Ohio Federation of Teachers, AFT, AFL-CIO

Vote NO on Issue 1 — August 8 Special Election!

Ballot initiatives let us exercise our freedom to make decisions that affect our lives. But some politicians want to rewrite the rules to make it harder for us to have a say.

If passed, Issue 1 would amend the Ohio constitution to require a 60% vote for passage of amendments instead of the simple majority requirement that’s been in place for more than 100 years. This means 40.01% of voters could defeat 59.99% of voters on important constitutional issues. This would end majority rule in Ohio and take away our freedom to decide what happens here. It undermines the principle of “one person, one vote.” We need to protect our constitution, not permanently change it to give up our rights.

Discounted Online Graduate Courses for OFT Members Only

Ohio Federation of Teachers (OFT), Ursuline College and Virtual Education Software (VESi) have partnered to offer OFT members access to online courses available for graduate credit. Learn more today!

Congratulations to Our 2022 Tom Mooney Memorial Scholarship Winners!

The Tom Mooney Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in December 2006 to honor late OFT President Tom Mooney's legacy in public education and union work, and to help others pursue his passions for social justice and political action. Congratulations to our 2022 winners: Kayleigh Slifko and Christopher Cortez.

DeVos Tour Highlights Trump Administration’s Attacks on Public Schools

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Today, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos stopped in Cleveland to visit the public MC² STEM High School and EDWIN’s Leadership and Restaurant Institute as part of her Back to School tour. According to press materials from the Department of Education, the focus of DeVos’ tour is promoting her Education Freedom Scholarships proposal, which is another attempt by the Trump Administration to funnel public money into private religious and for-profit schools.

Ohio’s Biennial Budget Results in Missed Opportunities for Students and Communities

OFT President Melissa Cropper released the following statement on Ohio’s biennial operating budget, HB 166, that was signed by Governor DeWine today:

The budget that was signed today is marked by missed opportunities to fix our broken and unconstitutional school funding formula, to close reckless tax loopholes, and to end school takeovers that disenfranchise local communities.

Our members have been calling for increased funding for wraparound services in our public schools for years, and we appreciate that Governor DeWine and the legislature made that a priority in this year’s budget with $675 million in additional spending. However, our school districts still need a fair and equitable formula that allows them to know what their funding levels will be so they can make the investments needed in their districts. We look forward to the continuing work that Representatives Cupp and Patterson are doing to fund our future with a new school funding formula.

OFT President Melissa Cropper: Legislature Should Stop Using Budget to Pass Policy

“The policies that shape education for Ohio’s children are too important to be rushed through as add-ons to the state budget, especially when there is so little support for those policies that they have been unable to advance out of committee, as is the case with the Senate’s expansion of EdChoice vouchers,” said Ohio Federation of Teachers President Melissa Cropper.

Painesville, OH – Teachers, intervention specialists, and instructional assistants at Summit Academy Community School – Painesville voted overwhelmingly for union recognition today. They are the seventh charter school in northeast Ohio and the second school operated by Summit Academy Management to join the Cleveland Alliance of Charter Teachers and Staff (Cleveland ACTS) local, which is affiliated with the Ohio Federation of Teachers (OFT) and American Federation of Teachers (AFT).

OFT President Melissa Cropper Responds to Governor DeWine's Proposed Budget

"Funding our future requires raising revenue to make serious investments in families, children, and communities. Minor investments will not move the needle."

Parma, OH — Teachers and intervention specialists at Summit Academy in Parma voted overwhelmingly to ratify their first union contract today, following a nine day strike. The contract includes gains for student learning conditions, including language on class size and staffing. Union members will have a strengthened voice through a Labor-Management Committee and a binding grievance and arbitration process. The contract does not include any economic gains for teachers, but there will be an economic re-opener in the fall after the school’s enrollment for the 2019-2020 school year is set.