Our Mission
That all Colorado families will have access to private educational options in early childhood through 12th grade that align with their needs and values, and that all Colorado private schools remain free, independent educational actors able to determine how best to provide educational excellence consistent with their beliefs in all aspects of their operations.
Our Vision
That all Colorado families will have access to private educational options in early childhood through 12th grade that align with their needs and values, and that all Colorado private schools remain free, independent educational actors able to determine how best to provide educational excellence consistent with their beliefs in all aspects of their operations.
Guiding Principles
Mission Alignment:
CAPS will only engage on policy issues that align with its mission.
Realistic and Valuable Contribution:
CAPS will engage on policy issues only to the extent that it has the capacity to do so, and only to the extent its contribution can reasonably be expected to advance or strengthen an effort to achieve goals in alignment with the organization’s mission.
Demonstrable Impact:
CAPS will engage only on policy issues that will demonstrably impact its member schools or the services they provide to students and families.
General Interest:
CAPS will engage on issues of general interest to private schools in Colorado, and will not engage on issues that seek to harm or promote certain educational models, belief systems, or educational approaches at the expense of others.
Prioritized Autonomy:
CAPS will, at all times, prioritize and support the autonomy of Colorado private schools, and will engage on issues only to the extent that said engagement could not reasonably be expected to erode, reduce, limit, threaten, or otherwise damage that autonomy.
Unapologetic Defense:
CAPS will unapologetically defend member schools and the families they serve from rules, policies, campaigns, or other efforts that could damage the availability of educational opportunity or restrict parental access to private education.
Permanent Interests:
CAPS no permanent friends and no permanent enemies in the policy space, only permanent interests aligned with preserving and promoting private education in Colorado. The organization will work with its partners and allies in every situation possible, but the interests of its member schools and the families they serve will always be primary.
Meet the Board
Weston Kurz
CEO/President, CAPS
Executive Director, Dayspring Christian Academy
Michael Edghill
Associate Superintendent, Archdiocese of Denver
Reverend Paul Albers
Mordechai Hoffman
Executive Director, Hillel Academy of Denver
Sheila Whahlen
Superintendent, Diocese of Colorado Springs
David Cooper
Head of School, Front Range Christian School
History
The Colorado Association of Private Schools (CAPS) seeks to be the voice of PK–12 private education in Colorado. Its primary directive is to preserve the independence of Colorado’s private schools and to uphold parental choice in education.
The association’s membership is made up of dozens of diverse private schools operating across the state of Colorado. Membership is voluntary and CAPS does not govern or control its member schools. Faith-based or other school associations may also become members of CAPS.
CAPS is an affiliate of the Council for American Private Education (CAPE). As an affiliate of CAPE, CAPS will support the development of close, professional relationships and will foster open communication and trust among various public and private educational institutions, including the Colorado Department of Education and the US Department of Education.
If you are interested in becoming a CAPS member, please CLICK HERE.
About CAPE
The Council for American Private Education (CAPE) is a coalition of national organizations and state affiliates serving private elementary and secondary schools. There are over 33,000 private schools in America; in fact, one in four of the nation’s schools is a private school. More than five million students attend them. CAPE member organizations represent more than 80 percent of private school enrollment nationwide.
