Cherry Creek board hears special populations update on preschool growth, multilingual supports and special-education challenges

At its March 10, 2025 meeting, the Cherry Creek Board of Education received a special populations update from district staff that detailed increases in preschool enrollment, growth in multilingual learners, expansions to gifted and twice-exceptional programming, and a Colorado Department of Education (CDE) requirement to develop a remediation plan after finding disproportionate long-term suspensions for students on individualized education programs (IEPs).

The update matters because rising student needs and potential state funding changes could affect program capacity and services across the district. District leaders outlined current program capacity, recent hires and trainings, and next steps for compliance and funding contingencies.

Presenters told the board the district now serves about 2,060 preschool students, roughly 1,500 of whom attend through the states Universal Preschool program. The presentation said the districts special-education roll shows 672 students in preschool special education, of whom about 335 have severe needs. The district credited streamlined registration and school-level welcoming practices for recent enrollment gains but cautioned that proposed state funding changes could reduce universal preschool hours if enacted by the Legislature.

Dr. Tony Pool, presenting the special populations update (staff member), said, "We do have a large preschool population. We're up to 2,060 students now." He and other staff noted space constraints and administrative licensing requirements as ongoing hurdles for early-childhood expansion.

Language-supports staff reported 8,471 multilingual learners in the district through February, with about 369 newcomers new to the country. The presentation said roughly 1,300 students are classified as nonEnglish proficient. Program leaders acknowledged a two-year Rose Community Foundation grant that funded newcomer teachers and cultural liaisons is ending and will need replacement or backfill.

On gifted and twice-exceptional identification, Rebecca Lopez, Director, Neurodiverse Student Services, described steps to improve proportional identification and the use of local screening data to find students who may qualify on follow-up testing. The presentation reported an increase of 88 newly identified twice-exceptional students since August and a projected talent pool approaching 9009,000 students by year end (figures through February). Lopez also described the districts TUI center-based programs at Arrowhead and High Plains elementary schools and the recently opened Northstar affective-needs program at Falcon Creek Middle School. Board members asked about Northstar enrollment and were told the program is typically kept at about 8 to 10 students per teacher to remain effective.

District staff addressed special-education compliance after CDE identified disproportionate discipline. The presentation said Black students with IEPs are suspended out of school for more than 10 days at a rate about 3.5 times higher than their peers. "When that occurs, the Colorado Department of Education requires us to have a remediation plan," the presenter said, and the district described planned components including professional development for deans, assistant principals and teachers; building-wide de-escalation training; functional behavioral assessment training; and behavior intervention plan training.

The district also announced new resources and programs: a SPEDHub online resource center; elementary SPED coordinators (one per elementary school); an ILC redesign piloted at three schools to use SLPAs, CODAs, OTs and other staff flexibly; expanded continuum-of-service reviews at secondary schools; and increased CCIC applications from students on IEPs (a reported 58% increase in applicants next year, with 17% of current CCIC students on IEPs).

Superintendent Scott Smith highlighted district survey results and student advocacy efforts that accompanied the presentation. He said staff survey results showed 93% of staff report having a trusted coworker, 89% are proud to work in the district and 89% feel they make a difference, figures he described as exceptional compared with national benchmarks.

Board members asked clarifying questions about specific schools and processes. Director Allen asked whether Dakota Valley had been included in multilingual-learner recognitions; staff confirmed it had been mentioned but apologized for the rapid pace of the presentation. Director Knowles asked whether students marked as multilingual learners remain classified as such indefinitely; staff replied the state requires students to reach English proficiency within three years and they are not permanent classifications once proficiency is achieved.

District staff repeatedly cautioned that several plans depend on external approvals and funding. Presenters said universal preschool funding and state-level enrollment systems remain uncertain, and a potential Senate bill or other legislative action could change program parameters. The board was told the district is preparing contingency plans but will await formal legislative and state-agency outcomes before final program changes.

The board did not take a formal action on the presentation; staff were directed to continue developing remediation steps for CDE compliance and to report back as plans and funding clarify.

The board's next regular meeting is scheduled for April 14, 2025, at 7 p.m. at West Middle School, 5151 S. Holly Street in Greenwood Village.