DPS and DCTA Reach Tentative Agreement, End Strike

A strike is when members of an employee union refuse to work as a form of protest, usually to pressure their employer to meet their demands.

DPS and the local teachers union — the Denver Classroom Teachers Association (DCTA) — regularly negotiate the terms of the work agreements between classroom teachers, specialized service providers (like school counselors, psychologists, nurses or speech language pathologists) and the district.

Yes. Most of our schools will stay open during normal hours. Students should attend school as usual. For ECE, if a strike does occur, all classes will be canceled for the duration of the strike. We will not be charging tuition for any days that our ECE classrooms are closed.

Yes. DPS staff will be at each campus to make sure students are safe during the school day. DPS Safety Team members are working with school leaders to ensure buildings remain accessible in the event of protests or picketing. With that being said, all ECE classes will be canceled for the duration of the strike. We will not be charging tuition for any days that our ECE classrooms are closed.

No. School hours will stay the same — including before- and after-school care through Discovery Link and its enrichment programming. School meals and school bus transportation will all follow the normal schedules, as well. With that being said, all ECE classes will be canceled for the duration of the strike. We will not be charging tuition for any days that our ECE classrooms are closed.

Yes. Qualified DPS staff, including certified guest teachers and administrators with educator licenses, will be in schools providing instruction during the strike. We will have grade- and subject-specific lesson plans so that guest teachers can teach high-quality lessons to students. With that being said, all ECE classes will be canceled for the duration of the strike. We will not be charging tuition for any days that our ECE classrooms are closed.

Yes. Your school’s food service will continue to provide all meals as usual.

Yes. Transportation services will not change and will continue to bring students to and from school as scheduled.

Please check with your school for more information, as this may vary by school.

We are prioritizing our students with special needs as we make staffing arrangements during the strike. If your child has an Individualized Education Program (IEP), 504 plan or other special needs, your school will reach out to you to discuss services being provided.

Make sure that your contact information is up-to-date, either by logging into Parent Portal or contacting your school’s front office, so that your school can notify you of any unexpected changes. Your school will need updated phone numbers, e-mails and home addresses for parents, guardians and other emergency contacts. Also, be sure your school has an updated list of your child’s medications.

DPS will provide the latest districtwide information on our website, teacherstrike.dpsk12.org, as well as via social media, email and recorded phone messages to families. We encourage you to pay close attention to communications from your school for the most specific information for your family.  

You can volunteer at your school to help in the classroom or on the playground. For more information, reach out to your school’s front office or the family helpline at 720-423-3054.

If teachers strike, take time to talk with your children about what is happening as this experience may be confusing for them. To help you have these important conversations, we’ve put together a few tips to help. Children may be confused or worried. Be sure to talk with them and listen to their concerns.

Explain what a strike is, that the strike is temporary and that their teachers will return to work when the strike is over.

Encourage your children to continue to focus on their schoolwork.

When talking with younger children, keep explanations simple. Reassure your children that they didn’t do anything wrong, and that sometimes adults have disagreements, so they need to work together to solve their problems.

Explain that there are two sides: DCTA and the school district, and that they are both trying to arrive at an agreement that is fair to everyone. Use the situation to engage your child in a conversation about the issues involved in the strike. Information about the district’s proposal can be found here.