DENVER (KDVR) — The Denver Classroom Teachers Association announced Thursday that it has voted to ratify a new three-year collective bargaining agreement with Denver Public Schools.
The vote to ratify comes around two months after the DCTA reached a tentative agreement with DPS in June, following several months of negotiations.
The DCTA said more than 81% of its members voted in favor of the new collective bargaining agreement, which will be valid through 2028.
“As a democratic, member-led organization, every vote cast reflects our shared commitment to creating better working and learning conditions for Denver’s educators and students,” said Michelle Horwitz, bilingual speech-language pathologist and co-chair of the DCTA Bargaining Team, in a statement.
Highlights of the new collective bargaining agreement, according to the DCTA, include:
- A $1,000 annual cost-of-living increase each year of the agreement
- Salary advancements based on years of experience and “educational attainment”
- A $57,666 starting salary for first-year educators
- A top salary of $124,233 for “experienced” educators with their doctorate in the 2025-2026 school year
- A one-time $1,000 bonus for educators in the 2025-2026 school year
The collective bargaining agreement also calls for DPS to work toward maintaining K-5 class sizes at 30 students or fewer, with quarterly reports beginning in the 2025-2026 school year to track class sizes and “document efforts to reduce overcrowding,” according to the association.
DPS Superintendent Dr. Alex Marrero, in a statement after the tentative agreement in June, said the district was “proud” to have reached what it felt was a “fair and forward-looking agreement that honors the critical work our teachers do every day.”
“This tentative contract supports our educators, strengthens our schools, and ultimately benefits the students and families we serve,” Marrero said.
The DCTA, meanwhile, said Thursday that while it “celebrates the meaningful progress achieved,” challenges remain to be addressed in the areas of “class sizes, educator workloads, school funding, and affordable healthcare.”
“Not every challenge our students and educators face was solved through this process,” said Brian Weaver, 6th grade math teacher and DCTA Bargaining Team co-chair, in a statement. “We understand that our fight is not over, and together we will continue to build our collective power through our committees, organizing, family and community partnerships, and by taking action at all levels.”
Weaver said the group is preparing for 2028 contract negotiations now/
Anthony Sutton is a business strategist and writer with a passion for management, leadership, and entrepreneurship. With years of experience in the corporate world, he shares insights on business growth, strategy, and innovation through management-opleiding.org.
