Membership with DCTA automatically includes membership in CEA and NEA, ensuring that educators have a strong voice at the local, state, and national levels. The NEA fights for educators and students nationwide, CEA leads advocacy at the state level, and DCTA ensures our voices are heard locally in Denver. Together, we work to protect and strengthen public education through collective bargaining, legislative advocacy, and member-driven action. Educators in unions with strong membership and collective bargaining agreements typically earn higher salaries, receive better benefits, and have stronger workplace protections.
Join today to strengthen the education profession and become part of a movement dedicated to fighting for the high-quality public schools our students deserve!
You can also join DCTA by downloading and filling out our paper membership form. Once your form is complete, please email your form to the DCTA office at DCTA@coloradoea.org or drop it off in-person at 1500 Grant Street, Denver, Colorado 80203 Suite 200.
Why Join DCTA?
Belonging to the Denver Classroom Teachers Association brings many rewards and benefits, both professionally and personally.
First and foremost, membership in the Denver Classroom Teachers Association and its partner organizations, the Colorado Education Association and National Education Association creates strength in numbers and the collective bargaining power to fight for improvements to our students, educators and specialized service providers learning and working environments. Together, we are stronger!
In addition, DCTA educators gain access to a wealth of professional growth opportunities and NEA Member Benefits that can help save thousands of dollars on regular expenses.
DCTA promotes programs that support educational excellence and equity. Through collective bargaining and our own initiatives, DCTA focuses on areas that enhance student achievement, increase multicultural awareness and promote collaboration in support of student success.
The Benefits of Membership
Collective Bargaining
Both the NEA and CEA provide support to DCTA in the bargaining process with DPS. Our highly knowledgeable Bargaining Team works to ensure that our voices are heard on the issues that affect educators and students. Unions with strong membership and collective bargaining agreements consistently earn higher salaries, have access to benefits, and have stronger workplace protections than those without. Through collective bargaining, we secure enforceable rights that improve working conditions, ensure fair compensation, and provide the resources students need to thrive.
In addition to bargaining issues related to salary, benefits and due process, the Bargaining Team works to promote educator voice on critical issues including:
- Implementing a fair and effective educator evaluation system
- Promoting school- or site-based, collaborative decision-making
- Ensuring teacher and school leader hiring decisions are made jointly by each school?s teachers and principal (Personnel Committee)
- Supporting the District-wide Educational Initiatives Panel
- Supporting the Teacher Education Fund and initiatives like ProComp
- Ensuring paraprofessional assistance for grades ECE-5
- Members of the DCTA Bargaining Team also meet regularly with bargaining teams from other Denver-area school districts to share and receive information about the issues and trends in our region
Educational Excellence & Leadership Programs
DCTA offers seminars, training, and informational materials on topics including:
- CEA CoPilot, which offers university credit for courses designed to improve educators’ personal and professional skills. Taking courses through CEA CoPilot often allows educators to earn credits towards lane changes on the DCTA salary schedule.
- The Teacher Union Reform Network (TURN), a national group of local associations dedicated to transforming our role in improving education in core city school districts across the country.
- Innovative approaches to measuring educator performance, and improving professional practices.
- Partnering with the larger community to enhance educational resources and public understanding.
Benefits Exclusive to Members
In addition to the many benefits of belonging, DCTA members also enjoy many discounted services:
- Attorney Referral Program: Members receive special rates from participating attorneys for non-job related legal matters (please contact the DCTA office for more information)
- DPS/DCTA Sick Leave Bank: By donating one sick day a year, members are eligible to access a bank of extra sick days for extended illnesses or parental leave.
- NEA Member Benefits: Through NEA, members gain access to a host of programs designed to save members money on everything from purchasing a car to vacations and home mortgages
- Automobile & Home Insurance via A+ and California Casualty: Members receive significant savings on car and homeowners insurance
- No Cost Life Insurance: Members automatically receive no-cost life insurance through this NEA sponsored program
- NEA Educators Liability Insurance: Members receive $1 million dollars in liability insurance for protection in job-related criminal and civil actions
