Colorado Educators Protest Amidst Budgetary Concerns

Colorado educators have been actively protesting proposed changes to school funding, citing concerns over potential cuts and the long-term impact on students. Rallies and demonstrations have taken place across the state, reflecting widespread discontent among teachers, students, and community members. These protests are a response to state lawmakers grappling with a significant budget shortfall and seeking ways to balance the budget while ensuring adequate funding for education.

The Genesis of the Protests: A Budget Shortfall and Broken Promises

The state of Colorado is currently facing a $1.2 billion budget shortfall, which has led to discussions about potential cuts to various sectors, including education. Last year, state lawmakers adopted a new school funding formula that promised an additional $500 million investment in K-12 schools over the next six years. However, due to the budget constraints, lawmakers are now considering investing less than originally promised, leading to the current wave of protests.

For almost 15 years, prior to the recent elimination of the budget stabilization factor, lawmakers had diverted constitutionally mandated funding away from schools to address other priorities. Educators argue that these past decisions have already resulted in larger class sizes, reduced student support, and increased strain on teachers. They fear that further cuts will exacerbate these problems and negatively impact the quality of education for students across the state.

The Voices of Educators: Concerns and Demands

Educators from across Colorado have voiced their concerns about the proposed budget changes and their potential impact on schools and students. Jennifer Pitts, a fifth-grade teacher at Thornton Elementary, expressed her reluctance to be away from her students but emphasized the importance of advocating for their needs. She stated, "I really would rather be teaching. But it’s so important to be here for the kids. That’s the only reason why any of us go into this job.”

Jamie Nied, a kindergarten teacher, highlighted the financial burden placed on teachers, who often spend their own money to support students by buying them snacks, clothing, books, and pencils. She questioned the logic of continuing to cut education funding when teachers are already underpaid and underfunded.

Jason Herrman, a German teacher at Horizon High School, expressed frustration that lawmakers would renege on a deal made last year, stating, "It’s just very frustrating when there’s continual cuts and cuts and cuts." Colorado Education Association President Kevin Vick emphasized that the state’s budget decisions are causing teachers to leave the profession. He called on lawmakers to find a long-term funding solution for schools that avoids a cycle of continuous cuts.

Proposed Solutions and Debates: Averaging vs. Single-Year Count

Gov. Jared Polis has proposed increasing K-12 funding by $138 million next year. However, his proposal also includes changing the way the state distributes per-pupil funding. Instead of using a four-year enrollment average, Polis wants to eliminate averaging altogether and rely on a one-year count of students. He argues that this approach would ensure that the state is not paying for students who are no longer enrolled and that the saved money could be used to fund investments in the new school funding formula.

However, some school officials argue that this change would significantly reduce funding for districts with declining enrollment, potentially leading to teacher layoffs or school closures. Democratic Colorado Speaker of the House Julie McCluskie has proposed an alternative approach that would maintain the four-year average for the next year but gradually phase out averaging over several years. Her proposal would also slow down the implementation of the new school funding formula, reducing the amount of required investment next year.

Polis has expressed openness to phasing out student averaging over time but maintains that districts will eventually lose money due to declining enrollment. He believes that funding students who are currently enrolled is the more morally sound approach.

Rallies and Demonstrations: A Statewide Day of Action

The Colorado Education Association organized a statewide day of action, which involved rallies and demonstrations across the state. In Denver, a large crowd gathered in front of the Capitol, chanting slogans such as "Fight, fight, fight, education is a right!" and "Fund our schools." Many participants wore red to show their support for public education.

Multiple school districts, including Boulder, Summit County, Adams 12, and Aurora, canceled classes due to the high number of teachers attending the rally. Denver Public Schools also experienced partial closures. Mary Dolan, a special education teacher at Denver Public Schools, expressed her embarrassment that Colorado is one of the lowest-ranked states in the country for funding education.

Aimee Baker, an East High School photography teacher, voiced concern that Polis is planning to cut funding even further, despite the fact that Colorado students already receive less funding than the national average. Ashley Soldano, a Spanish teacher at Weld Central High School, expressed frustration that educators have to continually fight for adequate funding for their students.

The Impact on Students and Schools: Stories from the Front Lines

Teachers have shared stories about how budget cuts would affect their students and schools. Jill Massa, a special educator in Pueblo, described the challenges of supporting high-needs students with limited resources. She emphasized the need for one-on-one support for students with cerebral palsy, severe seizures, and severe autism, but noted that she only has two classroom aides to assist her with ten students.

Rochelle Weigold expressed concern about a potential $5 million hit to her Boulder Valley school district if the switch to a single-count funding method occurs in one year. She noted that general education classrooms could have up to 36 students, many of whom have special needs or require intervention, and that funding cuts would exacerbate these challenges.

Zander Kaschub, a JeffCo cafeteria employee, expressed concern about the impact of funding cuts on Colorado’s new free meal program. He has witnessed firsthand the relief that warm meals provide to students who may not have access to food at home.

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A Conservative Counterpoint

In Colorado Springs, a counterprotest organized by the conservative Teacher Freedom Alliance took place. Ryan Walters, CEO of the alliance, argued that unions are using children as pawns to achieve their goals of gaining more power and money. He believes that the board was bound to rigid rules under the master agreement that inhibited the district from moving quickly on decisions around hiring teachers or offering signing bonuses.

Community Support

Despite the differing opinions, many students and parents showed their support for the teachers. Students skipped classes to join the picket line, with one student, Ian, stating, "This is something that will be a lot longer lasting than any math or Spanish class ever could be."

Smaller Rallies and Community Involvement

While the main rally took place in Denver, smaller rallies also occurred in other communities. In Carbondale, a group of teachers waved signs outside schools as parents dropped off their children, urging Polis not to make budget cuts to schools. Lisa Dameron, an instructional coach at Carbondale Middle School, noted that teachers are stressed and want to focus on educating students but that doing so becomes more difficult with fewer resources.

The Federal Context

The rally coincided with President Donald Trump signing an executive order to close the federal Department of Education, a move that Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association, warned could threaten low-income and special education students who rely on federal money and protections.

Concerns About Disruptions

Some, including Gov. Polis, expressed concern about the disruptions caused by the rally, particularly for families who had to find childcare. Brenda Dickhoner, president of the education reform group Ready Colorado, argued that every missed day of school exacerbates post-pandemic learning loss. However, some parents, like Jennifer Reulille, brought their children to the rally as a civics lesson, emphasizing the importance of supporting teachers and schools.

Current Negotiations and Potential Solutions

Polis, lawmakers, and education groups are currently negotiating potential solutions to the budget challenges. House Speaker Julie McCluskie has proposed an alternative plan that would gradually move to a single-year count and implement a smaller portion of the new funding formula. Some lawmakers believe that the state should pause the new school funding formula until a new funding source can be found. Education advocates are considering placing a measure on the 2026 ballot to secure a long-term sustainable funding source for schools.

Lingering Questions & Concerns

Despite expansions in education like Universal Pre-K and full-day kindergarten in recent years as successes, districts have complained about having to pick up much of the cost. Colorado remains about $4 billion short in education funding, with a low per-pupil funding rate that trails most other states.

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