their action didn’t have a direct impact on students’ education,” Marrero wrote in a letter to families and employees. “Our goal is to do everything that we can do to keep our schools open so that our students do not lose a day of important instruction due to this event.
“In addition to the educational instruction that students will be missing out on, many of our students count on their schools for social-emotional support, mental health resources, and the only two meals that they will have to eat that day.”
DPS district-run schools that will remain open Thursday
- Barnum Elementary
- Compassion Road Academy
- Cory Elementary
- Cowell Elementary
- Denver Center for International Studies Fairmont
- Denver School of Innovation and Sustainable Design
- Delta High School
- Eagleton Elementary School
- Excel Academy
- Florence Crittenton High School
- Gilliam
- Goldrick Elementary
- Grant Ranch
- Hallett Academy
- International Academy of Denver Harrington
- John H. Amesse Elementary
- Manual Middle School
- Marrama Elementary School
- Montbello Career and Tech
- Dr. Martin Luther King Middle School
- Morey Middle School
- Newlon
- North Engagement Center
- Polaris Elementary
- Respect Academy
- Schmitt Elementary
- Steck Elementary
- Steele Elementary
- Trevista at Horace Mann
- Willow Elementary
DPS charter and innovation zone schools that will remain open Thursday
- Charter and Innovation Zone
- 5280 High School
- Academy 360
- AUL Denver
- Cole Arts and Sciences Academy
- Colorado High School Charter GES
- Colorado High School Charter Osage
- Compass Academy
- Denver Justice High School
- Denver Language School – Gilpin Campus
- Denver Language School – Whiteman Campus
- Downtown Denver Expeditionary School
- DSST: Cedar High School
- DSST: Cedar Middle School
- DSST: Cole High School
- DSST: Cole Middle School
- DSST: College View High School
- DSST: College View Middle School
- DSST: Conservatory Green High School
- DSST: Conservatory Green Middle School
- DSST: Elevate Northeast High School
- DSST: Elevate Northeast Middle School
- DSST: Green Valley Ranch High School
- DSST: Green Valley Ranch Middle School
- DSST: Montview High School
- DSST: Montview Middle School
- French American School of Denver
- Girls Athletic Leadership School High School
- Girls Athletic Leadership School Middle School
- Highline Academy Northeast
- Highline Academy Southeast
- KIPP Denver Collegiate High School
- KIPP Northeast Denver Leadership Academy
- KIPP Northeast Denver Middle School
- KIPP Northeast Elementary
- KIPP Sunshine Peak Academy
- KIPP Sunshine Peak Elementary
- Monarch Montessori
- Omar D. Blair
- RiseUp Community School
- Rocky Mountain Prep Berkeley
- Rocky Mountain Prep Creekside
- Rocky Mountain Prep Federal
- Rocky Mountain Prep GVR
- Rocky Mountain Prep Noel
- Rocky Mountain Prep RISE
- Rocky Mountain Prep Ruby Hill
- Rocky Mountain Prep SMART
- Rocky Mountain Prep Southwest
- Rocky Mountain Prep Sunnyside
- Rocky Mountain Prep Westwood
- SOAR Denver
- University Prep – Arapahoe St.
- University Prep – Steele St.
- Valdez Elementary
- Wyatt Academy
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