Hansen Bill to Get More Teachers in Colorado Schools Clears Senate

Hansen: “Allowing more retirees to return to the classroom without jeopardizing their hard-earned PERA benefits will get more qualified teachers and staff into our schools and help more students receive the quality education they deserve.”

DENVER, CO – Legislation sponsored by Senator Chris Hansen, D-Denver, that would better support students by getting more teachers into Colorado’s schools cleared the Senate today.

HB24-1044 would expand the number of service retirees that school districts may hire while still being eligible for PERA benefits. Specifically, school districts would be able to hire up to 10 retirees if they identify a “need” for additional instructors, and would be able to exceed the current 10 retiree cap by one retiree for every 1,000 students above 10,000 students. Under current law, school districts may only hire up to 10 retirees when a “critical shortage of qualified instructors” is established. 

“Colorado schools are facing a critical shortage of teachers, which results in larger class sizes and fewer students getting the individualized attention they need,” Hansen said. “Allowing more retirees to return to the classroom without jeopardizing their hard-earned PERA benefits will get more qualified teachers and staff into our schools and help more students get the quality education they deserve.”

For the 2022-2023 school year, of 8,294 teaching positions Colorado schools needed to hire, 722 (nine percent) remained unfilled for the school year and 1,486 (18 percent) were filled through a shortage mechanism. The number of unfilled teaching positions increased from 440 in the previous school year to 722, a 64 percent increase.

HB24-1044 will now move back to the House for consideration of Senate amendments. Track its progress HERE.