A Look Ahead at Student Learning in SSD

Over the past several months, Summit School District has been deeply engaged in reviewing our instructional models to ensure that every student experiences high-quality, engaging, & rigorous learning—every day, in every classroom.

This includes a comprehensive review of our International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP) & Middle Years Programme (MYP). This is not a critique of IB, which we continue to value, but an evaluation of how these programs align with state standards, district goals, and  priorities.

Note: The IB Diploma Programme (DP) at Summit High School is not part of this review. We remain committed to expanding access to both individual DP courses and the full diploma.

This work reflects the district’s commitment to ensuring:

• A clear and unified instructional vision that supports every school & teacher
• Rigorous, standards-aligned learning that prepares all students for success
• Support structures that empower educators while reducing competing demands
• Meaningful, inquiry-based experiences embedded as a key instructional concept across all subjects

After months of listening to teachers, students, families, & community members, it became clear that the opportunity before us isn’t about stepping away from something—it’s about moving forward with greater coherence, clarity, and impact.

We’ve learned a great deal from IB. Practices like student exhibitions, inquiry-driven learning, & global thinking are now part of our DNA. This next step is about strengthening & scaling what works—for every learner, in every classroom.

What’s Next?

• A formal recommendation was presented to the Board of Education on April 17, with a vote scheduled for May 1.
• If approved, a detailed plan to phase in changes over the next 2–3 years will follow, with ongoing community and educator input.
• This is about delivering on our promise: every student will be challenged, supported, and inspired to thrive in a future-ready world.

Budget Planning: 

We’re approaching the final stage of 2025–26 budget planning. With the launch of Colorado’s new school finance formula & a $1.2 billion state budget shortfall, thoughtful decision-making is more important than ever.

Thanks to strong statewide advocacy—including the Day of Action—Colorado made key adjustments to school funding. For Summit, this means a $1.07 million increase in Total Program Funding—a direct result of people power.
 

At the same time, we are still working through the impacts of intentional use of reserves—a strategic decision made last year to invest in our most important resource: our people. Raising teacher & staff salaries to remain a leader in teacher compensation required spending into reserves, and we knew that would come with trade-offs. Following the decision to engage in short-term deficit spending, SSD  implemented a series of cost-saving measures—including a freeze on new curriculum purchases, deferred IT investments, a pause on filling select vacated administrative positions, and a 10% reduction across all departments in the 2024–25 budget.
 

What’s Ahead

Building on those steps, additional strategies are being considered to preserve instructional quality & maintain competitive compensation:

• Continued budget reductions 
• Hiring freezes & position adjustments in non-instructional areas
• A new health benefits provider to help control rising costs

About the New State Formula

At the state level, the new school finance formula marks a historic shift. Moving away from a multiplicative formula, the formula now funds districts through additive categories like ELL, at-risk, & special education. Implementation will roll out gradually over seven years, & while the Budget Stabilization Factor is finally phased out, short-term gains remain modest.

Your Input Matters

Feedback from staff & community members continues to shape our budget priorities. Surveys & committee input emphasize:

• Protecting core academics (math and literacy)
• Sustaining electives & CTE pathways
• Maintaining wraparound services that support student well-being

SSD remains committed to financial transparency- We’ll share more details as the proposed budget comes together in May. 

Tony Byrd, Superintendent
Kara Drake, Chief Financial Officer
Laura Cotsapas, Chief Transformation Officer