Education

Members of the class of 2021 could have some extra challenges to meet if they want to reach the finish line and graduate from Jeffco Public Schools — namely, the ability to pass a final assessment exam.

At last week’s school board meeting, district staff presented a proposal to revise the district’s graduation goals, most of which are based on Jeffco’s “2020 Vision” plan and 2013 graduation requirements.

A little rain last Friday morning didn’t prevent about 60 Parmalee Elementary students from running or walking around a quarter-mile course on the school grounds.

The kids have started running before classes on Wednesdays and Fridays as part of the school’s new 100 Mile Club, in which the students pledge to run, walk or jog 100 miles in a school year. Several parents and teachers joined in the activity on Friday, staying cool in the rain shower.

Students preparing to go back to school were given a confidence boost Sunday at United Methodist Church of Evergreen during the annual blessing of the backpacks.

During the 10:30 service, Pastor Russell Fletcher called all children to the front, where they each received a church backpack. Some brought their own, too.

Part of Fletcher’s blessing thanked God for sending Jesus to school, where he “learned to serve you.”

Jeffco students are largely outperforming national averages when it comes to reading and math, but semester-to-semester growth is lacking.

According to the school district’s presentation of its year-long Measures of Academic Progress, student scores in math and reading improved over the last year, with about 60 percent of all students in grades three through 10 scoring in the high-average or above-average range for math and reading.