Colorado Education Association

Colorado Professional Fire Fighters fight fire -- and opposition -- with money

Think firefighters want Senate Bill 25, which would allow collective bargaining, to go through the Colorado Legislature? According to the National Institute on Money in State Politics, the Colorado Professional Fire Fighters group was the single-biggest donor to current legislators in 2011-12, pouri ... More >>

Marijuana: Amendment 64 opponents turn to op-eds to make up for shortfall in ad money

The fight for and against Amendment 64, the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol act, is entering its final stages -- and Roger Sherman, campaign director for Smart Colorado, the No on 64 movement, admits that he can't compete with proponents when it comes to resources. So he's countering with events and ... More >>

Marijuana: Amendment 64's opponents want new ad pulled, backers respond

This week, the folks behind Amendment 64, the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act, have been ballyhooing a new ad featuring the endorsement of singer Melissa Etheridge. But act opponents are focused more on another commercial -- a spot highlighting revenues for school construction. They say the spot ... More >>

Scott Gessler v. Denver clerk Debra Johnson in latest lawsuit to target Secretary of State

After responding to some negative headlines surrounding a botched voter registration mailing, Secretary of State Scott Gessler is fielding more criticism this week -- this time from a lawsuit that first reached his office via reporters' inquiries. The suit comes from Denver Clerk and Recorder Debra ... More >>

Amendment 64 camp on law-enforcement support, teachers union opposition

At noon, proponents of Amendment 64, the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act, will hold a press event at which two law-enforcement organizations will join previous backers in expressing their support for the measure; get details below. A spokeswoman stresses that the get-together isn't a response to ... More >>

Scott Gessler registration drive errors cause confusion, more voter suppression claims

This is not quite how Scott Gessler's plan was supposed to go. When Colorado's Secretary of State announced an unprecedented voter registration initiative last month, he told reporters that the effort wasn't a direct response to criticisms of voter suppression, though he said it would hopefully di ... More >>

Marijuana: Colorado Education Association opposing Amendment 64

Update below: At an 11 a.m. press conference, representatives of the Colorado Education Association, the state's largest teachers union, will announce their opposition to Amendment 64, the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act. Backers of the measure portray it as pro-education, with proceeds from an ... More >>

THC driving bill back on the table for 2013 legislative session

For the third year in a row, the Colorado legislature will likely consider a THC driving bill . Late last week, Senator Steve King, a Mesa County Republican, announced that he would sponsor a proposal in the 2013 session to set a per-se limit for how much THC can be in a driver's system before he's ... More >>

Michael Hancock launches Denver Education Compact to help improve public schools

Michael Hancock.​ After spending the morning with W., Mayor Michael Hancock (who the former president said was classy), launched his Denver Education Compact, a committee of big brains set to tackle the city's school system, which graduated just 51.8 percent of students on time last year. Hanc ... More >>

Teachers arrested for sex crimes: Should schools have to notify parents? Teachers union says no

Courtney Bowles.​ Should a school notify parents when a teacher is arrested -- a teacher such as Courtney Bowles, who was busted for getting naked with a student; Alex Tinsley, who police say asked a student if she wanted to join the Mile High Club; or Travis Masse, who police say had a sextin ... More >>

Ken Buck: Opponents rally rape and incest survivors to decry his abortion policy

Ken Buck.​Abortion is seldom a major debating point in campaigns these days -- not because it's deemed an unimportant issue, but because most people already have made up their minds on the subject. It's an interesting twist, then, that the Campaign for a Strong Colorado, which opposes Republi ... More >>

Amendments 60 & 61, Proposition 101: Is $6 million not enough to defeat them?

Douglas Bruce​Opponents of three tax-slashing ballot initiatives say their polling shows that the measures might actually be approved by voters -- despite a multi-million-dollar ad blitz starting this weekend designed to crush them. Coloradans for Responsible Reform recently spent $250,000 on ... More >>

Colorado Education Association wants to help shape new "educator effectiveness" rules

​ On Monday morning, the Colorado Department of Education will launch its Educator Effectiveness Project. It's an undertaking made possible by $1 million in grants secured this summer.

Is DPS holding more teachers accountable? You do the math!

"Educator effectiveness" grants: Nonprofits to invest $1 million

Mark MangerMary Pishney.​ Colorado sure is serious about "educator effectiveness," which is school-reform-speak for firing teachers whose students aren't learning -- a strategy endorsed by President Obama and central to his federal Race to the Top grant competition. To that end, the Colorado ... More >>

Race to the Top: Colorado tries again

Will Colorado win round two of Race to the Top? a) Yes b) No c) Maybe so​ After not succeeding the first time, Colorado is try-trying again to win Race to the Top. The state submitted its application today for round two of the federal education-reform grant contest, in which it stands to win ... More >>

Teacher-tenure bill: Union rooting for amendments to help low-rated instructors

"Pay attention, lawmakers."​On the final day of the Colorado legislative session, the teacher's union behind much of the uproar about a controversial bill to expand regulation of the state's K-12 teachers is praying the Senate okays a package of House amendments aimed at lessening the blow to ... More >>

Tim Tebow: An argument for starting him in game one this season

It'd make Mrs. Tebow happy...​Many Denver blogs present quality items about Denver on a daily basis. Here are three examples. In a fan post on Mile High Report, Dale Swahn writes that, in his view, the Broncos should start Tim Tebow in game one, because he's ideal for the offensive approach C ... More >>

Teacher tenure bill: American Federation of Teachers' Colorado branch endorses it

Does Senator Johnston's teacher tenure bill deserve one of these?​The Colorado branch of the American Federation of Teachers today endorsed Senator Michael Johnston's controversial teacher tenure bill (learn more about it by clicking here), which heads to the House Education Committee at 1:30 ... More >>

Race to the Top: Union opts out of Phase 2 in beef with education commissioner Dwight Jones

Education commissioner Dwight Jones's op-ed got poor grades from the CEA.​Update, 1:30 p.m., April 15: This blog, originally published yesterday afternoon, has been updated to reflect the comments of Education Commissioner Dwight Jones. A union that represents 40,000 teachers in Colorado is a ... More >>

Laura Boggs, Jeffco school board member and star of "Boggs Watch" newsletter, allegedly goes rogue, declares school "stupid"

This week's "Boggs Watch" is brought to you by the letter "S."​In response to numerous reports of "disruptive behavior" by Jefferson County Board of Education member Laura Boggs, a teacher's union has commissioned a special edition e-mail newsletter, "Boggs Watch," to document her "rogue" tact ... More >>

Education cuts could be even more damaging than advertised

"Next year, kids, there could be twice as many of you."​At 4:30 p.m., Governor Bill Ritter has scheduled a news conference to talk about the rest of his budget proposal for the 2010-2011 fiscal year, following his Monday submission of digits relating to the Public Health and Environment, Agric ... More >>

Young Blood

Rising political powerhouse Jared Polis is rich, tireless and filled with contradictions.

Teacher's Pet Peeves

The state's new teacher incentive program has had unintended consequences.

Reading, Writing and Refrigerator Raids

Virtual schools are becoming a viable option for parents who prefer to keep their kids at home.

Making the Grades

Colorado's Board of Education is more powerful than you know -- and it would like to get even stronger.

The Hundred Days' War

How hard is it to find 90,000 citizens who want a tax cut? Ask Douglas Bruce.

No Labor Lost

Ellen Golombek plays rough with the Capitol bosses.

Making Book on Bill Owens

Questions about the religious right are this GOP candidate's cross to bear--or is that bare?

Spin Cycles

Laundered money, the shadow of big tobacco, and a blubbering court reporter: The wild trial over Colorado's Amendment 15.

Bitter Lesson

The teachers' union loses a costly battle to punish parents who complained about a school counselor.

Little Boy Lust

How a Denver teacher of the year victimized a Vietnamese immigrant family.

Short Temper

A lobbyist faces censure even from lawmakers who agree with him.

He Always Plays His Bills

For Senate Majority Leader Jeff Wells, the game's the thing.

WHO'S THE BOSS?

THE BATTLE LINES ARE FORMING IN THE BREWING POLITICAL SKIRMISH OVER PARENTS' RIGHTS.

BOOK 'EM

CLASS STRUGGLE

THE WINNERS AND LOSERS AFTER A YEAR OF THE CHARTER-SCHOOL LAW.