Survey Open Jan. 24 – Feb. 23, 2024

The TLCC is a statewide survey of school‐based, certified educators, education support professionals and administrators on their perceptions of the teaching and learning conditions in their schools. This survey provides a unique look into schools that can lead to more informed policies and practices, and is the only data source on school conditions that offers comparison points across the state.

TLCC is designed to amplify educators’ voices by giving schools, districts, and state policymakers reliable data on teaching and learning conditions. The findings support school improvement efforts, helping staff to identify what is working, as well as areas where improvements are needed. TLCC data also informs researchers and policymakers on the impact of school conditions on student growth and on staff retention.

Participation is voluntary and anonymous. Districts and schools that get at least 50% participation and at least five respondents will have access to their results. All Colorado schools will receive a log-in code to the online survey in mid-January to distribute to teachers and building leaders. Questions will be asked about instructional support, professional development, managing student conduct, use of time, leadership, facilities and resources, family and community support, and future plans. Demographic questions are limited to ensure that participant identity is anonymous. School and district data should be made available publicly by spring 2024.

The main purposes of the TLC Colorado Survey are to:

The survey is operated through a statewide collaborative that includes the Colorado Education Association, Colorado Education Initiative, Colorado Association of School Boards, Colorado Association of School  Executives, Colorado League of Charter Schools, Colorado Rural Schools Alliance, and representatives from school districts, universities and researchers. APA Consulting was the TLCC survey developer and worked closely with the partner organizations and districts. Panorama Education was selected to be the survey administrator.

The Issue: Why Elections Matter

Public education policy and politics are tightly connected. Every election is a great opportunity to elect pro-public education candidates who will collaborate with CEA and our local associations to improve learning conditions for students and working conditions of educators.

Elected officials, from school boards to the state legislature to the White House, make decisions that affect public education. Through both policy and law, elected officials make decisions on many important policies that affect our educators, including:

• School funding and related issues like class size.
• Academic standards, curriculum and assessment.
• Employee salaries, benefits and retirement.
• School services and safety measures.
• Employee evaluations and due process rights.

Elected officials make decisions that affect public education, oftentimes without the input of the experts in public education: us. That is why our union understands the link between public education policy and politics. We understand education issues, and work to protect and advance public education and educators’ issues in the political arena.

What We’re Doing To Support Elections

Organizing

We want every student to thrive – and that is why our members work to pass local mill levies and bonds to improve the schools in their community. It’s why our local unions interview and recommend political candidates who measure up on public school issues and show commitment for our values. And it’s why we are involved in ballot initiative and referenda campaigns supporting issues that help public education and defeating those that have the potential to harm our schools and students. Learn more about getting involved with bargaining and organizing at CEA.

Voter Registration

Are you registered to vote? Visit the GoVoteColorado website to register to vote or to manage your voter registration if your personal information changes.

The Issue: Gun Violence in Schools

We all know that gun violence in schools is a critical issue. 67% of educators are “very” or “somewhat worried” about a mass shooting at their school. It’s time we listen to educators who are at the center of this issue, and live with its complexities and repercussions every day. To that end, we asked Colorado educators if they would feel safer if educators at their school were allowed to carry a gun. The majority, 69%, said that not only would this not make them feel safe, it would have the effect of making them feel less safe. This sentiment was echoed across all of our survey participants, regardless of where they’re situated in Colorado.

Here is what educators believe would alleviate gun violence incidence within schools:

• 39% of educators believe we should provide increased funding and resources for mental health counseling in schools and communities.
• 23% of educators think we should change school discipline policies.
• 20% of educations think we should make buildings more secure by installing better locks, metal detectors and buzz-in systems.

What We’re Doing to Support Less Gun Violence in Schools

One of our legislative priorities include passing stronger gun safety regulations to keep our schools and communities safe. We support banning assault-style weapons, requiring a waiting period for all firearm sales, and raising the minimum age to purchase a gun to 21.

We also support banning all weapons from school property, facilities, vehicles and school activities regardless of where they are conducted, except when carried by law enforcement or trained School Resource Officers. Learn more about our goals to reduce gun violence in our legislative advocacy page.

The Issue: Mental Health in Education

Colorado’s schools are not equipped to be the sole provider of mental health support for students, though they often function as just that, particularly in our most under-resourced neighborhoods.

In the majority of our schools, current mental health support is inadequate: if schools have counselors, their caseloads are way too large. Given the educator shortage, school psychologists and counselors often pull double-duty and are asked to do testing or other activities with students.

Mental health supports are not just needed by students, but for education professionals as well.

What We’re Doing to Support Mental Health in Education

We call on elected officials to join us in fighting for mental health support for educators and students. One of our legislative priorities this year is to ensure that Governor Polis’ new Office of School Safety receives continued input from educators, and prioritizes student and educator mental health supports and resources.

Other priorities of advocacy for the 2023 legislative session include:

• Including suicide prevention, alertness, intervention and postvention programs in options for educator preparation programs, licensure and renewal as well as professional development for all employees.
• Offering training for educators and school staff in bullying prevention, school safety, cultural proficiency, positive behavioral supports and appropriate classroom management.
• Meeting the developmental needs of all students by increasing the presence of comprehensive elementary and secondary school counseling and other pupil services, including school psychologists, counselors and social workers and school-based student services.
• Creating evidence based programs and training, including around suicide and bullying prevention, school safety, cultural proficiency, positive behavioral supports and appropriate classroom management.

Learn more about our work towards ending gun violence on our legislative advocacy webpage.