Strengthening students through sports

DPS receives millions of dollars to boost extracurricular activities

Gene Davis, DDN Staff Writer

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Denver Public Schools is putting its money on turning jump shots and touchdowns into improved attendance and gradation rates.

DPS announced yesterday that private donors would invest more than $3 million into the school system over the next three years, with an emphasis on improving athletic programs. For their part, DPS will contribute about $4.8 million to the same cause over the same period of time.

DPS Superintendent Tom Boasberg said yesterday that research shows a link between students who participate in extracurricular activities and those who do well in class. A 2010 study done by the “Journal of Academic Leadership,” for instance, found that “over four decades of tests analysis and reports have been conducted and developed that prove there is a direct relationship between extracurricular activities and academic achievement.”

“We’re extremely grateful for the generous donation that led to this partnership, which truly has the potential to make a difference in the lives of our students, strengthen their connection to their schools, and prepare many more of them for success after graduation,” Boasberg said.

Some of the $7.8 million, which will be invested via the DPS Foundation, will go towards increasing access to extra-curricular activities by offering thousands of scholarships to student athletes from economically disadvantaged families. The increased funding will also go towards;

• Hiring 10 athletic directors across the city to coordinate programs and boost participation, with a goal of 90 percent of all eligible freshmen during the 2010-11 school year participating in at least one extra-curricular or co-curricular activity;

• Providing a college-prep academy program that will provide incoming high school juniors and seniors with an opportunity to participate in an intensive 10-day program focused on preparation for Advanced Placement classes and ACT testing;

• Updating DPS athletic uniforms and equipment.

East High School senior and cheerleader Jazmyne Peters said she is living proof that extracurricular activities lead to a better high school experience. The student was one of several people who spoke at yesterday’s press conference announcing the new initiative.

“Before I would just go home after school, and I didn’t really enjoy my high school experience that much. But now I have so much to be involved in,” she said. “If it wasn’t for school I would never have had the experience of being a cheerleader and being such a big part of my school and everything that is happening each day.”

DPS had a 52.7-percent graduation rate in 2008-09; the graduation rate for the 2009-10 school year won’t be released until later this summer.

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