Opinion
Civil Action No. 95-cv-02313-RPM
11-20-2012
CONGRESS OF HISPANIC EDUCATORS, Plaintiffs, v. DENVER SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 1, Defendant. v. THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-lntervenors.
Senior District Judge Richard P. Matsch
ORDER FOR PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF PROPOSED CONSENT DECREE AND FOR
NOTICE OF FAIRNESS HEARING
Upon review of the Joint Motion of All Parties to Approve and Enter the Proposed Consent Decree (2012) in Place of the 1999 Court Order Regarding Denver Public Schools' ELA Plan (Doc. 56) and the Memorandum in Support of the Joint Motion to Approve Consent Decree 2012 (Doc. 57) (hereafter collectively referred to as "the Joint Motion to Approve Consent Decree"), and after the hearing held on November 16, 2012, and the submission of a certification that the Board of Education of Denver Public Schools approved the proposed consent decree at a Special Meeting on July 16, 2012, following proper public notice, public hearing and opportunity for public comment, thereby assuring the court that the proposed consent decree has been adopted as public policy by the governing board of Denver School District No. 1, it is
ORDERED that the Joint Motion to Approve Consent Decree is preliminarily approved, subject to final approval following a Fairness Hearing to be held before this Court on January 25, 2013, at 10:00 a.m., in Courtroom A, Second Floor, the Byron White United States Courthouse, 1823 Stout Street, Denver, Colorado. It is
FURTHER ORDERED that the Denver School District No. 1 (Denver Public Schools) shall provide written notice of the purpose and location of the Fairness Hearing, as described in the Notices attached hereto, by November 29, 2012, and it is
FURTHER ORDERED that all written objections specify the part(s) of the proposed Consent Decree to which the person objects, the basis for each objection, and whether the person intends to make objections in person at the Fairness Hearing on January 25, 2013, and it is
FURTHER ORDERED that all timely written objections received by counsel for the Parties shall be filed with the Court by the Parties on or before January 18, 2013.
BY THE COURT:
_________________________
Richard P. Matsch, Senior Judge
To be translated into Spanish,
Vietnamese, Arabic and Somali, Amharic, Nepali,
Russian, French, Karen and Burmese
Print and Email Notice to Parents
The Congress of Hispanic Educators ("CHE"), the United States, and the Denver Public Schools ("DPS") recently negotiated a revised plan for addressing the educational needs of students whose language is other than English ("English Language Learners" or "ELLs"), and have submitted it to the U.S. District Court for approval. Our records indicate that you have a child who is an English Language Learner and is eligible for English Language Acquisition ("ELA") services.
This revised plan, if approved by the Court, would replace the English Language Acquisition Program currently in place and which was approved in 1999 by the U.S. District Court in the case of Congress of Hispanic Educators v. Denver School District No. 1. The revised plan: (a) clarifies how parents may choose program services for their ELL students, (b) provides a new approach to training teachers of ELL students, (c) ensures that parents from different language groups will receive translations of important school communications, (d) sets out processes governing placement of ELL students with disabilities, and (e) improves DPS's self-evaluation of its ELA Program to help ensure that ELL students are succeeding in school.
Before this revised plan is approved by the Court, parents of English Language Learners in the Denver Public Schools have a right to review it.
The proposed revised Consent Decree is available at the DPS homepage www.dpskl2.org and can be reviewed at the office of any school, and in DPS's administrative offices, at 900 Grant Street, 1st Floor, between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. A copy of the proposed Consent Decree will be available in English and Spanish. Speakers of other languages may bring a translator, or may obtain a list of translators proficient in other languages. You may also obtain a copy of the document for $3.00.
Parents of ELL students wishing to file an objection must do so in writing. Any such objections should state that you are a parent of an ELL student in Denver Public Schools, and indicate at the top of the page that the objection relates to the case CHE v. School District #1, CA #95-M-2313. All written objections must specify the part(s) of the proposed Consent Decree to which the person objects, the basis for each objection, and whether the person intends to make objections in person at the Fairness Hearing on January 25, 2013. All written objections should be mailed to each of the following individuals so that it is received by close of business on January 4, 2013:
1. Walter J. Kramarz, Esq.
Denver Public Schools
900 Grant Street Suite 401
Denver, CO 80203
2. Laurel Pyke Malson, Esq.
Crowell & Moring LLP
1001 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20004
Fax: 202-628-5116
3. Roger L. Rice, Esq.
META, Inc.
240A Elm Street, Suite 22
Somerville, MA 02144
English and Spanish
Print and Email Notice to Community Organizations
The Congress of Hispanic Educators ("CHE"), the United States, and the Denver Public Schools ("DPS") recently negotiated a revised plan for addressing the educational needs of students whose language is other than English ("English Language Learners" or "ELLs"), and have submitted it to the U.S. District Court for approval.
This revised plan, if approved by the Court, would replace the English Language Acquisition Program currently in place and which was approved in 1999 by the U.S. District Court in the case of Congress of Hispanic Educators v. Denver School District No. 1. The revised plan: (a) clarifies how parents may choose program services for their ELL students, (b) provides a new approach to training teachers of ELL students, (c) ensures that parents from different language groups will receive translations of important school communications, (d) sets out processes governing placement of ELL students with disabilities, and (e) improves DPS's self-evaluation of its ELA Program to help ensure that ELL students are succeeding in school.
Before this revised plan is approved by the Court, parents of English Language Learners in the Denver Public Schools have a right to review it, file written objections, and may have the opportunity to present objections orally to the Court at a Fairness Hearing that will take place at 10 a.m. on January 25, 2013 at: Byron White Courthouse, 1823 Stout Street, Courtroom A, 2nd Floor, Denver, Colorado.
The proposed revised Consent Decree is available at the DPS homepage www.dpskl2.org and can be reviewed at the office of any school, and in DPS's administrative offices, at 900 Grant Street, 1st Floor, between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. A copy of the proposed Consent Decree will be available in English and Spanish. Speakers of other languages may bring a translator, or may obtain a list of translators proficient in other languages. You may also obtain a copy of the document for $3.00.
Parents of ELL students wishing to file an objection must do so in writing. Any such objections should state that you are a parent of an ELL student in Denver Public Schools, and indicate at the top of the page that the objection that it relates to the case CHE v. School District #1, CA U95-M-2313. All written objections must specify the part(s) of the proposed Consent Decree to which the person objects, the basis for each objection, and whether the person intends to make objections in person at the Fairness Hearing on January 25, 2013. All written objections should be mailed to each of the following individuals so that it is received by close of business on January 4, 2013:
1. Walter J. Kramarz, Esq.
Denver Public Schools
900 Grant Street Suite 401
Denver, CO 80203
2. Laurel Pyke Malson, Esq.
Crowell & Moring LLP
1001 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20004
Fax: 202-628-5116
3. Roger L. Rice, Esq.
META, Inc.
240A Elm Street, Suite 22
Somerville, MA 02144
LIST OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
• BUENO Center
UCB 247 - School of Education
University of CO, Boulder
Boulder, CO 80309-0247
Attn: Leonard Baca
• Catholic Charities Immigration Services
4045 Pecos Street, Denver, CO 80211
Tel: 303-742-0828
Email: info@ccdenver.org
• CIRC-CO Immigrant Rights Coalition
2525 W. Alameda Ave., Suite 300
Denver, CO 80219
Email: (JulienRoss) iulien@coimmigrant.org
Website: http://\vww.coimmigrant.org/
• CLLARO, CO Latino Leadership, Advocacy and Research Organization
309 West 1st. Avenue
Denver, CO 80223
Tel: 303-722-5150 ext. 108 (Kathy Maestas)
Website: www.cllaro.org
• Colorado Association of Bilingual Educators (CABE)
P.O. Box 33120
Northglenn, CO 80233
Email: hrilev@cocabe.org
• Colorado Association of Latino/a Administrators & Superintendents
15701 E. 1st Ave, Suite 217
Aurora, CO 80011
Tel: 303 340-0864
Email: (Jesus Escarcega) jdescarcegafa>aps.kl2.co.us
• Coloradans for Immigrant Rights
901 W. 14th Avenue, Ste. 7
Denver, CO 80204
Tel: 303-623-3464
Email: (Jordan Garcia) jgarcia@afsc.org
• CO Statewide Parent Coalition
7150 Hooker Street, Ste B
Westminster, CO 80030
Tel: 720-890-0123
Email: (Richard Garcia) richard@coparentcoalition.ore:
• Del Norte Neighborhood Development Corp
2926 Zuni Street #202
Denver, CO 80211
Tel: 303-321-1384
Email: (Alice Dent) adent@delnortends.org
• Escuela Tlatelolco
2949 North Federal Boulevard
Denver, CO 80211
Tel: 303-964-8993
Email: (Nita Gonzales) nita@escuelatlatelolco.org
• Focus Points Family Resource Center
2501 East 48th Avenue
Denver, CO 80216
Tel: 303-292-0770
Email: (Cynthia Gallegos) cvnrgal@vahoo.com
• Intercambio De Comunidades
2525 W. Alameda Ave., Room 130
Denver, CO 80219
Tel: 303-433-0190
Email: (Sarah Shikes) sarahs@intercambioweb.org
• Latino Education Advisory Council (LEAC)
% Ms. Christina Montoya
3349 Alcott Street
Denver, CO 80211
Email: christinam77@vahoo.com
and
Ms. Aubrey Valencia
2807 E. Pacific Dr. #302
Aurora, CO 80014
• Latin American Educational Foundation
561 Santa Fe Drive
Denver, CO 80204
Tel: 303-446-0541
Website: info@laef.org
• Lulac League-United Latin
3034 W. Denver Place
Denver, CO 80211
Tel: 303-892-8455
• Mi Casa Resource Center
360 Acoma Street
Denver, CO 80223
Tel: 303-573-1302
Email: (Christine Marquez-Hudson) cmarquez@micasaresourcecenter.org
• Mile High United Way
2505 18th Street
Denver, CO 80211
Tel: 303-433-8383
Website: www.unitedwavdenver.orH
• Padres and Jovenes Unidos
3025 West 37th Ave. #206
Denver, CO 80211
Tel: 303-937-3799
Email: (Ricardo and Pam Martinez) info@padresunidos.org
• Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network
3489 West 72nd Ave Ste 211
Westminster, CO 80030
Tel: 303-433-2812
Email: (Mekela Goehring) mgoehring@rmian.org
• Servicios De La Raza
4055 Tejon Street
Denver, CO 80211
Tel: 303-458-5851
Email: rudYg@serviciosdelaraza.org
• YESS Institute
1029 Santa Fe Drive
Denver, CO 80204
Tel: 303-525-3859
Email: (Carlo Kriekels) carlo@yessinstitute.org
• NEWSED Community Development Corp
901 W. 10th Avenue, Suite 2A
Denver, CO 80204
Tel: 303-534-8342
Fax: 303-534-7418
• Asian Educational Advisory Council
5491 S. Ireland Way
Centennial, CO 80015
Attn: Ms. Priscilla Shaw
Email: Tennisgalp@gmail.com
• Asian Roundtable of Colorado
P.O. Box 1102
Denver, Colorado 80201
Attn: Mr. Peter Lee
Email: peterl63@gmail.com
• Asian Pacific Development Center
APDC Business & Programs Office
1544 Elmira St., Aurora, CO 80010
Attn: Ms. Jinny Kim
Email: Jinnykim@apdc.org
• Organization of Chinese Americans-Colorado
P.O. Box 44236
Denver, CO 80201
Email: Oacolorado@gmail.com
• Vietnamese Senior Center
1822 S. Sheridan Blvd
Denver, CO 80232
Tel: 720-378 8818
• Vietnamese-American Cultural Alliance
986 S. Ventura Way
Aurora, CO 80017
• Vietnamese Elderly Association of Colorado
615 S. Federal Blvd., #103-105
Denver, CO 80219
Attn: Linh Hoai Duong
Email: Veacolorado@cs.com
• Vietnamese Veterans- USVAVA-CO
1693 S. Laredo St
Aurora, CO 80017
Attn: Mr. Sum Cong Nguyen
Tel: 303-548-2675
Email: scnl693@comcast.Net
• Vietnamese Community of Colorado
President: Mr. Lu Pham
449 S. Osceola St
Denver, CO 80219
• Colorado African Organization
Kit Taintor, Director
6795 E Tennessee, Suite 250
Denver, CO 80224-1609
• African Community Center
5250 Leetsdale Dr., Suite 200
Denver, CO 80246
• Spring Institute for Intercultural Learning
1610 Emerson St
Denver, CO 80218
Attn: Ms. Myrna Ann Adkins, C.E.O.
• Colorado Providers for Integration Network
6795 E. Tennessee Ave., Suite 250
Denver, CO 80224
Attn: Meg K. Allen, Community Integration Director
Email: Mega@caoden.org
• Lao-Hmong American Coalition
7051 Beacon Way
Westminster, CO 80030
Attn: Yang Chee
Email: Yang.chee@comcast.net
• MileHi Japanese American Citizens League
333 E. 16th Ave., #613
Denver, CO 80203
Attn: Suzy Shimasaki, President
• Filipino American Community of Colorado
1900 Harlan St
Edgewater, CO 80214
Email: Facc@filam-colo.org
• Cambodian Buddhist and Christian Society of Colorado
2950 S. Willow Street
Denver, CO 80204
• Colorado Cambodian Community
1555 Grove Street, Suite 101
Denver, CO 80204
English and Spanish
"Educa"
KXPK-FM 96.5
KJMN-FM 92.1
KMXA-AM 1090
Class Notice - Radio Announcement
This is a notice for Spanish-speaking parents and the parents of Spanish-speaking students in the Denver Public Schools. Recently the Congress of Hispanic Educators, the United States Department of Justice, and Denver Public Schools, reached an agreement to improve the educational program for Spanish-speaking students. The agreement has been presented to a Federal judge for his approval. Parents of Spanish-speaking students have a right to review the new agreement and may have an opportunity to tell the judge about any objections they may have. A hearing has been scheduled for January 25, 2013 at 10 a.m. You can read the proposed new agreement in Spanish and English and get more information at the Denver Public Schools office on 900 Grant Street or at your neighborhood school. This information will also be available on the website of the Denver Public School, www.dpskl2.org.