Legislative Agenda

2023 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

The problems and barriers outlined in this report are large, systemic issues that will take extensive time and effort to solve. However, there are actions elected officials can take right now to make progress towards securing the future our educators and our students deserve.

CEA’s legislative agenda is one that puts students first and addresses the challenges we, as educators are facing. We invite legislators to work with and listen to us when considering education-related legislation that supports student-centered learning, ensures professional excellence and makes economic investments in public education.

Our public education system is at a crisis point with persistent lack of funding, educator burnout, and shortages. But there is no reason to resign ourselves to this status quo, particularly when the cost is our students’ futures. We owe it to them, and our dedicated education professionals, to get this right.

The solutions below are educator-designed and educator-driven. These policy solutions are rooted in our commitment as educators from across the state and across every identity, to ensuring safe and welcoming schools where each and every student can thrive, have the freedom to be themselves, and become successful citizens in our diverse and interconnected world. CEA is committed to dismantling inequitable and racist structures and systems of oppression, to ensure that we don’t leave our most vulnerable students behind.

POLICIES WE ARE PRIORITIZING DURING THE 2023 LEGISLATIVE SESSION:

INVESTMENT

Completely buy down the BS Factor to $0, fully funding our schools to the amount required by the constitution
Identify and implement long-term systemic solutions to sustainably and adequately fund our public schools
Address housing supply and affordability so that educators can afford to live and work in their communities
Address the Educator Shortage through policies that attract and retain high-quality public education employees

RESPECT

Start a process to reimagine a holistic accountability system, with educators and experts in the field leading the effort to design a system that serves the students and educators of Colorado
Pass the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact, allowing teachers to use an eligible license held in another state to get an equivalent license in Colorado, lowering the barriers and getting teachers back into the classroom more seamlessly
Protect public sector workers when they speak up about working conditions

SAFETY

Ensure that Governor Polis’ proposed Office of School Safety is created with input from educators and prioritizes student and educator mental health supports and resources
Pass stronger gun safety regulations to keep our schools and communities safe, including banning automatic assault rifles
Maintain and increase state funding for school breakfast and lunch programs and other programs that assist families in raising healthy children