This back to school season is unlike any we’ve ever experienced. We all will miss the images of children busting open doors, rushing into school buildings with new supplies and enthusiasm about reconnecting with peers and teachers. But we take heart in the efforts of our school and community partners working to ensure the opportunity to learn is there for every student during the COVID-19 pandemic. The critical role of families and community in supporting our children’s education has never been more evident.

Our mission at RootED  is to invest in community-driven organizations, schools and strategies that advance racial equity in education—to ensure that all Denver Public Schools students receive a high-quality education that recognizes and values individual and community strengths and cultural difference, enabling students to attain academic achievement, personal growth, and college and career success.

At the closure of schools in March, Transform Education Now (TEN) emerged as a leading advocate for families navigating the new challenges of remote learning. Launching a special channel for parents to support one another during a time of isolation, TEN has also led the charge for schools to improve virtual offerings for all students. Co-founder Ariel Smith told CBS 4: “There’s no reason why we can’t be building the highest quality remote learning plans that we possibly can for our students and families...schools need to be partners with parents in helping them to understand the progress their students are making.”  

DSST Public Schools went to great lengths to ensure 100% of its students were able to access and participate in their E-School, and the network reported a remarkable 96% daily attendance. DSST attributes the success to the supportive nature of the small school advisory groups which are key to their pedagogy. 

Montbello Organizing Committee (MOC) and FaithBridge have worked for months to ensure no student goes hungry during the COVID-19 pandemic. After learning about many of our neighbors losing jobs during the pandemic, MOC and Faithbridge stepped up to lead a regular free food distribution at the Montbello High School parking lot, helping to keep food on the table for hundreds of families each month. These efforts have been covered by CBS4, 9News, Fox31, and The Denver Channel.

The uncertainty brought on by school closures has been difficult for children accustomed to the routine of school. In their efforts to create healthy and equitable learning environments, Rocky Mountain Prep (RMP) last year launched RMP Compass Circles. This is a structured time each week for students and staff to reflect on how they are doing mentally/emotionally and support their peers and colleagues in doing the same. When the Circles moved to a virtual platform in the spring. RMP reported that students remained committed to supporting each other and found deeper connections in doing so. Circle practices are a model for other schools seeking ways to help their students connect, be seen, and supported during this time. Click here to view the RMP Compass Circles video.

The devastation of the pandemic and its disproportionate impact on communities of color highlighted the deep inequities that exist in our country. Denver’s remarkable young people took up the fight against systemic racism and police brutality after the tragic death of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis in May. Students at Strive Prep Rise are empowered to be social justice focused community members who’re compassionate and responsible. Their protests against police violence - fueled by their learning about how to challenge inequities - were featured in Colorado Sun, Chalkbeat and CBS4.

Earlier in the spring, Highline Academy had been seeking opportunities for its school community to tackle unconscious bias and discriminatory practices. Highline hosted separate workshops for students and parents to unpack their lived experiences and gain new tools to navigate difficult conversations about race and racism. Click here to watch a video on the initiative.

Over the summer, families and community groups stepped up to engage in an important fight for equity and transparency. RootED closely followed the work and recommendations of the Reimagine the SPF committee. And we were pleased to see the Board of Education approve a resolution that will initiate work to engage the Denver community “to ensure that all families have equitable access to information that empowers them as cooperative partners in our schools.”

RootED commissioned a study by Drs. Antwan Jefferson and Plashan McCune to look at the ways families in Denver make decisions about their children’s education and options for schooling. The findings were clear: families want additional and more useful information in the form of "school profiles, in-depth information regarding school culture and climate, the school leadership and details regarding teachers’ preparedness, tenure and ability to connect and support the learning needs of their children."