Contents Cover Page – for Colorado Department of Education (CDE) .................................................. 3 LETTER FROM SCHOOL LEADER OR PLANNING TEAM LEADER ........................................... 4 INNOVATION SCHOOL APPLICANT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................... 5 Section I. CULTURE ............................................................................................................................. 12 Section II. LEADERSHIP ..................................................................................................................... 26 Section III: EDUCATION PROGRAM ........................................................................................... 38 Section IV: TEACHING ...................................................................................................................... 76 Section V: GOVERNANCE & FINANCE ............................................................................................ 88 Appendix B: Evidence of Support – Key Stakeholder Groups .............................................. 93 Administration Approval: ......................................................................................................................................... 93 Teacher Approval: ....................................................................................................................................................... 93 CSC Approval: ................................................................................................................................................................ 93 Additional Evidence of Community Support & Input ...................................................................... 100 Appendix B: Job Descriptions for all Leadership /Administrative Team Positions . 112 Appendix C: Resumes Leadership Team Members .............................................................. 117 Appendix D – School Organization Chart ................................................................................. 120 Appendix E: Projected Staff Roster ............................................................................................ 121 Appendix F: Personnel Policies or Employee Manual ........................................................ 122 Appendix G: Course Scope and Sequence for One Grade in Each School Level .......... 124 Appendix H – School Calendar & School Day Schedule ....................................................... 128 Appendix I- Teacher Professional Development Plan ........................................................ 131 Waivers Requests and Replacement Policies .................................................................................... 137 DPS Policy Waivers .......................................................................................................................... 137 Collective Bargaining Agreement Articles Waivers ............................................................. 148 State Statute Waivers ...................................................................................................................... 159 Use of Non-Adopted District Curriculum - WAIVER (DPS)................................................ 179 Teacher Developed Curriculum – Waiver (DPS) ................................................................... 180 2 Cover Page – for Colorado Department of Education (CDE) Innovation School Name: Northfield High School Location (address): 5500 Central Park Blvd Plan Contact (name and position): Avi Tropper, Principal Email: [email protected] Phone: (303) 842-1101 Please answer the following questions to help us review the innovation plan as efficiently as possible. Is this plan for a new school or an existing school (circle one)? New If this plan is a new school, is the new school (check one): Replacing legacy schools on turnaround status; or X Part of a district plan to create a portfolio of schools necessary to serve the Act’s purpose of improving student performance and addressing the issues identified in chronically failing schools or student populations? Has the school submitted a request for to CDE for a new school code, grade change, name change, etc.? Y If so, when was the request made and what was it for? New school code 519 granted in June Has the school been granted status as an Alternate Education Campus (AEC)? N If the school does not have AEC status; does the school plan on submitting an application for AEC status before opening? (Please note that the deadline is July 1st.) N Is the school in Priority Improvement or Turnaround? N Is the school a recipient of the federal School Improvement Grant (10039g))? N Will the school be seeking a waiver for graduation guidelines? Y requesting waiver from civics graduation requirement as all students will be taking the 2 year IB history course Please indicate in the plan if the school will follow district requirements and include the district graduation policy as an appendix. 3 LETTER FROM SCHOOL LEADER OR PLANNING TEAM LEADER Date: August 9, 2015 To: Denver Public Schools Board of Education and Colorado Department of Education State Board of Education From: Avi Tropper, Founding Principal of Northfield High School We, the innovation planning team for Northfield High School, submit to you this plan requesting innovation status for Northfield High School. Northfield High School is being founded with the vision of creating a diverse, inclusive and progressive high school that serves students from neighborhoods throughout Denver’s Northeast Region. The school design was deliberately and intentionally developed so as to ensure that every single student is supported and challenged throughout high school. It is our expectation that every single student graduates intellectually and personally ready for success in a 4 year college program. The flexibilities included in this innovation plan support this mission. The plan was developed through a collaborative process extending over one and a half years. Initially a committee consisting of over 30 people including teachers and school leaders developed a draft. Student input was also sought through focus groups and surveys. Guidance from the broader community was received via open forums and via surveys. Throughout the faculty recruitment and hiring process our founding faculty had substantial input and influence on the plan. This process included two weeks of planning in June and in July 2015. The Northfield High School Collaborative School Committee had substantial opportunity for input and influence on the plan as well in a series of planning sessions in July and August 2015. The administration, staff, and CSC fully supports this plan and has voted in favor of this innovation plan. As the founding school principal I am committed to implementing this innovation plan and to creating a school culture in which all adults and students are engaged with the school vision and mission. Since Northfield High School is a new school, the faculty will vote on the innovation plan during the very first faculty meeting in June. Throughout the recruiting, interviewing and hiring process there has been total transparency as to the contents of the innovation plan and how the specific waivers support the school’s mission. Sincerely, Avi Tropper Founding Principal Northfield High School 4 INNOVATION SCHOOL APPLICANT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Essential Information Form Name of Proposed School Northfield High School School Type Innovation School Grade Configuration 9-12 Model or Focus (e.g., Arts, International Baccalaureate Diploma Program pending College Prep, etc.) authorization Proposed Region and/or Northeast Denver Neighborhood for School Primary Contact Person (name, Avi Tropper email) [email protected] Enrollment Projections: GRADE 2015-16 2016-17 20l17-18 2018-19 9 240 240 240 260 10 240 240 240 11 240 240 12 240 Total # students 240 480 720 980 Student Demographics: FRL % SPED % ELL % Projected Demographics 50 12 14 5 District-run School Executive Summary Narrative (3 page limit for this sub-section) 1. Culture: Mission: Northfield High School engages students in a rich and challenging academic program, empowering them to discover their own strengths and pursue areas of personal interest. Our teachers inspire students to become enthusiastic lifelong learners, creative problem solvers, and effective communicators. Our focus on collaborative and global learning ensures that our graduates are prepared to be fully informed, principled, and engaged citizens of the world Vision: Learning about ourselves and the world. With a focus on both academic and social/emotional growth Northfield High School will support every single student as they grow as individuals and as future citizens of a global society. The broader community has been deeply involved in the planning process for this school. Since the passage of the 2012 Bond there has been a tremendous amount of community engagement in the planning process for the new high school facility and program. Through various forums and committees (including a Design Advisory Group and a Program Advisory Committee composed of parents, teachers and school leaders in the community) the community has engaged in deep discussions about the vision for the new high school. Additional information on the outcomes of these processes can be found at this link: http://bond.dpsk12.org/projects/northfield/. This plan itself was written through a collaborative process with a planning committee consisting