So you’re registered to vote and received your ballot in the mail, but perhaps you’re still not convinced on why this election is so important. This year, there are three of seven board seats up for election. These three new school board members will serve for the next 4 years, and their impact on the district will be crucial. If you haven’t already dropped your ballot off and wondering why you should bother filling it out, we wanted to share some quick facts about what the DPS Board of Education actually does, and why your vote this election is so very important. 

Do you care about how your school is evaluated and ranked, and whether parents have the ability to know? 

The school board has direct influence over how schools are evaluated.   

And what about charter moratoriums?

The school board makes decisions on whether we’ll be able to open high schools for Henry and Noel, and any additional Denver schools.

Do you often worry about school funding in Colorado?

The school board decides what kind of access your school gets to money and to facilities.

Is access to a high-quality school, regardless of zip code, important to you? 

The school board has power over whether children all across the city have access to the high-quality schools they need- through enrollment, school choice, school closures and new schools.

Over the past year, the DPS School Board had a direct impact over changes you likely noticed. These changes ranged from the appointment of Susana Cordova as the new superintendent, to the roadblocks to a Henry High School, and down to decisions around disciplinary practices and equal access to school choice.

So don’t wait- #DSSTvotes is aiming to hit 80% participation among eligible voters.  We’ll be sending out reminders before election day if you have not yet voted. The staffs at Cole and Montview are neck and neck so far for highest participation! If you live in Denver, vote for the at-large candidate. And if you live in District 1 or 5, you have an additional vote to cast! You can double check which district you live in on the  DPS Board Website.  If you live in Aurora, you can vote for three at-large candidates.

Remember, you can drop off your ballot or vote in person up until Tuesday, November 5 at 7 PM! 

Have stories about the school board and their impact? Share them at mac@scienceandtech.org