Sep 29, 2021 | Press
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 29, 2021
New Poll Shows Colorado Parents and Voters Value Health, Truth
Likely voters trust educators, embrace candidates supporting common sense issues
DENVER – Today, the Colorado Education Association released new polling data showing clear majorities of Colorado voters and school parents trust educators and would elect candidates to local school boards who support safe learning environments for students with masks and vaccinations and believe students deserve an honest, age-appropriate account of history in schools.
“School board races are important because they determine whether public schools are going to be places that protect the health and learning of all students – rich, poor, Black, brown, white and more – or they become toxic political battlegrounds,” said Amie Baca-Oehlert, high school counselor and president of the Colorado Education Association.“New polling shows that Colorado voters support common sense policies like vaccination and masks and fact-based curriculum in public schools to keep students healthy and learning.”
The poll shows that among likely 2021 Colorado voters:
- Almost 3 in 5 are more likely to vote for a pro-mask school board candidate
- Almost 60% are more likely to vote for a candidate supporting vaccine requirements in schools
- Almost 9 in 10 are more likely to vote for a candidate who“supports students learning the complete and honest history of our country – including the good and the bad parts.”
- Almost 70%, are more likely to vote for a candidate who“thinks students should learn the facts about slavery in America and the ongoing effects of racial discrimination in our society.”
“As any teacher or parent knows, school is a place where children develop their understanding of the world and their ability to make meaningful change in it,” said Baca-Oehlert.“When I was in school, I was never given a full picture about our country’s history, like western Colorado was part of Mexico or Japanese Americans were jailed in Colorado’s Amache internment camp. Today’s students deserve a full and honest presentation of history so we can right past wrongs and it’s encouraging to know that voters favor electing school board candidates who support healthy, safe and honest learning.”
Links to:
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 7, 2020 | Press
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 7, 2020
DENVER – During National Teacher Appreciation Week (May 4-8), Colorado educators are pleased to know that parents overwhelmingly approve of the job they are doing to transition from in-person instruction to distance learning and meet student needs during the coronavirus outbreak.
A National Education Association survey released April 30 found 88 percent of parents approve of how their children’s teachers are handling the coronavirus pandemic. They also overwhelmingly (81 percent) approve of school support staff, such as bus drivers and cafeteria workers. Educators received more support than parents showed for their governor (71 percent) and their mayor or local government (73 percent).
“These poll results are so encouraging. Educators in Colorado have admirably embraced a whole new way of teaching to deliver a quality distance learning experience to students and families in an incredibly short span of time. It’s wonderful to see our efforts haven’t gone unnoticed,” said Amie Baca-Oehlert, a high school counselor and president of the Colorado Education Association.
“Colorado legislators in particular need to see the deep appreciation parents have for educators at this moment and do everything in their power to keep budget cuts far away from the classroom,” Baca-Oehlert added.
When asked to rank the issues their children were experiencing during distance learning, many parents responded that their students missed seeing their teachers in person (45 percent), trailing only behind students who missed being with their classmates (55 percent). The parents and guardians polled also said they believe educators are working hard to communicate with them, to connect with students who don’t have internet access and to give students one-on-one assistance.
Click here for a survey summary from GBAO Strategies, which conducted the national survey from April 3-7 of 800 parents and guardians of school-aged children who attend a public school.
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Apr 2, 2020 | Press
CEA poll finds educator priorities include student needs beyond learning during COVID-19 pandemic
DENVER – Colorado educators demonstrated their commitment to support the physical and mental health needs of their students during the coronavirus crisis in a survey of more than 2,400 members conducted by the Colorado Education Association, March 19-23.
While educators agreed that continuing quality student learning during school closures is their top priority, they also want to take action to halt the evictions of families from their homes and to expand access to free, healthy food at food banks during the pandemic.
“We surveyed our members to understand the challenges educators are facing during this unprecedented disruption and to see what actions they are willing to take with their union to ensure the health and safety of their communities, students and themselves,” said CEA President Amie Baca-Oehlert, a high school counselor.“The high response rate tells us our members are clearly ready to lead in their communities to support students and their families under these most difficult circumstances.”
When licensed educators and education support professionals were asked about concerns that most weighed on their minds during school closures, they identified:
- Working through the challenges of distance learning with students;
- Ability of their students’ families to pay rent and afford essentials;
- Mental health supports for students;
- Students who lack access to nutritious meals at school.
“Education is important and I want the kids to still have some normalcy. I worry more about how their families are doing financially and health-wise,” remarked one licensed educator from the Adams 12 district in the survey comments.
“I worry that varying levels of access to technology will create a new kind of segregation for students,” responded an education support professional in Jefferson County.
CEA leaders and staff across the state will analyze the survey results and create opportunities to get members involved in advocating for the student-centered issues that ranked highest in the poll.
“We are a member-driven, member-led association of 39,000 members who will advocate for the issues that matter most to students, families and educators. With a proud collective voice, CEA members are ready to make bold demands and take action with their union for the schools all Colorado students deserve, even in this new reality,” Baca-Oehlert added.
Media may request a summary of the poll findings from Mike Wetzel, CEA public relations director, at mwetzel@coloradoea.org.
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