Aug 12, 2021 | Press
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 12, 2021
Statement from the Colorado Education Association (CEA) on 2021 Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS) results
DENVER, CO – The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) released 2021 CMAS data today showing an overall decrease in both raw scores and participation. This statement can be attributed to Amie Baca-Oehlert, high school counselor and president of the Colorado Education Association:
“The results of this year’s CMAS data are not surprising considering the number of variables that students and educators have had to deal with since March 2020 while educating students in the midst of a global pandemic. We urge extreme caution in interpreting or drawing conclusions with this data as it does not tell a complete story of how students, educators or schools performed over the last year. We will need to look at a multitude of information and data points to get a full understanding of the 2020-2021 school year. We continue to applaud the tremendous efforts of students and educators who overcame extreme challenges in teaching and learning this past school year.
“We also believe that this is a wake up call and a continued plea for all public education stakeholders to come together to discuss and find solutions to underlying issues like the chronic underfunding of public education, the lack of mental health and social-emotional supports, and crumbling infrastructure and outdated materials.
“We need to prioritize our students and support our public schools’ ability to meet their needs, especially those who are the most vulnerable. Others often interpret lower scores in some schools as evidence that those schools are not doing a good job, but the fact of the matter is, schools are educating student populations that have greater educational challenges with access to minimal resources and supports. Federal stimulus funds can be used to address some of these issues and educators, those who actually work with students on a daily basis, should be at the forefront of these conversations. And while these dollars will help, they do not solve the long-term funding gaps we see on an annual basis. We look forward to the results of the upcoming accountability audit and using that data to spark conversations with other public education stakeholders on the way forward.”
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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Jul 21, 2021 | Press
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 21, 2021
CEA Statement on Updated Colorado COVID-19 School Guidance
DENVER, CO – On Tuesday, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) released updated COVID-19 guidelines for schools for the 2021-22 school year. The following statement can be attributed to Amie Baca-Oehlert, high school counselor and president of the Colorado Education Association:
“It is our steadfast belief that the best way to educate students is through in-person instruction and our number one priority from day one of the pandemic has been to ensure that effective safety mitigation strategies are in place for students and educators to ensure safe and healthy working and learning conditions. While the CDPHE guidance recommends protocols to that end, it is now up to local county leaders to put those protocols and measures into place to help keep students, families, and education staff safe.
“It is our hope and expectation that when local county or school district leaders are crafting these mitigation protocols, they will seek the counsel of educators; the professionals who are with students all day, every day. Educators are on the front lines of this and their expertise is critical to any planning that will take place for the 2021-22 school year. We will continue to call on elected officials to provide every Colorado student and educator, no matter what zip code they live in, a safe and welcoming place to learn and work.”
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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Jun 22, 2021 | Press
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 21, 2021
Teachers Win Right to Switch Jobs Without Losing Protections
Colorado Supreme Court sides with teachers against school districts
DENVER – Today, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that school districts may not compel qualified teachers to waive portability of their non-probationary status as a condition of applying for a job with a new district.
“The court recognized that teachers with a proven track record of student achievement should be able to retain their non-probationary status when they’re hired in a new district,” said Amie Baca-Oehlert, a high school counselor and president of the Colorado Education Association.“It’s gratifying to receive the respect we’ve earned as the people who work hard every day to provide exceptional teaching and learning for all students in every neighborhood.”
The case – Poudre School District R-1 and Board of Education of Poudre School District R-1 v. Patricia Stanczyk and Poudre Education Association, 2021 Co 57 – concerned Poudre School District requiring applicants for teaching positions to waive their right to portability as a condition of submitting a job application. The Supreme Court held that this mandatory waiver violated the statutory requirement that school districts“shall” grant portability to qualified teachers who apply for it.
Colorado law, ¬ß 22-63-203.5, C.R.S., provides that teachers who have obtained non-probationary status, and who have two consecutive years of effective evaluation ratings, may“port” that status when they are hired by a different school district. To do so, they must provide the hiring district evidence of their student academic growth data and performance evaluations. In this event, the law provides, the hiring district“shall” grant them non-probationary status.
“While we are grateful for the Court’s ruling, it’s important for teachers to know that they must apply for portability because it isn’t automatic,” said Baca-Oehlert. “Local leaders are available to help CEA members with portability applications in their districts.”
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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Jun 9, 2021 | Press
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 9, 2021
Public education becomes a priority again in the 2021 Legislative Session
Educator-led advocacy and victories under the dome
DENVER – With the 2021 Legislative Session coming to a close, the 39,000 members of the Colorado Education Association played a key role in advancing consequential legislation this session. From the passage of House Bill (HB) 21-1161, Suspend Statewide Assessments for Select Grades to Senate Bill (SB) 21-172, the Educator Pay Raise Fund to HB21-1294, K-12 Education Accountability Systems Performance Audit, CEA’s priorities this session were grounded in improving the lives of students and educators.
“This year, the 39,000 members of the Colorado Education Association really stepped up and fought for public education like we’ve never fought before,” said Amie Baca-Oehlert, high school counselor and president of the Colorado Education Association.“Our advocacy elevated educator voice, which reverberated throughout the halls of the state Capitol and the Governor’s office, pushing legislators and the Governor to make policy and fiscal decisions that truly benefit students and educators and public education is in better shape now than it was on Jan. 12 because of it.”
Among other key victories by educators this session were HB21-1087, Teaching and Learning Conditions Survey, which allows Education Support Professionals, who provide direct instruction and support to licensed educators, to participate in the Teaching and Learning Conditions in Colorado (TLCC) Survey. Another significant bill is SB21-185, Supporting Educator Workforce in Colorado, which requires the Colorado Department of Education to direct resources to publicize existing teacher preparation programs and funding for mental health support for educators via the existing Educator Mental Health Hotline, as well as funding for additional supports and interventions for educator mental health for the 2021-22 fiscal year.
Additionally, CEA helped secure victories with HB21-1129, Extend Deadline for Training to Teach Reading, which extends the deadline for kindergarten through third-grade teachers completing evidence-based training in teaching reading to the 2022-23 school year. HB21-1164, Total Program Mill Levy Tax Credit, which allows school districts to increase their local share to 27 mills or fully funded, at one mill a year, without voter approval. This will free up $90 million in funding for the 2021-2022 fiscal year, per the bill’s fiscal note. Finally, CEA helped secure a buy-down of the Budget Stabilization Factor from $1.8 billion to $572 million in SB21-268, Public School Finance.
“Public education funding is always a priority for the members of Colorado Education Association,” said Baca-Oehlert.“The buy down of the Budget Stabilization Factor is significant and this is a step in the right direction but half a billion dollars owed to Colorado students and educators is completely unacceptable especially considering the cumulative underfunding over the last decade of Colorado’s public schools is over nine billion dollars. CEA members, students and parents will continue to fight for the exceptional public schools our students, families, and educators deserve.”
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, 2021 | Press
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 3, 2021
Colorado Education Association (CEA) Celebrates National Teacher Appreciation Week
CEA will celebrate the contributions of teachers May 2 – 8
DENVER – This week, the Colorado Education Association celebrates National Teacher Appreciation Week on May 2-8, including National Teacher Appreciation Day on May 4. This Teacher Appreciation Week is especially important due to the difficulties of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic since Mar. 2020.
“What our educators have done this year has been nothing short of remarkable,” said Amie Baca-Oehlert, high school counselor and president of the Colorado Education Association.“They are used to the challenges of a typical school year but when faced with challenges that were far from typical this year, they worked with families and found creative ways to adapt, innovate and persevere to ensure our students continue to learn, grow and thrive.”
“I am honored and humbled for the privilege of being able to represent educators across the state. We strive everyday to ensure our members have the tools and resources necessary to bring an exceptional learning experience to every student in Colorado. We will keep working to ensure every educator can return safely to in-person learning, using our collective voice to make sure their voice is heard, and pushing for the training and tools needed to support our students, no matter the zip code they live in.”
Former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt successfully advocated the 81st United States Congress to proclaim the first National Teacher Appreciation Day in 1953 and since the 1980s, the National Education and the National Parent Teacher Association helped make it a week-long celebration.
To learn more about all NEA is doing to help celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, visit nea.org/thankateacher.
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 20, 2021 | Press
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 20, 2021
CEA Statement on Guilty Verdicts in George Floyd Murder
Derek Chauvin found guilty of all charges in the murder of George Floyd
DENVER, CO – Today, a jury in Minneapolis found ex-Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin guilty of all charges in the murder of George Floyd.
The following statement can be attributed to Amie Baca-Oehlert, high school counselor and president of the Colorado Education Association:
“While we feel some sense of relief that Derek Chauvin is being held accountable for the murder of George Floyd, we know that the systemically racist system under which we live still denies justice for far too many Black and Brown men, women, and children who have been killed or had their lives forever harmed by police brutality. Until we see the end of unnecessary police violence against Black and Brown lives, and live in a system where Black lives truly matter, we must take action to fundamentally change our society so that equal justice under the law is truly equal justice under the law and doesn’t just apply to just one skin tone.
“The accountability of one police officer does not equal the accountability to an entire system. It took one brave person with a camera and millions of brave people marching in the streets to hold Derek Chauvin accountable. We must now collectively speak up for all of us, no matter our skin color, or the zip code in which we live, or the amount of money in our pockets. We must speak up and take on the structural, institutional racism and inequities that have been built into the fabric of our country. We will work with our local associations and allies for however long it takes to ensure this happens.”
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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