DPS received a $200M federal stimulus.
After a school year like 2020, Denver Public Schools (DPS) plans to welcome a return-to-normal school year for 2021-22 after receiving a $200 million federal stimulus. DPS Chief Financial Officer Chuck Carpenter shares proposal plans for the stimulus money:
- $25 million - air quality and ventilation improvements
- $28 million - accelerated learning plans to help students recover from 2020 learning loss
- $ undetermined amount - remote learning option
There will be an option for remote learning for next year, but the general push is for students to be in person.
Return-to-normal school will still consist of face masks, but the 3-foot distancing guideline will be relaxed, noted Michael Ramirez, DPS Deputy Superindent of Schools. With news of 40% of 16-17-year-olds in Denver county who have received at least the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, it seems DPS administration feels more comfortable with the idea of having school look like pre-pandemic learning.
And the DPS parents share similar sentiments. After a learning year like 2020 that included remote, hybrid, in-person learning, starting and stopping intermittently with minimal warning, as well as the exit of the DPS superintendent, the parents of DPS students have been very vocal about supporting the teachers, but also voicing concerns about their students' wellbeing and challenging learning environments and schedules.
DPS has weathered quite a year, but it looks like learning may begin to return to somewhat normal for next year. Overall, the American education system has been through hell and hopefully will come back ever the wiser for our kids and their bright future, whether it be masked or unmasked.
Are you a DPS family? Share in the comments what you're looking forward to the most for the 2021-22 school year.