May 2, 2023 | Press
CONTACT
Lauren Stephenson
Director of Communications
Colorado Education Association
LStephenson@coloradoea.org
(303) 968-5573
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 1, 2023
Educators, Students, and Public Schools Win Crucial Investment
School Finance Act Passes with $180 Million Towards B.S. Factor Buydown
DENVER, CO – Thousands of Colorado educators and their supporters have signed petitions, called and emailed their elected officials, talked to legislators at the Capitol, and shared with Colorado leadership what an underfunded education system has meant for them and their students.
The School Finance Act that passed today shows that our legislators listened.
The 2023-2024 School Finance Act buys down the B.S. Factor by $180 million – a figure that is more than five times the original estimate outlined in Governor Jared Polis’ initial budget proposal late last year. This is a monumental victory for Colorado educators, students, and communities, and a critical infusion of funding for our public schools.
Some highlights of the School Finance Act include:
- $180 million dedicated to buying down the Budget Stabilization Factor; and a public commitment to fully buy down the Budget Stabilization Factor in 2024
- $30 million of additional funding for rural schools
- A new task force to study the modernization of the School Finance Act
- An adequacy study tasked with determining how much funding is needed to provide all Colorado students with an exemplar education
Said Baca-Oehlert: “To each one of the hundreds of educators who took hours and days out of their crowded schedule to text, email, call, or travel across our state to share their story: Know that you have made a huge difference. This School Finance Act is a critical first step to creating a sustainable, fully-funded public education system.“
“We are also encouraged by legislative leadership’s announcement today of a property tax relief package. Affordable housing is a critical component of our educators’ success, and the success of all of our communities. Where affordable housing is hard to find, so are educators. This property tax relief legislation will protect the funding of valuable entities in our state, like our schools, while giving Coloradans some much-needed tax relief in these financially uncertain times.”
“While the property tax relief legislative package, in conjunction with the School Finance Act, is a great step in the right direction, it’s important to note that even with these investments Colorado’s school funding will still be far below the national average.”
“Colorado’s future depends on enacting a long-term, systemic fix which will provide additional revenue sources for our public school system. Until such change is enacted, our schools, our educators, our students, and all Coloradans will continue to be short-changed. The only way to ensure that we have the education system worthy of our students and educators is to dedicate ourselves to a sustainable long-term investment.”
About the Colorado Education Association
The Colorado Education Association is the voice of 39,000 educators, working together in a strong union to ensure all students get the exceptional public schools they deserve, in every neighborhood across the state. As Colorado’s largest labor union, CEA works collectively with all education stakeholders to ensure Colorado’s standing as an excellent state in which to learn, live, work, and raise a family.
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Apr 18, 2023 | Press
CONTACT
Lauren Stephenson
Director of Communications
LStephenson@coloradoea.org
303-968-5573
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 18, 2023
Colorado Students, Educators, and Schools Win Critical Statewide Investment
School Finance Act Earmarks $150 Million in B.S. Factor Buydown
DENVER, CO – Over the past few months, thousands of Colorado educators have signed petitions, called and emailed their elected officials, talked to legislators at the Capitol, and shared what an underfunded education system has meant for them and their students. The School Finance Act released today shows that our legislators listened.
The 2023-2024 School Finance Act buys down the B.S. Factor by $150 million – a figure that is more than four times the estimate outlined in Governor Jared Polis’ initial budget proposal. This is a monumental victory for Colorado educators, students, and communities and a critical infusion of funding for our public schools.
Amie Baca-Oehlert, high school counselor and president of the Colorado Education Association, said, “I’m incredibly proud of our members and leaders, who sacrifice so much every day, and who speak up for our students and the funding they deserve.”
Some highlights of the School Finance Act include:
- $150 million dedicated to buying down the Budget Stabilization Factor; and a public commitment to fully buy down the Budget Stabilization Factor in 2024
- $30 million of additional funding for rural schools
A new task force to study the modernization of the School Finance Act
- An adequacy study, tasked with determining how much funding is needed to provide all Colorado students with an exemplar education
This School Finance Act is just the latest in a legislative session that has been replete with wins for educators and their supporters. On Monday, the CEA celebrated the passage of SB23-111, the Public Employees’ Workplace Protections Bill, in the Senate. This bill will ensure educators and public workers are afforded the same critical workplace protections that the private sector has had access to for decades. Additionally, last month, Governor Polis signed the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact bill, a bill led by CEA members in the legislature that will add more qualified educators to our schools by removing bureaucratic hurdles.
Said Baca-Oehlert, “It’s clear our 39,000 educator members made an indelible impact this session. Hundreds of educators took hours and days out of their crowded schedules to text, email, call, and travel across our state to share their stories with our legislative leaders. We are grateful to the legislators who introduced a School Finance Act that shows they listened to the pleas of our dedicated educators.”
Baca-Oehlert continued, “These legislative wins are encouraging, and CEA members should be so proud of our united efforts. These investments will go a long way to providing needed funding for our education system. But our schools have been underfunded since the Great Recession to the tune of $10 billion. In order to create the public education system that our students need and deserve, we need a far larger, more far-reaching fix.”
“Colorado’s future depends on enacting a long-term, systemic change to provide additional revenue sources for our public school system. Until such change is enacted, our schools, our educators, our students, and all Coloradans will continue to be short-changed. The only way to ensure we have the education system worthy of our students and educators is to dedicate ourselves to a sustainable long-term investment.”
About the Colorado Education Association
The Colorado Education Association is the voice of 39,000 educators, working together in a strong union to ensure all students get the exceptional public schools they deserve, in every neighborhood across the state. As Colorado’s largest labor union, CEA works collectively with all education stakeholders to ensure Colorado’s standing as an excellent state in which to learn, live, work, and raise a family.
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Mar 15, 2023 | Press
CONTACT
Lauren Stephenson
Director of Communications
Colorado Education Association
LStephenson@coloradoea.org
(303) 968-5573
FOR PRESS: PHOTOS OF BILL SIGNING
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 15, 2023
Colorado Education Association Celebrates Passage of
Educator-Sponsored Bill to Combat Teacher Shortage
DENVER — The Colorado Education Association is excited to announce the passage of an important piece of legislation that will benefit Colorado public school students and educators. Signed into law by Governor Jared Polis, HB23-1064, or the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact, will add more qualified educators to our schools by removing bureaucratic hurdles.
This bill is particularly significant for the CEA, which represents 39,000 public educators statewide. Said president Amie Baca-Oehlert: “We’re thrilled to see the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact be signed into law – this is an important win in the fight to combat statewide teacher shortages. And we’re particularly excited to see the passage of a bill sponsored by three of our very own member educators, Representative Meghan Lukens, Representative Mary Young, and Senator Janice Marchman.”
Rep. Lukens left her position teaching Social Studies just three months ago, after being elected to office. Sen. Marchman is a Math teacher and former Thompson School Board vice president. Rep. Mary Young is a former special education teacher and current school psychologist. Lukens, Marchman, and Young are prime examples as to the importance of having educator leadership wherever education decisions are made.
Said Baca-Oehlert, “The CEA proudly champions any initiative that gets more qualified, licensed educators teaching in our classrooms and becoming a part of our community. We’re so proud to see important legislation like this led by our own members, and signed into law. With educators like Sen. Marchman, Rep. Lukens and Rep. Young in leadership, we’ve no doubt that this bill is just the beginning of educator-driven solutions for our public schools.” said Baca-Oehlert.
The CEA would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you and congratulations to HB23-1064 co-sponsor Sen. Chris Kolker, who has been a staunch ally in the battle to create public schools that fulfill all of our students’ and educators’ needs.
Why HB23-1064 is Needed
Currently, educators who would like to teach in Colorado often have to wait several months, and take several additional tests, in order to legally teach the same subjects that they are licensed and qualified to teach in another state.
These inefficiencies are particularly galling given the nationwide and statewide educator shortage. CEA’s annual State of Education report found that 85% of our educators felt as though the educator shortage was worse than it had ever been.
This bill will eliminate many of these barriers for prospective Colorado educators, thereby increasing the efficiency with which qualified educators can be employed at our public schools.
“Many of our educators already come from out of state, and it’s a priority to do what we can to make that pathway as smooth as possible. This school year began with a significant number of unfilled positions statewide – there was not one district that was completely staffed. Our hope is that this bill will allow us to start the next school year, and the years that follow, in a better position,” said Baca-Oehlert.
About the Colorado Education Association
The Colorado Education Association is the voice of 39,000 educators, working together in a strong union to ensure all students get the exceptional public schools they deserve, in every neighborhood across the state. As Colorado’s largest labor union, CEA works collectively with all education stakeholders to ensure Colorado’s standing as an excellent state in which to learn, live, work, and raise a family.
Follow CEA on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
Jan 24, 2023 | Press
CONTACT
Lauren Stephenson
Director of Communications
Colorado Education Association
LStephenson@coloradoea.org
(303) 968-5573
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 24, 2023
Colorado Educators: ‘Education System is in a State of Crisis’
Annual Report from CO’s Largest Union Illustrates Challenges and Opportunities
DENVER, CO — “Decades of neglect have left our education system in dire straits. The solutions are within our reach, and we can’t wait any longer. Are Colorado’s leaders up to the task?”
This is the central question asked by the Colorado Education Association (CEA) in its annual State of Education Report. Based on surveys of CEA educators, publicly available data, and news articles, the report highlights the obstacles facing our public education system, as well as proposed solutions.
Some excerpts:
Investment
A Colorado educator makes 35.9% less than a comparably educated professional. Our school system is operating at a more than decade-long deficit of $10 billion dollars. This has had deleterious downstream effects on every aspect of our schools, including educator pay, the educator shortage, student outcomes, and more.
Respect
Respecting our educators as experts means centering our voices in legislation that affects our work. In particular, education professionals must be included in decisions that affect accountability and assessment. Said one educator: “It is deeply demoralizing. I work in a relatively well resourced neighborhood public school. However post pandemic there’s a big push to try unproven, experimental methods of assessment, accountability, and curricula. I feel like I’m being admin-ed to death.”
Safety
67% of our educators are “very” or “somewhat worried” about a mass shooting at their school. The three most-often cited factors that negatively affect the well-being of our students and our education professionals are: a lack of mental health supports, a dearth of LGBTQ+ acceptance and inclusion, and a preponderance of access to firearms.
Amie Baca-Oehlert, high school counselor and president of the Colorado Education Association, said of the report’s findings: “We must demand that our schools have the resources to meet every child’s needs with well-trained and supported educators, for a sustainable, equitable, and thriving education system.”
The State of Education Report outlines many ways legislative leaders can begin remedying these challenges with educator-driven solutions. Some of the specific policy solutions CEA will be prioritizing in the 2023 legislative session include: education funding, affordable housing, licensing eligibility, working conditions, mental health, and gun safety regulations.
CEA member and newly-elected State Representative Meghan Lukens is working on one such bill. “I’m excited to bring the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact,” she said. “As an educator and CEA member, I have seen the devastating impact of the Educator Shortage across the state and in my own school. I am excited to now be working with CEA to make the process to get a Colorado teaching license more efficient.”
Baca-Oehlert said, “Rep. Lukens’ bill is just one example of a concrete way we can improve our public education system right now. Yes, we’re at a crisis point, but that is no reason to resign ourselves to this status quo. We owe it to our students, and our dedicated education professionals, to get this right.”
For the full report, please go to https://coloradoea.org/state-of-education/
CEA President Amie Baca-Oehlert is available for followup interviews upon request. Please contact Lauren Stephenson (LStephenson@coloradoea.org), CEA’s Director of Communications, to schedule.
About the Colorado Education Association
The Colorado Education Association is the voice of 39,000 educators, working together in a strong union to ensure all students get the exceptional public schools they deserve, in every neighborhood across the state. As Colorado’s largest labor union, CEA works collectively with all education stakeholders to ensure Colorado’s standing as an excellent state in which to learn, live, work, and raise a family.
Follow CEA on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
Jan 17, 2023 | Press
CONTACT
Lauren Stephenson
Director of Communications
Colorado Education Association
LStephenson@coloradoea.org
(303) 968-5573
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 17, 2023
Colorado Educators Applaud Polis’ Promise to Increase Education Funding, Eliminate Budget Stabilization Factor By 2027
DENVER, CO. – During Tuesday’s State of the State address, Governor Jared Polis declared that “access to a quality education is a fundamental right and critical for our economic prosperity.” Polis went on to pledge his commitment to fully funding Colorado’s public education system by buying down the Budget Stabilization Factor during the 2023 Legislative Session and eliminating it completely by the end of his second term.
On behalf of 39,000 education professionals across Colorado, the Colorado Education Association has long stressed the need for substantial and sustained investment in our schools.
Amie Baca-Oehlert, high school counselor and President of the CEA, said:
“After a decade plus of disinvestment in Colorado’s public school system, we appreciate the Governor’s commitment to eliminating the BS Factor, and to fully funding our education system. It is more apparent now than ever that our students and our educators need resources and supports to thrive. Investing in Colorado’s students and educators should be the state’s top priority.
“Though it’s by no means a cure-all, eliminating the BS Factor would go a long way towards righting the systemic issues that have plagued our education system for over a decade. We look forward to collaborating with the Governor on this initiative and centering the voices of education professionals, students, and families.
Eliminating the BS factor – along with other priorities that the Governor outlined, such as housing, workforce development,and healthcare – will require a tax system that is equitable and sustainable. When our public finance system prioritizes the wellbeing of working families in our state over the interests of the ultra-wealthy, we will all have what we need to thrive and fully fund our communities.
“We now call on the Colorado State Legislature to make this proposition a reality for our public schools. Colorado’s educators look to you to stand up for them and their students – to ensure that they are provided with the resources they need, no matter what zip code they live in.”
About the Colorado Education Association
The Colorado Education Association is the voice of 39,000 educators, working together in a strong union to ensure all students get the exceptional public schools they deserve, in every neighborhood across the state. As Colorado’s largest labor union, CEA works collectively with all education stakeholders to ensure Colorado’s standing as an excellent state in which to learn, live, work, and raise a family.
Follow CEA on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
