On March 20, educators from across Colorado will rally at the State Capitol in Denver to protest proposed cuts to education funding. The Colorado Education Association (CEA) is organizing the event, and approximately 2,000 teachers are expected to participate.
The rally has prompted several school districts to announce closures due to anticipated staff shortages. Denver Public Schools (DPS), the state’s largest district, announced that more than half of its schools will be closed on Thursday. In a letter to families, Superintendent Alex Marrero listed the schools that will remain open, including 29 district-run schools, 55 charter schools, and the school inside Gilliam Youth Services Center.
Similarly, the Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) and Adams 12 Five Star Schools have announced closures for the day. BVSD, which serves 27,000 students, reported that more than 600 staff members plan to participate in the rally, while Adams 12, serving 34,000 students, also cited a significant number of teacher absences.
The CEA organized this day of action in response to proposed budget cuts that could further reduce funding for public schools. According to CPR News, Colorado's public schools are already underfunded by $4 billion annually, and additional cuts would exacerbate challenges such as larger class sizes, reduced programs, and inadequate resources.
CEA President Kevin Vick emphasized the urgency of the situation in an interview with Chalkbeat, stating that educators have “done our time” working with insufficient funding and can no longer absorb further losses without significant impacts on teachers and students.
The rally is expected to draw attention to the need for sustainable and adequate funding for Colorado’s public education system, urging lawmakers to prioritize investments in schools and address long-standing funding disparities.
