DENVER — School districts throughout Colorado are canceling classes either on Thursday or Friday as hundreds of teachers get ready to walk out.
The teachers are planning on heading down to the state capitol to protest for more school funding, better pay and for the Public Employee Retirement Association system known as PERA to be fully funded.
The following Colorado school districts will not have classes on Thursday:
Douglas County School District
Charter schools that manage their own staff will remain open.
Jefferson County Public Schools
Friday was already designated as an early release day for K-8 students.
The following Colorado school districts will not have classes Friday:
Adams 12 Five Star Schools
After-school activities will go on as planned. There will be grab-n-go meals offered at 14 schools, however childcare will not be available. Students attending Stargate, Prospect Ridge and Westgate will receive separate communication from their building leaders as to whether students will have school that day.
Adams 14 School District
Athletic activities will proceed as usual, unless a school says otherwise.
Boulder Valley School District
The district said 300 BVSD educators are planning to be out on Friday, and it would not be able to provide a safe and effective learning environment for all students.
Cherry Creek Schools
The superintendent said more than 1,400 teachers have asked for leave time to participate in the rally.
The district says it does not have enough substitute teachers or administrators to cover the number of teachers expected to be absent Friday, so it is closing.
Denver Public Schools
The district had originally planned for an early release on Friday, but later decided to cancel classes altogether. The 34th annual Shakespeare festival will happen as scheduled.
Littleton Public Schools
Initially a half day, classes are now canceled on Friday.
Poudre School District
The district will have a teacher workday without students. Teachers and staffers who take time off that day must use paid leave time, the district said.
School District 27J
As of Friday, about 349 staff members had put in a leave request to participate in the rally. The district says it simply doesn’t have enough substitute teachers to fill all of those vacancies. The district will also not be providing childcare for students.
St. Vrain Valley Schools
Charter schools amd the APEX Homeschool Enrichment program will decide on their own whether to hold class or not. The district will be hosting Community Schools non-school day programming at four locations: Black Rock, Eagle Crest, Legacy and Sanborn. After-school activities will continue as scheduled.
The district says more than 130 teachers are planning to take Friday off and there are not enough substitutes.
Thompson School District
More than 425 employees asked for the day off to participate in the rally. Teachers will use their personal leave time on that day. Those not participating can choose to use the day as a staff work day. After-school activities will go on as planned.
NOTE: Several school districts have pre-scheduled in-service days or other non-student contact days. If your school district does not have school Thursday or Friday but does not appear on this list, that could be the reason.
Denver7 has reached out to other school districts in the area; this story will be updated as we hear back.