Colorado Teachers Are Actually Happy In Their Jobs, Says State Survey

Despite a spring of strong discontent over how the state treats them, Colorado teachers are actually quite content in their own buildings. Or so says the anonymous Teaching and Learning Conditions in Colorado – or TLCC — survey taken this spring. More than 35,000 educators filled out the TLCC, more than half of the 68,000 educators in the state. In all, 89 percent of Colorado educators believe their school is a good place to work and a beneficial place for students to learn, according to the TLCC. The survey was taken by about 57 percent of elementary and middle school teachers and by 53 percent of high school teachers. State officials hope to use the results to improve teaching in Colorado. “We appreciate everyone who took the time to complete the survey, which gives us valuable information that we can dig into to help us better support teachers and improve education for all students, Colorado’s education commissioner Katy Anthes said. Most of the teachers responding to the survey said they felt satisfied with instructional practices and support, as well as community support and involvement. But only 57.9 percent of teachers believed they have adequate time to prepare for instruction. Also scoring low on the TLCC survey were opportunities for professional development and new teacher training. The Colorado Education Association, which represents about 35,000 educators in the state, declined to comment on the survey. Thousands of angry teachers walked out of their classrooms and marched to the state Capitol in April to show their frustration with the lack of adequate funding for schools and a statewide teacher shortage. Lawmakers were able to produce legislation that set a little more than $7 billion in base spending for K-12 education in 2018-19, a 6.95 percent increase from the current school year, with the state portion going up for considerably more than the local share. The bill adds  $150 million more for education — in addition to mandated budget increases — and average per-pupil spending for 2018-19 will be around $8,137, a $475 increase from this year. Colorado lawmakers also set aside $10 million and passed nine bills to address teacher shortages in Colorado, especially in rural areas. Related Articles Denver police drew guns on a high school staff member during a search for a student, the principal says.