Denver District Candidate At Large

Dear concerned citizens and parents,

I am a homeschool mom, and I have decided to run for a small but critical position because I am deeply concerned about how Denver Public Schools (DPS) is utilizing our hard-earned tax dollars. Many of us pay property taxes, and a significant portion of these funds, around 50%, goes to DPS. However, while a child attending a different school than their neighborhood school has their dollars follow them, homeschooling families do not have that option.

What’s even more concerning is that a staggering 85% of DPS students graduate without the ability to read at the most basic level. Let that sink in – 85% of DPS graduates lack fundamental reading skills.

Literacy is the foundation of equal opportunity. Without the ability to read effectively, a child’s path to success is significantly hindered. So, what is DPS doing to address this critical issue? Their plan is called “Equity,” which essentially translates to equal outcomes. In practice, this means that if a child can’t read adequately, they will receive opportunities that someone else deserves.

Denver’s approach is to level the playing field for disadvantaged kids. However, the truth is that nearly all students at DPS are disadvantaged because they lack the essential reading skills needed for equal opportunity. Denver’s plan involves elevating disadvantaged students to the level of those who can read while simultaneously pulling down students who can read to the level of the underprivileged. This approach takes away someone’s opportunity and gives it to another without them having earned it.

Adding to this, DPS received a whopping $2.8 billion in federal rescue money in June 2021. The stated goal is to “reimagine education” over the next four years. But here’s the question we should be asking: Will this actually improve reading rates for Denver students? Unfortunately, the answer is likely “no.”

So, I humbly request your support today. I invite you to join me in starting a “Moms for Liberty” chapter or a “JBS Charter.” These two groups are focused on liberty and are ready to fight for real reform. The stakes are too high to sit on the sidelines and let the government continue to educate our children. We need genuine reform, and we must end the control of education by the National Education Association (NEA).

Here are some key points I’m advocating for:

– Decentralize schools from the state and federal government.
– Decentralize schools from the district.
– Empower principals to run each school.
– Make the Superintendent electable by the people.
– Shift funding away from administration and back to the schools.
– Allow each school to hire its own staff and teachers.
– Provide families with tax credits to choose the right school for their children.

Let’s work together to ensure that every child has a fair shot at success and that our education system serves the needs of our students and families.

Sincerely,

Marla Fernandez-Benavides