The Colorado State Board of Education will hear an appeal by a charter school trying to stay open after Denver Public Schools opted not to renew its contract.

The appeal was filed Tuesday by Life Skills Center of Denver.

"We are hoping the state board allows us one more year to show student growth and that our program is all about allowing the changes (we) have put in place to start bearing fruit," Life Skills Center District Superintendent Benjamin Valdez said. "To expect changes and being real productive after five months isn't realistic."

Life Skills, West 10th Avenue and Cherokee Street, serves about 260 Denver-area high school students who dropped out of traditional high schools in the district.

But the DPS Board of Education voted 6-1 earlier this year to shut it down. Graduation at the school is June 15. If the appeal is unsuccessful, the school will be vacated by June 29.

The appeal is based on what Life Skills calls "misinformation" about the school's attendance record and academic progress over the course of its three-year contract with DPS. Life Skills is run by Ohio-based White Hat Management, which runs charter schools all over the country.

Amy Friedman, DPS director of School Choice, said the school failed to fulfill its contractual obligation. She said she stands by the recommendation the Board of Education voted on in February.The appeal will be heard within 60 days, though Karen Gerwitz, director of state board relations, said it could be extended by 30 days if both sides agree.

Gerwitz said a date could be set as early as this week for the appeal.

monterod@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5236