Colorado educators are reporting more positive and collaborative working and learning conditions compared to two years ago, though they still have concerns about time, pay and using artificial intelligence in the classroom.
The Colorado Department of Education released the 2026 Teaching and Learning Conditions Colorado survey. The survey, which is administered every two years, drew responses from more than 42,000 teachers and school-based staff, representing a 48.1% response rate.
Teachers, classroom aides, principals, school psychologists and social workers participated in the survey. The results help school, district and staff officials improve planning and policies.
“Supporting educators means recognizing what they need to be effective and stay in the profession,” said Colorado Education Commissioner Susana Córdova. “Time to plan, collaborate, connect with families, and grow as professionals is essential to educator retention, strong teaching conditions, and improved student success across Colorado.”
Positive results
The findings show steady gains in workplace satisfaction, instructional support and school leadership.
Eighty-seven percent of respondents said their schools are good places to work, up 1 percentage point from 2024. Ninety percent said their schools are good environments for student learning, up 2 points from 2024, and 85% said their schools are led by effective teams, up 4 points from 2024.
The "professional climate" metric, reflecting trust, collaboration, and respect among staff, reached an 85% favorability rating, a 3-point increase since the last survey.
Nearly 90 percent said they were satisfied with their decision to enter teaching, which was a new question this year.
Mixed results
Persistent concerns around time and workload remain this year. Only 64% of respondents said they had enough preparation time (+3 points from 2024). Sixty-eight percent said they had enough time to engage in professional learning (+3 points from 2024) and 60% said they had enough time to implement new initiatives effectively, up 7 points from 2024.
Compensation was a weak spot: Just 44% of respondents said they were being adequately compensated.
Artificial intelligence
Questions about AI were also a first in the 2026 survey.
- 66% have used AI tools in their practice, often for lesson planning
- 54% feel comfortable using AI tools
- 40% of school leaders have clear guidelines for student use of AI
- 32% feel prepared for future changes that involve AI integration
Why educators stay on the job
Relationships play the biggest role in retention, with 89% saying peer support keeps them at their current school, followed by school leadership (76%), and a shared school mission (74%.) The state report showed a score of 85% for supportive conditions, and 92% for support for educators’ wellbeing, while job satisfaction stood at 72% overall.
Only 52% cited compensation as a reason for staying. Sixty-eight percent described their job as “very stressful.”
Most respondents said they plan to stay in the same or similar position after the school year ends.
“This survey confirms what we hear every day: Teachers value strong relationships, supportive leadership and meaningful time to do their work well,” said Kevin Vick, president of the Colorado Education Association. “We must continue to invest in these areas so that all educators thrive and students succeed.”
