Editor:

This is in response to the guest commentary by Michael Fields in the Oct. 2 edition of The Colorado Statesman.

Supporters of the current Jeffco school board majority continually talk about “school choice.” Mr. Fields suggests that Jeffco schools, prior to the election of our current school board members, believed in a “one-size-fits-all system that classified [each student] based on street address.” I don’t know where that perception came from – it is completely wrong.Jeffco has been a district of choice schools since 1969 when it opened Jeffco Open School, a K-12 school which provided an individualized approach designed for non-traditional learners. Since then, Jeffco has added alternative schools, including Dennison Elementary, the Manning School and D’Evelyn Junior/Senior High School, which have a college-prep curriculum. McLain High School is designed for students who are in danger of dropping out. Sobesky Academy, Brady Exploration School, and Fletcher Miller School are designed for students with special needs. In 2009, Jeffco began the Jeffco 21st Century Virtual Academy, an online school that won national acclaim almost immediately.

But “choice” in our district is not limited to just special schools. We have a variety of programs within our neighborhood schools to address the needs of different groups of kids. We have International Baccalaureate schools — including one program that is K-12 . We have Gifted and Talented magnet schools, and opportunities for students to earn college credit while in public school. We have 7 schools that offer a dual language program, where kids learn in both English and Spanish. And we have schools that specialize in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, or STEM.

Of course, we also have charter schools, which have been started by some very dedicated parents and community members. These home-grown charters include Compass Montessori, Rocky Mountain Deaf School, Mountain Phoenix Waldorf School and Collegiate Academy, just to name a few.

It’s also important to remember that Colorado is an “open enrollment” state and has been since 1990. That means that any student may enroll in any public school anywhere in the state, as long as there is room. Students are guaranteed a spot in their neighborhood school, but can attend any public school.

Jeffco is far from insisting that “one-size-fits-all.” The Jeffco school district has been addressing the needs of various groups of kids for over 40 years and expanding choices for its students.

But supporters of our current board majority insist that we need more “choice” because the choices that Jeffco currently provides don’t seem to be enough. This board majority has been in office for almost two years, and they have voted against “choices” more often than they voted for expanding “choice.” They voted against putting free full-day kindergarten in more schools, and now there are fewer schools with this option than before this Board Majority got involved. They also voted to not offer a STEM program at Deer Creek Middle School. They did authorize one new charter school, but that school has suspicious ties to a religious college that will have final say over curriculum and staffing.

Mr. Fields would like the public to believe that the current board majority did something magical to have 13 Jeffco high schools included among U.S. News & World Report’s “Best High Schools.” But a close read of the U.S. News rankings reveal these awards are based on data from the 2012-13 school year, the year before this board majority came into office. Those great high schools were great under the former system led by the former school board.

Mr. Fields, you might support this board majority, and that is your right. However, please get your fact straight. Jeffco has expanded “choices” for over 40 years, and Jeffco schools won national recognition without the interference of this board majority. If “choice” is important to voters, then this board majority is not the way to support “choice.”

Tammie PetersLittleton

[Ed. Note: Peters is a graduate of Jeffco schools, a parent of two Jeffco students and teaches English and coaches the speech and debate team at a high school in the district.]