Growing Together: Increasing Equity and Access in DPS Programs

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Durham Public Schools invites DPS stakeholders and the Durham community to participate in our Growing Together initiative as the district begins the process of shaping programs and policies to increase equity and access to excellent academic and social opportunities for all students. We need your input as we review the policies and procedures that govern our magnet programs and considering school boundary adjustments. This will allow us to get a better idea of how we can better serve current and future students of DPS.

THE 2018-2023 DPS STRATEGIC PLAN

Developed with student, community, and educator input, engagement, and participation, the 2018-23 DPS Strategic Plan establishes the mission, vision, and core beliefs for Durham Public Schools.

Mission: Durham Public Schools embraces, educates, and empowers every student to innovate, serve, and lead.

Vision: Durham Public Schools: Igniting Limitless Potential

DPS Magnet Program

Currently, DPS offers magnet program instruction and lottery admission at 23 of 52 schools (43% of all DPS Students). There are 10 Magnet Elementary Schools, 7 Magnet Middle Schools, and 6 Magnet High Schools.

In 2016, DPS created the Magnet Review Initiative to further define, evaluate and improve our system of student assignment to achieve greater efficiency, access, and equity. This work will help us shape updates and revisions to Policy 4150 directly related to our magnet programs.

DPS School Boundaries & Planning

In conjunction with the Magnet Program Priority Zones, the existing system of School Boundaries comprise the geographic layer that the Office of Student Assignment considers for the purposes of assigning students to schools.

The growth and development of Durham, both in size and demographic shifts, is not presently reflected in the existing collection of DPS school boundaries. Nor are the State of North Carolina legislated requirements for Class Size in Kindergarten thru 3rd Grade (HB90). Moreover, the new construction of schools and the renovation and expansion of additional schools will help to alleviate the severe overcrowding at 22 of 30 Elementary Schools (73%).

  • Capital Improvement Program: The 2019 DPS Long Range Facility Assessment established that at minimum, even without reflecting recently approved residential growth in the City and County, DPS school buildings require $750 Million to modernize and repair. The DPS Board of Education and the Durham County Commissioners reached an agreement on an initial $508 Million Capital Improvement Program.
  • New Schools: The DPS Capital Improvement Program will result in two new elementary schools, with renovations and additional capacity at six elementary schools for PreK and Children with Exceptionalities by August 2023.

Growing Together planning process milestones

Beginning in the Summer of 2019, DPS BOE and Administration began the comprehensive effort to evaluate and improve the system of student assignment and quality of learning environments at Durham Public Schools.

Milestone 1 | Integrated Plan Overview PreK, Magnet Program and School Boundaries - DPS establishes 3-tier Strategic Planning Framework: Begin with PreK, Align Magnet Program, Evaluate School Boundaries

Milestone 2 | Legal Precedent of Student Assignment - DPS Legal Council provides historical legal review with court precedents regarding Student Assignment by Demographics and Geographic factors. Demographic factors may be used:

Magnet Program in Policies and Student Assignment Practices

Milestone 3 | DPS Growing Together Plan (Phase One Approved) - DPS Board of Education approval of Student Assignment & Boundary Adjustments for Creekside Elementary and Parkwood Elementary; Githens Middle School and Brogden Middle School for 2020-21 Academic Year.

Milestone 4 | DPS Strategic Plan Update (Addendum Approved) - DPS Board of Education approval of Addendum Strategic for Strategic Plan Priority Goal 5C - bridging the larger DPS 2018-23 Strategic Plan with the Growing Together Plan for System of Student Assignment and School Boundaries.

Milestone 5 | Growing Together Planning Process (Phase Two) & Evaluation of Student Enrollment and Demographics Data

Milestone 6 | Capital Improvement Plan Commitment - DPS Board of Education and Durham Board of County Commissioners agreed in principle on the funding levels required to support the development and renovations needed by DPS to address overcrowding and PreK program objectives.

Durham Public Schools invites DPS stakeholders and the Durham community to participate in our Growing Together initiative as the district begins the process of shaping programs and policies to increase equity and access to excellent academic and social opportunities for all students. We need your input as we review the policies and procedures that govern our magnet programs and considering school boundary adjustments. This will allow us to get a better idea of how we can better serve current and future students of DPS.

THE 2018-2023 DPS STRATEGIC PLAN

Developed with student, community, and educator input, engagement, and participation, the 2018-23 DPS Strategic Plan establishes the mission, vision, and core beliefs for Durham Public Schools.

Mission: Durham Public Schools embraces, educates, and empowers every student to innovate, serve, and lead.

Vision: Durham Public Schools: Igniting Limitless Potential

DPS Magnet Program

Currently, DPS offers magnet program instruction and lottery admission at 23 of 52 schools (43% of all DPS Students). There are 10 Magnet Elementary Schools, 7 Magnet Middle Schools, and 6 Magnet High Schools.

In 2016, DPS created the Magnet Review Initiative to further define, evaluate and improve our system of student assignment to achieve greater efficiency, access, and equity. This work will help us shape updates and revisions to Policy 4150 directly related to our magnet programs.

DPS School Boundaries & Planning

In conjunction with the Magnet Program Priority Zones, the existing system of School Boundaries comprise the geographic layer that the Office of Student Assignment considers for the purposes of assigning students to schools.

The growth and development of Durham, both in size and demographic shifts, is not presently reflected in the existing collection of DPS school boundaries. Nor are the State of North Carolina legislated requirements for Class Size in Kindergarten thru 3rd Grade (HB90). Moreover, the new construction of schools and the renovation and expansion of additional schools will help to alleviate the severe overcrowding at 22 of 30 Elementary Schools (73%).

  • Capital Improvement Program: The 2019 DPS Long Range Facility Assessment established that at minimum, even without reflecting recently approved residential growth in the City and County, DPS school buildings require $750 Million to modernize and repair. The DPS Board of Education and the Durham County Commissioners reached an agreement on an initial $508 Million Capital Improvement Program.
  • New Schools: The DPS Capital Improvement Program will result in two new elementary schools, with renovations and additional capacity at six elementary schools for PreK and Children with Exceptionalities by August 2023.

Growing Together planning process milestones

Beginning in the Summer of 2019, DPS BOE and Administration began the comprehensive effort to evaluate and improve the system of student assignment and quality of learning environments at Durham Public Schools.

Milestone 1 | Integrated Plan Overview PreK, Magnet Program and School Boundaries - DPS establishes 3-tier Strategic Planning Framework: Begin with PreK, Align Magnet Program, Evaluate School Boundaries

Milestone 2 | Legal Precedent of Student Assignment - DPS Legal Council provides historical legal review with court precedents regarding Student Assignment by Demographics and Geographic factors. Demographic factors may be used:

Magnet Program in Policies and Student Assignment Practices

Milestone 3 | DPS Growing Together Plan (Phase One Approved) - DPS Board of Education approval of Student Assignment & Boundary Adjustments for Creekside Elementary and Parkwood Elementary; Githens Middle School and Brogden Middle School for 2020-21 Academic Year.

Milestone 4 | DPS Strategic Plan Update (Addendum Approved) - DPS Board of Education approval of Addendum Strategic for Strategic Plan Priority Goal 5C - bridging the larger DPS 2018-23 Strategic Plan with the Growing Together Plan for System of Student Assignment and School Boundaries.

Milestone 5 | Growing Together Planning Process (Phase Two) & Evaluation of Student Enrollment and Demographics Data

Milestone 6 | Capital Improvement Plan Commitment - DPS Board of Education and Durham Board of County Commissioners agreed in principle on the funding levels required to support the development and renovations needed by DPS to address overcrowding and PreK program objectives.

Page last updated: 03 Oct 2021, 02:29 PM