Colorado teachers union pushes for more school funding, opposes budget cuts

DENVER | As Colorado lawmakers figure out how to wrangle budget cuts, the state’s largest teachers union said it will fight to ensure legislators do not withhold money from schools.

In fact, the Colorado Education Association in its annual State of Education Report released on Monday underscored the need for the state to increase per-pupil funding beyond current levels. The report from CEA seeks to bring awareness to pressing issues facing educators but also lists out the union’s annual legislative priorities.

Lawmakers have a tough job ahead of them to manage a nearly billion dollar shortfall due to increases in costs for programs such as Medicaid. Some have said they want to fully fund schools and not reinstate a mechanism known as the budget stabilization factor — underfunding schools to shift money to other priorities.

The CEA report also calls for more overall funding. Colorado ranks near the bottom of the nation in teacher salaries despite being one of the more expensive states to live in, the report says.

Earlier this month, two separate analyses commissioned by lawmakers said the state must invest billions more to adequately resource schools and help students learn.

The CEA report says without more funding and reforms, “the future of public education in Colorado hangs in the balance.”

“Now more than ever, we must work diligently to protect the integrity of public education, safeguard and enhance funding for our schools and seize opportunities to drive meaningful progress,” said Kevin Vick, union president, in a news release.

The report’s other priorities are similar to some CEA has championed in the past, including teacher raises and better working conditions.

Here are key issues the union identified:

The report says 87% of its members ranked compensation increases as one of their top priorities. The report also says almost 90% identified appropriate workloads and staffing conditions in their schools as an issue. The report says these challenges aren’t new, but Colorado leaders must do more to invest in public education.

CEA also says members want to feel more appreciated, and that issue relates to high workloads and “attacks on curriculum” and educator autonomy.

And 89% of educators surveyed by the union said they want increased mental health support for educators and students. The report says the survey underscores the link between mental health and safety.

And here are the union’s legislative priorities:

The union says it will advocate for lawmakers to protect public school staff, including those who live under threat of deportation, from federal attacks; fight against any policies that try to dismantle public education; and ensure educators are protected from “anti-worker and anti-public education threats.”

The union says it will fight attempts to cut school funding; push for lawmakers to create stability for schools, including by opposing any unfunded mandates; and resist policies that move public classroom dollars to private companies.

The union will prioritize lobbying for policies that support educators, strengthen workers rights, and keep students and staff safe.

Jason Gonzales is a reporter covering higher education and the Colorado legislature. Chalkbeat Colorado partners with Open Campus on higher education coverage. Contact Jason at jgonzales@chalkbeat.org. Chalkbeat is a nonprofit news site covering educational change in public schools.