As it stands today, Colorado�s education system seems to be crying out for
an urgent intervention. The Colorado Education Association which is the
largest teacher�s union in the state released its annual State of
Education report in January and concluded the state�s education system is
in a state of crisis. The report included survey results from 1,600 of the
association�s 39,000 educators and school staff. This crisis is said to be
leaving many teachers feeling overworked, underpaid, not respected and
worried that large, systemic issues connected to under funding are hurting
their students.

The CEA claims it is starting to see a large number of educators who are
considering leaving the profession because of low remuneration, staffing
shortages, workload and safety issues � all problems exacerbated by the
COVID-19 pandemic.

The survey found 85 percent of educators say the classroom teacher
shortage in their school is worse this year than in previous years. Sixty
percent say they�re considering leaving the profession in the near future,
two-thirds are worried about a mass shooting at their school and just a
third feel respected by state lawmakers. Though the challenges can feel
overwhelming, many educators expressed hope that there are solutions, some
of them legislative.

President of the Colorado Education Association, Amie Baca-Oehlert in an
interview with the press admitted that the present situation is in dire
straits and needs to change. �That is a major red flag when we have
nearly two-thirds of our educators saying that they are considering
leaving the profession. We must demand that our schools have the resources
to meet every child�s needs with well-trained and supported educators, for
a sustainable, equitable, and thriving education system.�

Despite the fact that average per pupil spending is at its highest level
of $7,748, Colorado still spends well below the national average. Schools
have lost about $10 billion in funding over the past 13 years as a result
of a mechanism state lawmakers use to balance the state budget by cutting
school funding. That has had �detrimental downstream effects� on every
aspect of the school structure; low pay, shortage of educators, student
outcomes, and more, according to the report.

Overwhelming workloads, fueled by a staffing shortage, is one of the main
reasons teachers are quitting. Low pay is the second most-cited reason,
with many teachers in the state having to work two to three jobs to make
ends meet.

The report said Colorado educators make about 36 percent less compared to
other professionals with the same amount of education, citing research by
the Economic Policy Institute. Colorado educators make on average $60,000
a year.

It�s quite baffling that a state like Colorado which has one of the
strongest economies in the country has one of the lowest starting salaries
for educators in the country. According to the Economic Policy Institute,
Colorado teachers earn on average about $60,000 annually. That�s about 40
percent, or $21,000, less than other college-educated professionals in the
state.

Majority of the state�s teachers also feel a lack of respect from
lawmakers and also from a small but loud group of parents who are ramping
up politically motivated attacks by attacking schools and critiquing what
and how educators teach. One in five teachers say they are considering
leaving the profession due to politically motivated attacks on their
curriculum or themselves.

Just a third of educators feel valued by state elected officials.
Educators say they want their voices at the center of future education
legislation. They say too often laws and standards are enacted without any
input from seasoned educators as to how �innovations� might hinder or harm
students.

�It is deeply demoralizing. I work in a relatively well-resourced
neighborhood public school. However, post-pandemic there�s a big push to
try unproven, experimental methods of assessment, accountability, and
curricula. I feel like I�m being admin-ed to death,� said an educator who
didn�t want their name in print.

Two-thirds of educators are �very� or �somewhat worried� about a mass
shooting at their school. About 70 percent said that if educators were
allowed to carry firearms, they would feel less safe.

The report highlighted three factors that have a negative impact on
teachers� and students� well-being: a lack of mental health support, a
dearth of LGBTQ acceptance and inclusion and easy access to firearms.

Juvenile firearm abuse was not a problem until social media showed up.

https://www.afrikdigest.com/colorados-failing-educational-system-crisis-
on-the-horizon/