AdvocacyDenver

Health Care Advocacy and Education | Providing active voice and supporting civil rights for people with disabilities

Looking Forward With Denver Public Schools Superintendent Susana Cordova

Superintendent Susana Cordova, Denver Public Schools
Superintendent Susana Cordova, Denver Public Schools

From the Desk of Pamela Bisceglia, Executive Director

AdvocacyDenver is pleased to forward the following interview with Denver Public Schools Superintendent Susana Cordova. There are two reasons why this interview is important. At different times during Tom Boasberg’s tenure, we attempted to secure a time to meet with him to discuss systemic issues in relation to programming for students with disabilities. The former superintendent ignored all requests from AdvocacyDenver to meet and ordered deep cuts to Special Education every few years. The cuts resulted in a significant decrease in Special Education oversight, professional development, and elimination of the autism, behavior and assistive technology service teams. Each year, Special Education teachers and in particular related services providers’ caseloads were increased.

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Child Discipline Reform Measures Up for Hearing

Colorado State Representative Colin Larson, House District 22
Colorado State Representative Colin Larson, House District 22

An Interview with Catherine Strode

This week, the House Education Committee will hear testimony on House Bill 1194.  The bill establishes requirements under which public schools can suspend or expel students enrolled in preschool through second grade (usually three or four year olds through 7 year olds). Colorado Department of Education reports that 5,849 kindergarten through 2nd grade public school students were suspended from school in 2017-2018.  The bill is aligned with national recommendations that seek to limit school removal for very young children while endorsing thoughtful exceptions that ensure school safety.

The bill has bipartisan sponsors in both the House and the Senate.  Republican State Representative Colin Larson, says education is a priority issue for him as a legislator.  He supports the bill because he says he doesn’t want to set kids back educationally or developmentally at young ages.

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