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NORTHWEST COALITION for BETTER SCHOOLS

"Student Success is Everybody's Business"

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History and Mission

History

The Northwest Coalition for Better Schools (NWCBS) was initiated in 1986 by parents, business leaders and other community members who came together to address the high dropout rate of North High school students.

By 1987, this concerned group had established an ongoing forum to work toward comprehensive dropout prevention. Starting out as an association housed within Denver Public Schools (DPS), NWCBS is now a well-established nonprofit organization staffed by an executive director and community volunteers. NWCBS works with the 28 Denver Public Schools within the Northwest Quadrant.

The North Star Tutor/Mentor Program

The North Star Tutor/Mentor Program is the focus of our current delivery. The purpose of the program is to give the students the gateway skills of reading and math competence in the early years of their schooling. Specifically, we target getting the students in our program up to grade level or beyond by the end of their third grade.

In an after-school setting, supervised by two teachers, middle and high school students are used to tutor primarily second and third grade students in reading and math skills, and complete the weekly homework. North Star operates currently in eight elementary schools in northwest Denver, primarily in schools that are feeder schools to North High School. North Star Tutor/Mentor Program

MISSION

The mission of the Northwest Coalition for Better Schools is to ignite the academic success of students through a partnership of parents, businesses, agencies, neighborhood associations and community representatives working with principals, teachers and students in NW Denver schools.

PRIOR PROGRAM AREAS

NW Area Schools Publication. This publication was primarily directed to parents. First published in 1987 and continued through 2007, this publication addressed how parents could help their children become more involved.

Annual School Fair for schools feeding into North and West High Schools. This fair offered schools an opportunity to showcase their programs and their students. It provided the community an opportunity to support school and student achievement. The NW Coalition hosted the fair annually from 1987 through 2007.

First Day Counts Initiative. This creates opportunities for parents and guardians to become involved in their children's school from the 1st day. It also builds relationships between parents and teachers, which can lead to further involvement in the school and their child's academic achievement.

Last updated November 5, 2009