Introduction and Background
Regional Opportunities for Thriving Schools is Jeffco Public Schools’ response to the Board of Education’s (Board) request for a comprehensive plan to ensure thriving schools and extraordinary student experiences across our district.
On Thursday, August 24, 2023, district staff recommended that the Board consider a closure of Coal Creek Canyon K-8. Grades 6-8 will close at the end of the 2023-24 school year. Grades K-5 will close at either the end of the 2023-24 school year OR the 2024-25 school year.
The district will seek charter school interest in a quality educational option designed to serve students in the Coal Creek Canyon area beginning in the 2025-26 school year. The district may support a short-term agreement (1-5 years) for a charter school to use school space before starting the disposition process.
This process will inform the staff recommendation to the Board on October 12 regarding the timing of the closure of grades K-5 at the current Coal Creek Canyon school. This process will not impact the timeline for closure of grades 6-8, which will occur at the end of the 2023-24 school year.
9/22/2023 Update: The district has received notification that some charter partners are considering the possibility of beginning operations in the 2024-25 school year to serve the Coal Creek Canyon community. The district recognizes that this aligns more closely with the community's desire for a sustainable educational option. Charter schools that could open a school to serve Coal Creek Canyon beginning in August 2024 should attach a supplement to their letter of intent expressing their ability to do so.
Read a welcome letter from the Coal Creek Canyon community
Timeline
- August 24, 2023: Letter of intent requirements posted online
- August 25–September 29, 2023: Submission window open to receive letters of intent
- September 29, 2023: Letters of intent due
- October 2-10, 2023: Jeffco will review letters of intent
- October 12, 2023: Applicants will be notified of the status of their submission by this date.
- October 12, 2023: Based on the viability of the letters of intent received, Jeffco staff will update their recommendation for the timeline of when grades K-5 at Coal Creek Canyon will close, potentially allowing time for the community to transition to a charter school
- Spring 2024: Charter application window opens
- June 2024: Jeffco Board of Education votes on new charter school applications
This "letter of intent" will provide formal notice to Jeffco of an applicant’s intention to submit a new school proposal for the 2024-2025 or 2025-2026 school year. The information presented in this letter is non-binding.
Submission
Submit completed letters of intent to [email protected].
All submissions are due by 11:59 p.m. on September 29. Letters must be complete to qualify for consideration. If you need more space than provided on the PDF, please feel free to attach supplementary documents to your submission.
If you have any questions, please contact [email protected].
Evaluation Rubric For Letters Of Intent Received For Coal Creek Canyon
| Rating |
Characteristics |
| Fully Developed |
The response reflects a thorough understanding of key issues, such that the reviewer has essentially no unanswered questions about the section. Key issues include:
- Financial sustainability to serve a small school community
- Evidence of the capacity to provide quality education
- Qualifications of individuals who form the steering committee
The response addresses the topic with specific and accurate information that shows thorough preparation; presents a clear, realistic picture of how the school expects to implement the criteria; and inspires confidence in the applicant’s capacity to carry out the plan effectively. Examples or evidence are provided for all appropriate sections.
|
| Mostly Developed |
The response addresses or meets an appropriate level of expectation for addressing key issues, leaving only a few clarifying questions for the reviewer. Examples or evidence are provided for all appropriate sections if available. If examples or evidence are unavailable, a timeline to include or submit this information is stated in the application. |
| Partially Developed |
The response addresses key issues in some respects but has substantial gaps in several areas, leaving a number of questions remaining for the reviewer. Examples and evidence may be found in a few appropriate sections. |
| Not Developed |
The response is wholly undeveloped or significantly incomplete; demonstrates lack of preparation; or otherwise raises substantial concerns about the viability of the plan or the applicant’s ability to carry it out. No examples or evidence are provided. |