Public Education Matters

Ohio lawmakers have a once-in-a-generation chance to fix the state's broken school funding system if they pass the Fair School Funding Plan in this state budget. The House did its part, but the Senate came up with its own plan that falls woefully short, so OEA and its partners in the All in for Ohio Kids coalition held a press rally at the Statehouse to call on legislators to what's right for our kids.

Show Notes

SIGN THE PETITION | Tell Ohio's policymakers to fairly and fully fund public schools for Ohio's families now.
No matter where they live or what they look like, all of Ohio’s kids deserve a public school that inspires their creativity, unlocks their potential, and nurtures their dreams. But for years, certain politicians have pitted parents against teachers and communities against each other while they drain resources from our public schools to give tax cuts and tax breaks to the wealthy few and corporations.

A broad bipartisan majority in the Ohio House and a coalition of public school parents, educators, administrators, and community members support the Fair School Funding Plan in the House’s budget bill. This legislation has been developed and vetted, with public input, over the last three and a half years.
What would the bipartisan, House-passed Fair School Funding Plan mean for your local district? Click here to find out.
But certain leaders in the Ohio Senate chose to push a budget that sells out our opportunity to create a long-term school funding solution for continued giveaways to corporations and failed charter schools. The Senate plan was written behind closed doors and released to the public less than a month before the state’s budget deadline, without public input and no public support.

Ohioans are coming together to demand our elected officials fund our future and pass the Fair School Funding plan.

On Wednesday, June 9, 2021, the Ohio Education Association joined with its partners in the All in for Ohio Kids coalition for a press rally at the Ohio Statehouse to deliver a message to lawmakers that they need to fund our future and back the Fair School Funding Plan in this year's budget.

Featured guests: 
  • 2:00 - Zach Jones
    • 7th grade teacher at Mansfield Middle School and member of Mansfield School Employees Association, an Ohio Education Association local affiliate
  • 5:45 - Shauntina Thornton
    • Math and social studies teacher at Nathan Hale PreK-8 school in Cleveland and member of Cleveland Teachers Union, an affiliate of the Ohio Federation of Teachers
  • 8:30 - Rev. Daniel Hughes
    • Cincinnati Faith Organizer, AMOS Project
  • 10:40 - Taylor Pennington
    • Parent in Lima, Ohio, and organizer with the Ohio Organizing Collaborative
  • 15:30 - Emily Hatfield
    • Treasurer/CFO, Olentangy Schools
Connect with us:
About us:
  • The Ohio Education Association represents approximately 120,000 teachers, faculty members and support professionals who work in Ohio’s schools, colleges, and universities to help improve public education and the lives of Ohio’s children. OEA members provide professional services to benefit students, schools, and the public in virtually every position needed to run Ohio’s schools.
  • Education Matters host Katie Olmsted serves as Media Relations Consultant for the Ohio Education Association. She joined OEA in May, 2020, after a ten-year career as a television reporter, anchor, and producer. Katie comes from a family of educators and is passionate about telling educators' stories and advocating for Ohio's students. 
This episode was recorded in June, 2021.

What is Public Education Matters?

Ohio's public schools serve 1.6 million children - 90 percent of students in the state! What happens in the classroom has impacts far beyond the walls of the K-12 school building or higher ed lecture hall. So, on behalf of the 120,000 members of the Ohio Education Association, we're taking a deeper dive into some of the many education issues facing our students, educators, and communities. Originally launched in 2021 as Education Matters, Public Education Matters is your source for insightful conversations with the people who shape the education landscape in Ohio. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on Public Education Matters? Email us at educationmatters@ohea.org