DSI How to Apply

Step 1 | Confirm Eligibility

Applicants to Dawson Summer Initiative must be:
  • A full-time student currently in grade 6 or 7
  • Enrolled at a public middle school in Boulder County or surrounding areas
  • Be able to attend M-F, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., June 3 - July 2, 2026

Step 2 | Complete Application Materials

1. Submit Parent/Guardian Initial Inquiry Form: Initial Inquiry Form
 
2. Once you submit this form, you will receive instructions to create a new* parent application portal. 
*(For those who have applied to DSI in the past, DSI has been using a new system since 2025 and you may need to create a new login and password.)
 
3. Once you submit the Parent/Guardian Initial Inquiry Form and create a DSI portal account, you will be directed as to how to complete the following application materials in the DSI portal: 
  • Parent/Guardian Contract & Responses
  • Student Essays
  • Teacher Recommendations (TWO are required)
  • Principal or Counselor or TAG Coordinator Form
  • Current Grade Report Card 
 
Materials for an applicant are added as they are received and do not have to be submitted together. You may check your application status on the portal at any time, and we will notify you when your application is complete.
 
Application Tips:
  • You do not need to submit all of the forms and information at the same time.
  • Parents/guardians will invite teachers to complete electronic Recommendations by initiating an invitation using the DSI Parent Portal. If teachers complete forms online, their Recommendations will be submitted directly to Dawson Summer Initiative.
  • Do not request a Teacher Recommendation from teachers unless you are fully committed to applying to DSI.

Step 3 | Submit by February 3, 2026

    • Applications for Dawson Summer Initiative 2026 will be accepted through Tuesday, February 3, 2026.
    • We can only process complete applications received on or before February 3, 2026. Any materials received after the deadline will not be able to be considered.
    • DSI will contact you when your child's application has been completed. 
    • A complete application must include:
      • Parent/Guardian Initial Inquiry Form
      • Parent/Guardian Contract & Responses
        • Confirmation of Understanding and Confidentiality Statement
        • Parent Responses 
      • Student Essays 
      • Two Teacher Recommendations (current math, science, English, or social studies)
      • Principal or Guidance Counselor or TAG Coordinator Form (includes grades, attendance, and conduct.)
      • Current Grade Report Card (We are requesting parents/guardians to upload their child's current grade report card in January.)
    • All applications will be read at the same time; this is NOT a first-come, first-served process.
    • Applicants will be notified about admission decisions by Monday, March 2, 2026.

    Timeline Tip
    * Please ask your child's teachers, counselors, and principals to complete recommendations well in advance of the application deadline. We recommend requesting recommendations at least three weeks in advance.

    Summer 2026

    Vision: Imaging Tomorrow
     
    June 3 - July 2, 2026
     
    Imagining the future can be challenging, but it also invites curiosity, creativity, and hope. Through collaboration with peers who share a passion for discovery and problem-solving, DSI scholars will design thoughtful and imaginative visions of how our homes, communities, and societies could grow and thrive in the years to come.
    Please contact DSI with any questions:

    Call 303-381-0444
    Email lmichael@dawsonschool.org
    10455 Dawson Drive Lafayette, Colorado 80026
    Tel (303) 665-6679
    info@dawsonschool.org