March 27, 2026

At Denver Public Schools, safety is our top priority. This month, we’re highlighting an important and growing concern across the country: swatting calls — what they are, how we respond and how investigations are handled at the state level.

A swatting call is a false report made to emergency services, often claiming a serious incident like an active shooter, bomb threat or hostage situation. These calls are designed to trigger a large-scale law enforcement response.

While intended as a hoax, swatting calls are taken extremely seriously and require immediate action to ensure the safety of students and staff.

When a swatting call is received, our response is guided by established safety protocols and close coordination with first responders:

Even when a call is determined to be false, every response is treated as a real emergency until proven otherwise.

Swatting calls are not just pranks; they are serious criminal offenses. In Colorado, these cases are often investigated in partnership with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI), along with local and federal partners.

Investigators work to:

Swatting incidents disrupt the learning environment, divert critical emergency resources and create fear and uncertainty within school communities. Most importantly, they require real people; students, staff and first responders to respond to what appears to be a real threat.

DPS remains committed to:

By staying informed and working together, we can protect our schools, support one another and keep our focus where it belongs, on safe and welcoming learning environments for every student.

With warmer weather in the forecast, more students will be riding bikes and scooters to school, increasing the number of pedestrians in our school zones. This past week, an incident took place at a DPS school during morning drop off. These types of occurrences jeopardize the safety and well-being of our students.

To ensure all students, staff and community members remain as safe as possible near our schools, please remember to drive with care and attention. Slow down, stay alert, avoid distractions and be patient.

Is your child turning four by Oct. 1? Mark your calendars! The 2026-27 DPS SchoolChoice Round 2 application for Early Childhood Education (ECE-4) opens Wednesday, April 1. 

This application is for families who:

Round 2 applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis, so we encourage you to apply early. If your preferred school has space, you’ll receive an offer; otherwise, your student will be added to the waitlist. 

Ready to apply? Log in or create an account at schoolchoice.dpsk12.org beginning Wednesday, April 1 to rank your school preferences. If you have any questions, email schoolchoice@dpsk12.org or call 720-423-3493.

Tasty Food will be open during DPS’s spring break to help ensure that no student goes hungry during their week off. All youth ages three to 18 are welcome to stop by any Tasty Food site to access free meals. No ID or registration is required. 

All sites will be closed Monday, March 30 in recognition of Si Se Puede Day, but will reopen Tuesday, March 31 and remain open through Friday, April 3. 

For more information, visit the Tasty Food website or read the flyer in English or Spanish. 

Montbello High School senior Takiyah is a leader in every sense of the word. As president of the Black Student Alliance, captain of the track team and a concurrent enrollment student, she balances it all while maintaining a 4.0 GPA.

Takiyah is driven by a desire to help others and ensure that young women are involved and see themselves represented. This fall, she plans to attend CU Boulder and continue building toward a future in journalism, public relations or law.

See Takiyah’s story and how she’s inspiring the next generation.

DPS students recently gathered at CSU Spur for Women at Work Day, an experience designed to connect young women with professionals across a wide range of industries. From aviation and engineering to construction, business and the culinary arts, students heard directly from women who are leading in their fields and breaking barriers along the way.

Through honest conversations and personal stories, students gained insight into different career paths while building confidence in what is possible for their own futures. Moments like these continue to reinforce the importance of representation and real-world connections in helping students see themselves beyond the classroom.

Watch the video on Women at Work Day to see how this experience is helping students explore what is possible and imagine their next steps.

The Asian Education Advisory Council (AEAC) needs your help recognizing DPS students from ECE through 12th grade who demonstrate positive Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) identities. The 40th Annual AANHPI Awards, taking place in May, provides a rare opportunity for students and families to gather and connect with other AANHPI students across the district.

Nominations are due by the end of today, March 27. We are accepting nominations for students in the following categories: Academic Achievement, Leadership and Special Talent. 

The AEAC is also accepting entries for a Visual Art Show. Additionally, AEAC honors DPS educators who actively support and uplift AANHPI students by fostering inclusive, affirming learning environments. Nominate a DPS educator.  

As part of Governance Policy 15, board members will engage with the community within their respective districts over the next few months. At these engagement sessions, board members will be talking about various policies and getting community input. Details for the next session are listed below. Childcare, light refreshments and interpretation services will be available at each meeting.

Board District 3 (Central) - Dr. DJ Torres, Treasurer

Monday, April 6 from 5:30-8 p.m. at George Washington High School (655 S Monaco Pkwy.)

Go behind the scenes of how Denver Public Schools works in this episode of the DPS 101 Podcast. Host Nicole Brady sits down with Chuck Carpenter, Chief of Finance for Denver Public Schools, to break down how school funding really works — from where the money comes from to how it’s spent in classrooms. Tune in to their conversation on managing DPS finances.

The Sustainability Team is partnering with Denver’s Department of Transportation & Infrastructure to host a Bike Bus Summit on April 22, from 6-8 p.m. at the Carla Madison Recreation Center. Register for the Bike Bus Summit today. 

Whether you are just thinking about starting a bike bus at your school, or you are well on your way, join us to connect with other bike bus leaders, share ideas and learn how to start or strengthen a bike bus at your school. This gathering will help build a stronger bike bus community across Denver.

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