District Accountability Committee

By state law and DPS policy, the DAC must:

• Do its best to represent the diversity and backgrounds of the students and families through its members.
• Have representatives from all the different regions of DPS.
• Include a charter school parent and someone who understands charter schools.
• Include parents, teachers, school leaders, business people and other community members. 

According to state law and DPS policy, the DAC provides advice on these topics:

• How the district spends money in its budget
• The DPS Unified Improvement Plan (a plan DPS gives to the state showing how they plan to improve DPS schools)
• Charter school applications (and sometimes charter school renewals)
• Family engagement
• Use of assessment tools to measure student academic growth
• District content standards
• The district safe school plan and the district conduct and discipline code

The DAC also studies additional district issues and provides feedback to the district as a result.  More information on the DAC responsibilities can be found in the DAC Handbook.  As a district-wide advisory committee, the DAC does not focus on school-based or region-based issues.

Budget Subcommittee

This subcommittee reviews the district budget and provides a report to DAC and the Board of Education with written recommendations regarding spending considerations and fiscal responsibility.

Family and Community Engagement Subcommittee

This subcommittee works to align the charge to Board of Education policy KB as well as the powers and duties outlined in the Colorado Revised Statutes: “To increase the level of parent engagement in the school district and in the public schools of the school district, especially the engagement of parents of students in the populations described in section 22-11-301 (3).”

Great Schools Subcommittee

This subcommittee reviews new and renewal charter school applications, interviews applicants, presents a report to DAC for approval and makes recommendations to the Board of Education.

Performance Subcommittee

This subcommittee reviews the District Unified Improvement Plan and provides a report to DAC and the Board of Education with written recommendations to improve the effectiveness of the plan and the planning process.

Periodically, the DAC members will feel strongly enough about a topic or issue and unite to share their voice and perspective with the district.

• SUPERINTENDENT SEARCHES:
  • In November 2018, the DAC encouraged the district to broaden its Superintendent Search via this resolution.
  • In February 2021, the DAC voiced its support for the search firm chosen by the district via this letter.
• SUPPORT FOR TEACHERS: In January 2019, the DAC weighed in on the teacher strike via this resolution.
• TECH SUPPORT: In December 2020, the DAC urged the district to more fully support the digital needs of students during pandemic via this resolution.
• SCHOOL PERFORMANCE FRAMEWORK:
  • In January 2020, the DAC encouraged the district to alter its SPF through this resolution.
  • In June 2020, the DAC issued a resolution in support of the Reimagining the SPF Committee recommendations.
• STAFF SURVEY: In December 2021, the DAC conducted a school-based staff survey to better understand the challenges facing educators. You can find the results here.
• HEALTHY START TIMES: In May 2022, in partnership with the Black Family Advisory Council, the DAC sent a letter to DPS expressing our concerns.
• DECLINING ENROLLMENT: In December 2022, the DAC issued a statement on Declining Enrollment.
• SCHOOL SAFETY: In April 2023, the DAC issued a statement on school safety.

The DAC accepts applications each spring.  When the application is active, you will find the link to apply here.

We welcome applications from all individuals, regardless of background and expertise. We are a group of individuals who are invested in DPS and who come together to focus on community, concern, and collaboration.

To contact the DAC, send an email to denverdac@gmail.com.

Karen Mortimer
Committee Chair
DenverDAC@gmail.com

Chris Lee
Committee Co-Chair

Christopher Deidrich
Committee Secretary

Amanda Bouche
720-423-3259
amanda_bouche@dpsk12.net

Trevon Brandhorst
720-423-2569
trevon_brandhorst@dpsk12.net

Meetings will be held virtually on Zoom from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm unless otherwise noted.

DAC meetings are open to the public and are from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. and are at Manual High School this year.  Agendas and minutes linked below are available in all of the DPS consent decree languages and will be made available each month after minutes are approved and translation is completed.