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News Release - Commissioner updates state board on COVID-19 response

March 27, 2020

Commissioner updates state board on COVID-19 response

Board dismisses charter appeal for Boys School of Denver

DENVER - In today’s special meeting of the State Board of Education, Commissioner Katy Anthes provided an update on the Colorado Department of Education’s role and activities during the statewide emergency response to COVID-19. 

Anthes and CDE staff continue to work with Gov. Jared Polis’ Office and the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment on emergency orders that affect schools as well as guidance for operating emergency meal sites safely, cleaning school buildings, providing materials and facilitating remote learning, and playground procedures, among other topics.

The governor’s stay-at-home order was recently clarified to exempt K-12 public and private schools for the purpose of providing meals, housing, facilitating or providing materials for distance learning, and providing other essential services to students. 

The department continues to keep families, educators, districts and communities informed through its website. Policy guidance, at-home learning resources and communications are updated daily and can be found on the CDE website here: https://www.cde.state.co.us/safeschools

Charter school appeal

The board dismissed a charter school appeal concerning the Boys School of Denver, a charter school in Denver Public Schools serving grades 6-8. The charter appeal was brought to the state board by parents from the school after the DPS board accepted the surrender of the school’s charter from the school’s parent organization, Girls Athletic Leadership School of Denver. The board dismissed the appeal on the grounds that it does not have the juristiction to hear the case.