The Aurora Classified Education Support Professionals (ESPs) have gained the right to hold a union election following a unanimous 7-0 vote by the Aurora Public Schools (APS) Board of Education. The policy change, approved after months of organizing, allows ESPs—such as special needs paraeducators, bus drivers, nutrition workers, and custodians—to pursue collective bargaining rights previously unavailable to them.
The push for union recognition began in August 2025 when ESPs submitted a petition at a school board meeting. More than 60% of classified ESP employees signed a pro-union petition during the previous school year. Despite initial inaction from the board, more than one hundred ESPs attended an October meeting to renew their demand for the right to form a union. The new policy now requires district management to remain neutral during the union election process.
Linnea Reed-Ellis, president of the Aurora Education Association—which represents licensed staff in APS—welcomed the decision: “We’re incredibly excited that the school board has taken this historic vote and supported our colleagues,” said Reed-Ellis. “This decision represents a significant step forward for the hardworking education support staff who are essential to our schools’ daily operations. We believe that when we lift up all our workers — the bus drivers, custodians, nutrition workers, paraprofessionals, and more — we strengthen the entire educational ecosystem. Every person in our schools deserves fair compensation and respect for their contributions to student success.”
Tiffany Barker, who has worked as an APS paraprofessional for ten years, described why these changes matter: “We’re fighting for ourselves and our students,” Barker said. “We’re not able to do our job properly under current conditions; we don’t have the pay, resources, or training to do our jobs well and provide excellent care to our students. We need a say in the budget to make sure that students, their safety, and the staff who ensure it are the top priorities. With this policy passing, and our ability to call an election, I know that the staff who come after me will have the resources to stay in this district and make a better school system for students, especially those with disabilities and severe needs.”
Other education support professionals across Colorado—including those in Summit County, Sheridan, and Thompson—are also seeking union recognition. Recent successful campaigns include Paraeducators of Cherry Creek and Mountain Valley School District; both groups are now bargaining their first contracts.
