May 9, 2023 | Press
CONTACT
Lauren Stephenson
LStephenson@coloradoea.org
(303) 968-5571
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 9, 2023
Colorado Educators Celebrate Historic, Momentous Legislative Session
DENVER – This Monday evening, the Colorado legislature ended an historic legislative session for educators, students, and public schools. Thanks in no small part to the fierce advocacy of the Colorado Education Association’s 39,000 members, our state made incredible gains in educators’ priorities and core areas of concern including:
Investment
- Increased funding through the School Finance Act (SB 23-287)
- $180 million buydown of the Budget Stabilization Factor
- $30 million for rural schools
- $1,018 increase in per-pupil spending, a 10.6% increase
- $40 million additional funding for Special Education (SB 23-099)
- Reduction of property taxes (SB23-303)
- Increased the supply of affordable housing (HB 23-1304, HB 23-1255, SB 23-035)
- Additional investment in PERA (SB 23-056)
Respect
- The largest increase in educator and public workers rights in a decade (SB 23-111)
- Solutions to the teacher shortage (HB 23-1064, HB 23-1001, HB 23-1212, SB 23-087)
- Modernizing the Accountability System (HB 23-1241)
Safety
- Educator inclusion as reporters in the Extreme Risk Protection Order bill (SB 23-170)
- Passage of four additional common sense gun bills (SB 23-168, SB 23-169, SB 23-279, HB 23-1219)
- Establishment of the Office of School Safety, including grant funding for any school that wishes to establish a co-responder model (SB 23-241)
- School lunch programs (SB 23-221)
- Increased mental health supports (HB 23-1003, SB 23-004)
Amie Baca-Oehlert, high school counselor and president of the Colorado Education Association said: “We started this year on a high after electing three of our member educators to the Colorado state legislature and passing the Healthy School Meals for all in November. There were plenty of challenges, but our members kept showing up – calling, emailing, and driving across the state – to ensure our representatives knew exactly what our educators and students need. It’s no coincidence that in many areas, the legislation passed was even more in line with educators’ goals than was originally forecasted. It is clear we have many legislative champions who really listened to the needs of our students and public schools.”
“The session started off on a high with the passage of HB23-1064 Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact, which is an important win in the fight to combat statewide teacher shortages. It was a particularly momentous win as it was sponsored by three of our very own member educators, Representative Meghan Lukens, Representative Mary Young, and Senator Janice Marchman.”
““As our State of Education report outlined in January, the CEA has been focused on prioritizing our educator’s needs around the pillars of more investment, respect and safety for our educators, our students, and our schools. We’re thrilled to have accomplished so much that we set out to in our legislative agenda. Throughout the legislative session, every CEA member, as well as our students, parents, and community of supporters, played an important role in ensuring the success of this session’s consequential legislation. We look forward to seeing the measurable improvements this will bring in the lives of Colorado students and educators.”
“We are incredibly disappointed, however, that our legislators neglected to pass several bold fixes for Colorado’s affordable housing crisis – such as SB23-213 Land Use, HB23-1115 Repeal Prohibition Local Residential Rent Control, and HB23-1171 Just Cause Requirement Eviction of Residential Tenant. Housing accessibility is a top concern for Colorado residents, and a lack of affordable housing disproportionately affects educators. This is a crisis and it must be treated as such. The average teacher in Eagle County takes home less than $3,800 per month, while the average 2-bedroom apartment costs more than $2,030 – that’s 53 percent of their monthly income going to rent. When educators can’t live in the communities where they work teach, it is our students who lose out on dedicated teachers who will support their academic, personal, social and physical growth.”
“Following this legislative session’s close, our members’ attention will next turn to their local school board races. We are united in our view that all Colorado school boards should represent their communities, and should always work to center educators in all discussions and decisions regarding their schools. A successful school board works together with our educators to pursue solutions to the real, systemic challenges faced by our students, and we look forward to supporting candidates with those same values.”
“We will also be redoubling our efforts – in coalition with our labor and organizational partners at Together We Thrive – to push for the substantive systemic changes that are necessary for fully-funded schools. It is clear that Coloradans value our educators and want what’s best for our students. Enacting bold, systemic change is the only way to ensure that our public school system matches Coloradans’ ideals, and it is the only way to ensure that our students – no matter their color, background, or zip code – are able to enjoy the inclusive, safe, and honest education they deserve.”
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For more information on the Colorado Education Association’s Legislative Agenda:
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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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May 3, 2023 | Press, Uncategorized
CONTACT
Lauren Stephenson
Director of Communications
Colorado Education Association
LStephenson@coloradoea.org
(303) 968-5573
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 3, 2023
Historic Bill Grants Educators and All Public Employees Workplace Protections
Safeguards Will Boost Teacher Retention, Workplace Safety
DENVER, CO – Today, Colorado’s public workers were finally granted the same workplace protections that private sector workers have enjoyed for over 90 years. With the passage of SB23-111, the Public Employees’ Workplace Protection bill, all public employees are legally safe from retaliation, harassment, and other workplace threats.
Amie Baca-Oehlert, high school counselor and president of the Colorado Education Association, testified in support of this historic legislation. On its final passage today, she said, “On behalf of CEA’s 39,000 public school educators, I am thrilled to see that our legislative leadership listened to the hundreds of Colorado teachers who lobbied, emailed, texted, and called them this session. Finally, we will be able to advocate for ourselves, for our colleagues, and for our students without fear.”
During legislative hearings for SB23-111, educators from JeffCo to Woodland Park to Saguache shared their stories of unsafe workplaces and retaliatory actions. Just this year, Colorado educators (like David Graf of Woodland Park and Kevin Walek of Mountain Valley) have been retaliated against for “offenses” such as speaking at a school board meeting, advocating for innovative curriculum, or asking for safe staffing levels in their classrooms.
The Public Employees’ Workplace Protection bill aims to shield public workers from these harms by granting all public employees rights similar to those of Colorado’s private sector employees. SB23-111 gives public workers the right to do the following without employment repercussion:
- Discuss or express their opinions about workplace issues, and discuss their rights as workers, when discussing and addressing their concerns
- Organize, form, join, or assist an employee organization*, or refrain from organizing, forming, joining, or assisting an employee organization
- Engage in protected, concerted activity for the purpose of mutual aid or protection
- Fully participate in the political process while off-duty and not in uniform, including speaking with members of the public employer’s governing body on any matter of public concern, or on the terms and conditions of employment
Said Baca-Oehlert: “Without the protected right to advocate for ourselves and our students, our educators have often felt demoralized and disrespected, and increasingly, they are dropping out of the profession. The passage of SB23-111 shows our educators and all of our public workers that our legislators hear their concerns and understand their integral role in Colorado’s success. We’re grateful for the leadership of bill sponsors Senator Robert Rodriguez, and Representatives Brianna Titone and Steven Woodrow, as well as the entire Democratic Caucus. Colorado educators and all public workers who provide such critical sertices to our communities, eagerly await being granted the respect and legal protection they deserve when Governor Polis signs this bill into law.”
*As defined by this bill, “employee organization” means an organization independent of the employer in which public employees may participate and that exists for the purpose, in whole or in part, of acting on behalf of and for the benefit of the public employees concerning public employee grievances, labor disputes, wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment. “Employee organization” includes any agents or representatives of the employee organization designated by the employee organization.
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
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.
Follow CEA on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
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 22, 2023 | Press
CONTACT
Lauren Stephenson
Director of Communications
Colorado Education Association
LStephenson@coloradoea.org
(303) 968-5573
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 22, 2023
Colorado Educators Respond to Act of Gun Violence at East High School
DENVER — The Denver Classroom Teachers Association and the Colorado Education Association are devastated to announce another incidence of gun violence at one of our schools, East High School, this morning.
The two administrators who were shot by a juvenile student are currently in the hospital, and we hope that they will both make a full recovery. The DCTA is working in full coordination with the district to ensure, as best as we are able, the safety of our students, educators, staff members, and the community at large.
“Today’s act of gun violence marks the second school shooting at East High School just this year. It is unacceptable that our students and educators are forced to work in environments where we fundamentally cannot ensure their safety from gun violence,” said Rob Gould, special education teacher and president of the DCTA.
“Our thoughts and prayers are not enough. They do not capture the agony and anger we feel. And they do nothing to prevent this violence from being inflicted someplace else in America—tomorrow, next week, or a couple of months from now. Our students, families and colleagues deserve action so they can live and learn in safe schools and communities,” said NEA president Becky Pringle.
Amie Baca-Oehlert, high school counselor and president of the Colorado Education Association added, “This is not just an East High problem, this is not just a Denver problem. This is a Colorado problem and a national problem. But certain legislators refuse to listen to our students, our educators, and our communities and instead listen to powerful and well-funded gun lobby groups. Together, they insist on fighting against common sense gun legislation – like expanding extreme risk protection orders, and raising the age for purchasing a firearm. They are standing in the way of creating meaningful change and keeping our students safe.”
Though our nation’s surge in gun violence is a complex and multifaceted problem, it is not an unsolvable problem. Some answers put forth by educators include funding for co-responders, mental health professionals, and SROs (where requested by staff and students); as well as state and federal legislation to keep guns out of the hands of minors.
“There isn’t just one solution to this complicated problem. While there is common sense gun reform legislation that needs to pass, we also need to focus on each school’s particular needs, and to make sure the entire community is involved when crafting solutions,” said Gould.
The students of East High School and their peers see this clearly. Earlier this month, they marched from their school steps to the South Steps of the Colorado Capitol to make their voices heard. A fellow student had just been shot and killed on school grounds and later died from his injuries. They were upset, traumatized, and furious that the adults in leadership positions have not done enough to keep them safe.
“As educators we fear the possibility of violence every day. Why do our students feel so unsafe outside of the classroom that they feel like they need to be carrying a gun?” said Gould. “Our leaders need to ask these same questions, and to listen to the educators and students who deal with this every day. This status quo is as unacceptable as it is preventable. If all of our elected leaders would truly lead and implement the legislation we need to keep us all safe, teachers could focus on teaching and students could focus on learning, free of the fear and trauma that’s become synonymous with our schools.”
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The DCTA and the CEA are in support of the following gun violence prevention legislation being considered at the Colorado State Legislature:
- HB 23-1219: Waiting Period to Deliver a Firearm
- HB 23-1230: Prohibit Assault Weapons in Colorado
- SB 23-168: Gun Violence Victims’ access to the Judicial System
- SB 23-169: Increasing Minimum Age to Purchase Firearms
- SB 23-170: Extreme Risk Protection Order Petitions
For more resources:
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
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
