Denver Public Schools has announced that The Village, a resource center located within the Academy for Contemporary Learning, will close its doors on June 30. The village provides free food, clothing, mental health support, workforce training and more to students and families. Originally funded by grants, the village is now supported by federal pandemic relief funds known as ESSER, which were earmarked for schools. However, with this funding expiring in a few months, the school district must use the last of their pandemic relief dollars by Sept. 30. The Village operated at an expense of $771,690 during this school year but will have to shut down due to lack of funding.
The Academy for Contemporary Learning opened three years ago to provide essential services to the community. It serves middle and high schools and helps students who have struggled in traditional schools or are at risk of not graduating. Chalkbeat is a nonprofit news site that covers changes in public school education in Colorado and provides valuable information on issues that affect students and families. To receive more Colorado news, subscribe to The Denver Post’s Mile High Roundup email newsletter.
