DENVER — 5280 Freedom School is making another pass at becoming a Denver Public Schools charter school.
The school previously applied for a DPS charter in 2022. Executive Director Branta Lockett said her application was initially denied, but after appealing to the state board of education, DPS approved the school for its charter.
That was in September 2022, which left them less than half a year to enroll enough students to open in fall 2023. The school didn't meet enrollment requirements and couldn't open.
"When we didn’t meet those enrollment requirements, it was devastating," Lockett said. "It was devastating to see this beautiful dream for our Black babies just end the way it did. Right? There was some healing that we had to do as a community, leaders, teachers, people who put all this passion into it because we believe in the brilliance of our Black children."
Lockett knows the school would benefit Denver.
"We have a unique model where we use problem-based learning, but we also are Black-centered so we center Black people, knowledge and principles," she said. "We’re also intentionally small, so it’s about creating spaces where our students are seen."
Now, Lockett is ready to get back in front of the application.
"It’s time to push the needle and it’s time to see that progress for our Black children," she said.
This time around, Lockett is using feedback from her previous experience with DPS and thinking about what could work best for students.
"So we shifted our focus to being intentionally small to combat that declining enrollment we’re seeing in Denver due to gentrification, low birth rate, but also again to personalize our instruction for all students in these smaller settings," Lockett said.
She said she's also expanding the school to include multi-age classrooms. She said 4- to 12-year-olds will be eligible to enroll.
"I enjoy really being able to think differently about schools," she said. "Pushing the envelope. And what it’ll look like in the day to day."
Lockett said 5280 Freedom School supports a need DPS identified in its Black Excellence resolution from 2019.
"Which basically said that DPS has been underserving its Black students, historically, for decades," she said. "So we see that there is a need for better learning opportunities for our Black children in Denver."
Lockett said the school has a Black-focused curriculum, but is open to students of all backgrounds. She said by targeting education to a marginalized group, the community, as a whole, reaps the benefits.
"Everyone is welcomed to come to our space," she said. "Our space, though it is Black-centered, it celebrates the diversity that we see in our city."
She said the charter application is due Monday. Leading up to her deadline, she's called on the community to write letters of support and non-binding intent to enroll. She said letters of intent will be accepted after the application period closes to keep showing DPS there's a demand for the school.
"It’s needed now," she said. "We can’t keep waiting."
Lockett hopes DPS will give her the go in June and she'll be able to use the summer months to recruit students. She hopes to be able to open the school by Fall 2025.
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