Colorado Early Colleges Outlines Fall Reopening Plans for Douglas County High Schools

Early college high schools focused on health and safety, equity and access and rigorous academics.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Colo. - Aug. 3, 2020 - Colorado Early Colleges (CEC), the state’s largest early college and charter school network, has outlined fall reopening plans for its three Douglas County campuses in Castle Rock, Inverness, and Parker. All schools will offer in-person learning and remote learning options to meet the needs of families. Individual school breakouts are below.

The return to learn plans are based on CEC’s three areas of decision-making: health and safety, equity and access, and rigorous academics. Plans will be modified as state and local health guidelines are updated and schools will move to 100% remote learning if the need arises. Individual school dates and academic models also accommodate new students who have shifted to CEC for the fall semester.

“CEC has the responsibility to remove barriers from students’ efforts to learn by ensuring a safe and healthy learning environment. We believe our Return to Learn plan is flexible, adaptable, equitable, accessible, and supports the needs and requests from family, teacher, and student feedback,” said CEC Chief Executive Administrator Sandi Brown. “We promise our families that we are dedicating every resource to ensure that each student is safely achieving and growing academically and personally, regardless of which option they choose.”

Castle Rock and Parker will continue to offer bus transportation with limited student capacity, physical distancing measures, and increased cleaning and sanitizing measures. All schools will also continue to provide technical support, free tutoring, and academic support as well as mental health support to students. Here is a look at the individual school plans:

High school academic plans
Castle Rock
● Overview of plans
● School start date: Aug. 17
● Academic model: In-person Monday through Thursday and remote learning on Fridays. A remote-only option is available upon request and will include high school and college classes. Remote learning offers opportunities for course live streaming and hands-on science labs.

Inverness
● Overview of plans
● School start date: Aug. 17
● Academic model: In-person five days a week. Out of 230 students, only 90 or so will be in-person on campus while other students take courses off-campus through community college partners or have elected to be fully remote.

Parker
● Overview of plans
● School start date: Aug. 17
● Academic model: Hybrid model: in-person on alternating days Monday through Thursday by cohort and remote learning on Fridays. A remote-only option is available upon request and will include high school and college classes. Remote learning offers opportunities for course live streaming and hands-on science labs.

CEC health and safety measures
All schools are taking the following health and safety measures. Individual schools have additional measures. Please see the individual school plans for more specifics.

○ Masks, PPE and health screenings: masks required at all times on-campus for students, teachers, and visitors 11-and-older; plexiglass and other materials will be used in higher contact areas; self symptom screenings and reporting for all teachers, staff, students, parents, and visitors; temperature screenings upon entering school building; gloves required for all food and nutrition services workers at all times and for other staff when cleaning or sanitizing an item or service.

○ Physical distancing: No large group gatherings including field trips or assemblies, and physical distancing measures enforced indoors; furniture and markers will be placed to support physical distancing; all desks, chairs, equipment will be disinfected after each class; single entry and exit points on campus monitored by staff as well as visual cues such as floor decals, colored tape, and signs to indicate to students and staff the flow of traffic inside the building and physical distancing markers; lunches will be divided by student groups and physical distancing and breakfast and lunch will be grab-and-go only.

○ School cleaning and sanitization: Proper handwashing and hygiene education will be provided and monitored; hand sanitizing stations placed around buildings; day porter cleaning throughout building and in high touch areas supported by weekly deep cleanings.

About Colorado Early Colleges
Founded in 2007, Colorado Early Colleges (CEC) is a network of top-tier charter schools located along the Front Range. CEC is the state’s largest charter school network and the only early college middle school and high school network. CEC schools provide tuition-free public education that gives all students the opportunity to earn a debt-free associate degree in high school. CEC campuses are located in Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Parker, Aurora and Windsor with College Direct Satellites campuses located in Westminster and Highlands Ranch. Castle Rock and Inverness campuses will be opening fall 2020. CEC schools are authorized by the Colorado Charter School Institute. Learn more at coloradoearlycolleges.org.