Our mission at Boulder Valley Community Open School is to support young people as they experience an Open Source Learning environment that is governed by democratic principles in order to help individuals develop into caring, confident, responsible, and adaptable individuals who are prepared for our changing world.

Open Source Learning provides an education through a variety of means; real life experiences utilizing materials and resources that are available.  Additionally, “Open Source Learning allows freedom and flexibility tailored to the child’s needs and desires…”*  Participation in meaningful play is an essential part of an Open Source education.  “Researchers are in universal agreement that play provides a strong foundation for intellectual growth, creativity, and problem solving.”**

Democratic principles are at the core of BVCOS.   Students and staff share the decision-making on matters concerning living, working, and learning together.  Weekly All School meetings provide opportunities for input from the community where decisions about school rules, school policies, the hiring and firing of staff, and the use of monetary resources are discussed and voted upon.

At BVCOS we place value on community. Through the building of relationships with all members of the community, individuals are nurtured, encouraged, and supported as they grow in their discovery of who they are as individuals.

* http://yedies.blogspot.com/2009/03/john-taylor-gatto-open-source-learning.html

** Einstein Never Used Flash Cards: How Our Children Really Learn—And Why They Need to Play More And Memorize Less, by Kathy Hirsch-Pasek, Ph.D and Roberta Michnick  Golfnikoff, Ph.D.

Boulder Valley Community Open School is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.  BVCOS admits students of any race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, or national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.  This public benefit corporation does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, or national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school administered programs, employment practices, election of officers, membership, or election to the Board.