NEXT STEPS FOR ELIGIBLE STUDENTS TO JOIN TREP (APRIL 1-JUNE 1)

STEP 1: Attend a TREP Informational Meeting. See details below under "TREP Informational Meeting".  You will watch the recording/review the meeting slides, and then an attendance form.

STEP 2: Submit required TREP documents between April 14-June 1. 

• All information about the required documents can be found on Slide 27 and Slide 28 of the TREP Informational Meeting (slides w/ notes). You will upload your documents, confirm FAFSA/CASFA, and confirm meeting attendance all here in this form.
• If you want to join TREP, please submit the required documents beginning April 14! Students are accepted into TREP on a rolling basis once all documents are submitted and confirmed. Slots are limited! 
• Please remember you must also pass your Spring 2025 CE course (if needed for eligibility) and meet high school graduation requirements. For accepted students, you will also need to turn in your HS diploma by June 1. 

TREP INFORMATIONAL MEETING - Required
Eligible students who want to join ASCENT must attend a live, virtual meeting or watch a recorded meeting in order to join the ASCENT program. If you were not able to attend a live meeting, you must watch a recorded meeting to fulfill the requirement. Please watch the recorded meeting and review the presentation slides to fulfill this requirement, then complete an attendance form to track your completion. Use the links below to complete this requirement: 

• TREP Informational Meeting - Recorded Meeting
• TREP Informational Meeting (slides w/ notes) | Meeting PDF (slides without notes)
• TREP Informational Meeting (slides w/ notes)- Spanish
• Attendance Form

Parents/guardians/counselors are welcome to attend. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the benefits and requirements of TREP so that students can decide if the program is right for them. Meeting dates are listed below. Students only need to attend one meeting to fulfill the requirement. 

• Tuesday, April 1 @ 3pm - Completed
• Wednesday, April 2 @ 12pm - Completed
• Thursday, April 3 @ 5pm - Completed

HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS
Students participating in TREP must turn in their original high school diploma by June 1 - students can either bring their diploma to their counselor or directly to the DPS Downtown office at 1860 Lincoln Street, Denver, 80203. We hold diplomas until a student completes or exits the program.

NO LONGER INTERESTED IN JOINING TREP?
Students no longer interested in joining TREP can decline their application at any time using this link. Once submitted, our team will decline your application and remove you from our communications list.

TREP APPLICATION STATUS
The TREP application window closed March 1. On March 17, all TREP applicants received an email informing them of their eligibility status. Students' application status was one of the following: 

• Eligible: Student has met TREP eligibility requirements.
• Eligible with Conditions: Student is in the process of meeting TREP eligibility requirements.
• Not-Eligible: We have reviewed the student's application and determined the student is not eligible for TREP. If you feel a “Not-Eligible” decision is incorrect, please email kelly_gilmore@dpsk12.net to re-evaluate this decision.

OVERVIEW

TREP is a 5th/6th year high school program that allows students interested in pursuing a career in education to attend college full-time for up to two years after high school for free. Students attend a participating TREP college beginning the fall after graduation from high school. Students may only enter the program as a 5th year student.

Some of the objectives of TREP are:

• to increase the number of students who enter the teaching profession.
• to decrease the amount of time that is required for students to complete post secondary educator preparation degrees or certificates.
• to decrease economic barriers for students who want to pursue higher education in teaching.

If you are interested in pursuing a career in education, you should consider using TREP to pay for 2 years of college!

Relevant pathways include: 

• Early Childhood Education (ECE)
• Elementary Education (K-6th grade)
• Secondary Education (7-12th grade) - English, Math, Science, Social Studies
• Special Education
• Art Education
• Music Education
• Physical Education (PE)
• World Languages
• Counseling/Psychology 
• Educational/Instructional Technology

Graduating DPS 12th graders who apply for TREP by the March 1st deadline are eligible if they meet DPS graduation requirements, TREP requirements, and are college ready in English and Math. TREP slots are limited. Students that qualify have a good chance of receiving a slot but it is not guaranteed. 

• Pass at least one class in the educator pathway with a C- or higher during your senior year.
• Meet DPS graduation requirements
• Complete an Individual Career and Academic Plan (ICAP)
• Complete high school in 4 years (cannot be an early or late grad)
• Be college ready in English and Math and not in need of developmental education coursework in accordance with your selected degree pathway
• Apply by the March 1st deadline
• Enroll in a class on the educator pathway each fall semester of TREP

Ask your counselor if you qualify for TREP! 

APPLICATION PROCESS

Work with your high school counselor, college coordinator, or DSF advisor to complete the online TREP application: TREP Application 2025-26. The deadline to submit an application is March 1st.

TREP College Partners

Students can attend MSU Denver, our 4-year university partner, or any of our metro area community college partners (Arapahoe Community College, Community College of Aurora, Community College of Denver, Front Range Community College and Red Rocks Community College).

Important Dates

TREP Timeline

• March 1: Deadline to apply
• March 17: Notification of TREP eligibility emailed to applicants and counselors. Note: eligible students are not officially accepted into TREP until all required documents are received and verified.
• April 1 - April 12: Mandatory TREP Informational meetings for all interested eligible students.
• April 14: Window opens to submit required documents. For a list of required documents, go to the section of this site titled "TREP Applicants (current HS Seniors)”
• April 14-June 1: Students submit required documents and are accepted into TREP as all required documents are submitted and verified. Students receive an official acceptance letter into the TREP program.
• June 1: Deadline for eligible students to submit documents.

• DPS TREP pays for all tuition, fees and textbooks for the Fall and Spring semesters, as well as the summer semester between Year 1 and Year 2 of TREP.
• DPS TREP offers chromebooks, hotspots and graphing calculators for students to use during their TREP years.
• TREP students are considered 5th and 6th year high school students and therefore cannot accept federal or state financial aid while in the ASCENT program. Students are allowed to apply for scholarships that do not require first-time undergraduate student status.
• TREP students continue to have full access to Denver Health clinics.
• TREP students participate in all high school graduation activities. 
• HS diploma is withheld until student completes or exits TREP. 
• The official graduation date on a high school transcript will reflect the date a student completes or exits TREP.
• Courses taken during TREP years will appear on the high school transcript however they will not impact HS GPA.
• Students may not be able to live on campus (it varies by campus).
• Early College, PTECH students cannot participate in TREP as they are excluded from the Concurrent Enrollment Programs Act.