March - April: Select teaching staff The regular interview and hiring cycle for Legacy will be from November through April with midyear positions being posted when they become available, however, Legacy has the option to post positions outside of the DPS hiring cycle whenever positions are planned or needed. Cultural Competency To ensure that Legacy staff members have the necessary cultural competencies to support Legacy’s at-risk and diverse student population, the school will implement the following strategies: Cultural competency questions will be included in the interview and hiring process School leaders will work with the Office of Student Engagement to develop questions and rubrics Professional development will be provided on culturally responsive instruction and cultural competency Instruction will be differentiated based on needs (equity = opportunity, access, and inclusion) Create multiple formats for dialogue and collaboration across cultures Retention of Effective Teachers The Legacy staff culture will support team-building and developing a healthy and fun work environment. Legacy will provide effective teachers with multiple leadership development opportunities including facilitating professional development, participating on the school advisory board, and taking on a position on the school leadership team. Additionally, effective teachers will be eligible for ProComp and school based incentive pay. Legacy has targeted a 90% retention rate of based on teachers who have been invited to stay, an exceptionally high retention rate for an intensive pathways school. With an extensive hiring process, intensive professional development and supports, and a positive school culture and work environment, Legacy will attract and retain the effective teachers that are necessary to reach its goals and will develop the school’s future leaders. B. Teacher Coaching Every teacher will receive weekly observations and feedback on their instruction, instructional planning, and use of student data. The principal and assistant principal will supervise and evaluate the teachers on the instructional team. Each teacher will be observed and receive feedback and coaching at least twice a month from their supervisor. Administrative Assistants will provide additional informal feedback and instructional coaching to teachers based on individual professional growth plans. The leadership team will conduct weekly Learning Walks at various times of the day. Teachers will participate in learning walks individually or as a team during their planning time. During the pre-opening year, the school leader will research classroom observation protocols and feedback instruments used by effective schools and will work with the leadership team and teachers to customize those tools to align with the vision, mission, and goals of the school and the LEAP evaluation framework.
Replacement Policy The school may employ either licensed or non-licensed teachers for non-core subject areas. All core subject area teachers will be licensed and highly qualified under the requirements of the ESEA. School district moneys will be used to pay both licensed and non-licensed teachers hired to perform services consistent with the innovation plan. Prior to hiring any person, in accordance with state law the district shall conduct background checks. School Proposal 22-63-403, C.R.S. Teacher employment, compensation and dismissal act of 1990; payment of salaries Payment of Salaries Policy Districts are required to pay teachers according to a schedule or according to a performance policy. Salaries are not to be changed until the end of the year. Individual teachers cannot have their salaries cut unless all teachers have salaries cut. Replacement Policy LEGACY OPTIONS will use the district salary schedule for determining pay for teachers and staff; however, they will have discretion on how the budget is impacted for paying staff (actuals vs. averages). The school principal reserves the right to develop a supplemental compensation system to reimburse employees for extra duty pay as it may arise for mandated extended school year, mandated PD outside of school year and mandated additional time. This may also include activities such as coaching, tutoring, external professional development or for performance incentive pay. School Proposal 22-33-102(1) Definition of "Academic Year" Calendar Policy As used in this article, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) "Academic year" means that portion of the school year during which the public schools are in regular session, beginning about the first week in September and ending about the first week in June of the next year, or that portion of the school year which constitutes the minimum period during which a pupil must be enrolled. School’s Replacement Policy “Academic year” refers to the year as it is established by the locally adopted academic calendar for the School. This definition will include both an identification of days and a typical daily schedule.
Community and Parent Engagement Strategy Current and Ongoing With our many years of experience opening new schools, Legacy Options High School recognizes the great role parental and community involvement plays in the success of our programs. Legacy Options is encouraged by the level of support for our Intensive Pathways program. Legacy Options High School will begin an intensive outreach process upon notification of an award by Denver Public Schools of a new school for 2015, which will include specific activities as described in the table below Parental and Community Outreach Activities ACTIVITY AUDIENCE PURPOSE Connect with DPS high schools and keep them updated on Legacy Options– Denver progress High School Principals and Counselors Communicate future options for at-risk students, gain support for referrals, outreach to students and parents Hold information sessions at local community resource centers. Direct contact with families in community Parents, Students Communicate future option for students, gain support for enrollment Conduct meetings with local colleges, technical schools Higher Education Partners Promote recruitment of teachers and explore post-secondary credit opportunities for students Conduct meetings and presentations DPS Intensive Pathways Office Communicate how best we can serve the targeted student population Conduct meetings and presentations to political leaders Political Leaders (i.e.,) Mayor’s office, City Council, Governor’s office) Gain support for Excel Academy- Denver and the outreach to our most at risk students Conduct meetings with agencies who serve our target student population Employees of community and government agencies and organizations (i.e., CYC, Goodwill, United Way, WIC) Student support services and referrals Conduct meetings with local businesses Business Community Internships for students, outreach to parents Conduct meetings with local religious leaders Faith-based organizations Outreach to parents and guardians
the incorporation of the New Colorado Academic Standards. *Earth Science will also be offered as a core science course. formulas and equations; and acids and bases. New Colorado Academic Standard: SC09- GR.HS- S.1-GLE1-EO.a Gather, analyze and interpret data and create graphs regarding position, velocity and acceleration of moving objects Academic Standard: SC09- GR.HS-S.2-GLE.3- EO.e. Analyze and interpret data on the body’s utilization of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins relationships. In this course, algebra and geometry are applied to show the mathematical expression of chemical concepts. New Colorado Academic Standard: SC09- GR.HS-S.1-GLE.3- EO.a a. Recognize, analyze, interpret, and balance chemical equations (synthesis, decomposition, combustion, and replacement) or nuclear equations (fusion and fission) Use appropriate measurements, equations and graphs to gather, analyze, and interpret data on the quantity of energy in a system or an object Appendix M – School Calendar & School Day Schedule Sample School Day Schedule including Teacher Assignments at Legacy Options - Denver Sample School Day Schedule including Teacher Assignments at Legacy Options – Denver (Early Release)