If you woke up this morning to a flurry of texts and a frantic email from your kid’s principal, you aren't alone. Thousands of parents across the metro area are currently scrambling because of the massive denver schools closed teachers rally that basically brought the district to a standstill. It’s a mess.
Honestly, it’s not just Denver. While Denver Public Schools (DPS) saw about 80% of its campuses shuttered, districts like Adams 12 Five Star and Boulder Valley just went ahead and canceled everything. The reason? A sea of red shirts has descended on the Colorado State Capitol. Teachers are fed up. They’re chanting "No More Cuts" and, quite frankly, they’ve reached a breaking point with how the state handles the checkbook.
What is the Denver schools closed teachers rally actually about?
Let's look at the numbers because they’re kind of staggering. Colorado is one of the wealthiest states in the country, yet we’re chronically underfunding our kids by roughly $4,000 to $4,500 per student compared to the national average. That is a massive gap.
For 14 years, the state used something called the "budget stabilization factor." It’s a fancy term for a IOUs. The state basically "borrowed" $10 billion from the education budget to balance other things. Last year, Governor Jared Polis and lawmakers celebrated finally "buying down" that debt. Teachers thought they were finally going to get the resources they needed.
Then the other shoe dropped.
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The $1.2 Billion Problem
Lawmakers are now staring down a $1.2 billion state budget deficit for the 2025-26 cycle. To fix it, the Governor proposed a major change in how students are counted. Instead of using a five-year rolling average to cushion schools against enrollment drops, the state wants to move to a single-year count.
To the state, this is just "paying for the students who are actually in the chairs." To a teacher in a school with declining enrollment, it feels like a $150 million rug-pull.
Inside the Classroom: Why They’re Walking Out
You’ve probably seen the signs on the news. One of my favorites was a watercolor of a school bus captioned "Ms. Frazzled and the Unfunded School Bus."
It’s funny, but the reality is pretty bleak. Mary Dolan, a special education teacher in Denver, recently described her department as needing a total overhaul. She’s not alone. General education teachers are reporting classes with 36 kids. Imagine trying to teach algebra or reading to 36 middle schoolers, many of whom have special education plans or need English language support, while your budget is being slashed. It's impossible.
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The rally isn't just about the state budget, though. It hit a fever pitch because it coincided with some major shifts at the federal level.
- Federal Department of Education: Recent executive orders aiming to dissolve the federal department have teachers terrified.
- Special Education Funding: A lot of the money for our most vulnerable students comes from the feds. If that disappears, the state has to pick up the tab.
- The TABOR Cap: Colorado has a law called the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR) that limits how much the state can spend. It’s a lightning rod.
Is this a strike or just a rally?
Technically, it’s a "Statewide Day of Action" organized by the Colorado Education Association (CEA). But when 1,000+ teachers in one district call out for a personal day, the result is the same: the denver schools closed teachers rally effectively shuts the system down.
DPS Superintendent Alex Marrero tried to keep doors open. He used central office staff and guest teachers to keep about 85 schools running, mostly for the sake of meals and childcare. But let’s be real—very little "learning" is happening today in those buildings. It’s survival mode.
Different Perspectives
Not everyone is cheering for the teachers. Governor Polis expressed concern about the disruption to families. He supports the right to protest, sure, but he’s worried about the parents who can’t miss work to stay home with their kids.
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Then you have critics like State Senator Barbara Kirkmeyer. She argues the state just needs to stop overspending and focus on priorities. There's even a growing movement in places like Colorado Springs (District 11) where they’ve ditched union contracts entirely, claiming it leads to better pay and fewer vacancies.
What happens next?
The immediate goal of the denver schools closed teachers rally is to force a change in the 2026 legislative session. Specifically, there is a push for a ballot measure this November.
This measure would ask voters to raise the TABOR cap by billions of dollars, specifically to lock in K-12 funding so schools don't have to keep playing "The Hunger Games" every time the economy dips.
Actionable Steps for Parents and Residents
If you're wondering how to navigate this or want to get involved, here is what you actually need to do:
- Check the DPS Dashboard: Don't rely on word-of-mouth. The district updates its "Operational Plan" site in real-time to show which schools are open for meals.
- Contact Your Reps: If you have an opinion on the $1.2 billion deficit or the new "single-count" student formula, the Joint Budget Committee is where those decisions are being made right now.
- Track the Ballot Measure: Keep an eye on the "Raise the Cap" initiative. If it makes the ballot in November 2026, it will be the most significant change to Colorado school funding in thirty years.
- Support Local Childcare Hubs: Many YMCAs and recreation centers in Denver have opened "Day of Action" camps. If you're stuck, those are your best bet for last-minute supervision.
This situation is moving fast. Tomorrow, schools are expected to be back in session, but the budget battle at the Capitol is just getting started.