New 3-year deal between teachers union and DPS sparks debate on costs and accountability

By Abraham Jewett | Fox 31

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

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