The Boulder Valley School Board voted on Jan. 28 to reject the application for Grove Elementary, a proposed charter school focused on inclusivity for neurodiverse and special education students. Read the resolution explaining the decision here.
The school, an offshoot of Bal Swan preschool in Broomfield, sought to provide specialized support for students, including those with complex needs, by incorporating its inclusive philosophy into a publicly funded elementary school. Board members expressed support for the school’s mission but raised concerns about its reliance on paraprofessionals, its funding model for special education services, and its potential impact on BVSD’s already-declining enrollment.
“I know that we have a large community of parents of neurodiverse kids who are interested in innovation, interested in different approaches, and that we as a district should figure out a way to do that,” said BVSD board member Alex Medler.
“It’s kind of with a heavy heart that I would also agree with the resolution to deny the application now,” said BVSD board member Kitty Sergent.
Grove would have been the first charter school approved in the district since 2002. Read our previous coverage here.