Colorado lawmakers and educators from around the Western Slope are taking a stand for public education this week — with some districts canceling classes for Thursday’s statewide day of action in Denver.

Colorado Education Association’s “No More Cuts” day on March 20 invites educators, students, families and community partners to the Capitol to rally for public education funding, which is currently facing cuts as legislators try to plug a $1.2 billion budget hole.

“Colorado chronically underfunds its public schools by $4,000 to $4,500 per student per year compared to the national average. Now, facing a budget shortfall of more than a billion dollars, we must prevent state legislators from cutting public education funding to balance their budget,” the Colorado Education Association states in its invitation to educators. “Let’s be clear: A cut is a cut, and students pay the price.”

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Gov. Jared Polis’ proposed cuts for public education funding — which come one year after Colorado eliminated its budget stabilization factor and promised to fully fund public schools for the first time in 14 years to keep pace with inflation — are just one of many propositions to the Joint Budget Committee and Colorado legislators to balance the state’s estimated $1.2 billion budget deficit. However, two studies commissioned by the Colorado legislature in 2023 indicated Colorado needs to spend around $4 billion more per year to adequately fund its public schools.

The budget, if passed without amendments, would increase school funding per student in 2025-26. It would also exchange Colorado schools’ four-year enrollment average model for funding to current-year enrollment estimates, which is already the practice for 40 other states. 

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The legislature is weighing a nearly $150 million cut to education funding from the elimination of student count averaging because of the consistent decline in Colorado public school enrollment in the last three years.

School districts on the Western Slope have conveyed their disappointment in the proposal, as many rural districts already struggle with understaffing, offering competitive salaries and supporting educational programs.

“This has been a battle for years, and our rural districts fought for the past six years pretty heavily to end the budget stabilization factor. And only months ago did Polis promise to do so,” said Jessica Grafmiller, a teacher in Breckenridge and vice president of the Summit County Education Association. “So really what we’re hoping for and striving for is that they keep their promise to follow the School Finance Act … and to fully fund education.”

Colorado ranks 46th in the nation for starting teacher salaries at $39,044, according to data from the National Education Association. This is significantly below Colorado’s minimum living wage of $65,605. Roughly 48% of educators report not being able to afford to live near their work.

In response to criticism from education leaders, House Speaker Julie McCluskie has been working with Polis to draft a separate education funding proposal, which she says would cut $50 million instead of $150 million from school funding by allowing for a more gradual transition to single-year enrollment averaging. 

Without an assured solution, however, districts have turned to rallying support for public schools on the steps of the Capitol.

Educators from districts across the Western Slope — including Summit, Eagle and the Roaring Fork School District — said they plan to participate in the rally, sending anywhere from 15 to 250 representatives.

Grafmiller said she approached her local teacher’s union and district superintendent requesting to participate in the rally with other teachers. Within 22 hours, roughly 250 educators and Summit School District staff had requested annual leave for March 20 — many of whom are bringing their children.

“That’s 80% of our certified staff,” Grafmiller said. “We are a smaller district so it sounds like a big number, but when I say 80% it feels like an even bigger number.”

The district promptly announced it would be canceling class for the statewide day of action and partnered with community organizations to provide child care for students. Districts in other parts of the state like Boulder Valley School District and Adams 12 Five Star Schools have also canceled school on Thursday.

“The board and the district have been rather supportive of this day because it really is affecting funding at our district level,” Grafmiller said. “We’re hopeful that this could be a domino effect and others will want to participate more.”

The Roaring Fork School District, encompassing schools in Glenwood Springs, Carbondale and Basalt, will be providing a bus for the roughly 15-20 teachers who have requested paid time off to attend the rally, according to district communications specialist Cristina Vargas. Roughly one week before the event, the Roaring Fork School Board passed a resolution in support of the Colorado Education Association’s efforts.

“The Roaring Fork Community Education Association is mobilizing teachers, staff, parents, and community members to take a stand against devastating budget cuts to public education potentially coming from the Colorado legislature,” Union President Nina Asher said in a prepared statement. “It is important that our community come together to voice to our State Representatives that ANY cuts to public education will have long lasting negative effects.”

The Eagle County Education Association will also have several union representatives in Denver, though instruction will continue as usual. Katherine Leibig, co-president of the association, said she plans to attend the event alongside other educators in the Eagle County School District.

“Our schools are already in crisis, facing a national teacher shortage, and Colorado is falling behind in providing the necessary resources for our kids. As one of the wealthiest states, we should not be struggling to properly fund our education system,” Leibig said in an email.

“Colorado needs to put our kids first and fully fund our schools. Strong schools create strong communities, and it’s time for our legislators to recognize that investment in education is an investment in our future,” Leibig said.

‘This is not a political statement. This is education’

The governor’s budget proposal is not set in stone. The Joint Budget Committee is in charge of writing the final spending plan, which will then be voted on by the rest of the legislature.

Colorado State Board of Education Member Sherri Wright, R-Cortez, said she has spoken to several state legislators about finding other areas for budget cuts, as districts in Colorado have already had to “cut off a lot of grants and (resources) to make ends meet.”

“I hope it wakes up our legislation,” Wright said. “This is not a political statement. This is education.”

Board Member Kathy Gebhardt, D-Boulder, said she knows of a few former board members who will be making an appearance at the rally. She said she hopes to attend herself if her schedule allows.

“K-12 has borne the brunt of a lot of the budget cuts over the last 10 years, and I’m hoping that people remember that when they look at the budget this year,” Gebhardt said.

The Colorado Education Association is asking participants to wear red shirts on Thursday in support of the message.