OEA thanks Ohio Congress members from both parties for their work to move bipartisan Social Security Fairness Act forward
OEA thanks Reps. Greg Landsman (OH-1), Joyce Beatty (OH-3), Marcy Kaptur (OH-9), Shontell Brown (OH-11), Troy Balderson (OH-12), Emilia Sykes (OH-13), Dave Joyce (OH-14), and Mike Carey (OH-15) for signing the discharge petition and for being among the eleven members of Ohio’s delegation in the US House who are co-sponsors of the bill.
“For too long, Ohio’s public servants have been punished for their service by the Federal Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provisions (GPO/WEP), which prevent educators and others from receiving the full Social Security income they’ve earned. GPO/WEP is a barrier for potentially great educators who may choose not to enter this profession because they would lose much of the Social Security benefits they’ve earned in previous private sector work,” OEA President Scott DiMauro said. “These punitive, unfair federal laws have got to go, and the US House must take up the legislation that would achieve these necessary changes as soon as possible.”
Ohio is one of about a dozen states where GPO/WEP affects public servants like educators. Nearly 250,000 Ohioans will be able to receive the full Social Security benefits they’ve earned over a lifetime of work when the Social Security Fairness Act, which would repeal the outdated GPO and WEP provisions of the Social Security Act, becomes law.
“If you pay into Social Security, you should receive full benefits. Anything less is wrong. Ohio’s public school educators are simply asking for what they’ve earned so they can retire with dignity after dedicating their lives and careers to serving Ohio’s students,” DiMauro said.
The Social Security Fairness Act currently has 326 cosponsors in the US House and 62 in the US Senate, where Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown has championed it. OEA is calling on House and Senate members to move the bill forward quickly for a vote.
OEA Encouraged by Improved Student Outcomes for 2023-2024, but Notes More Work is Needed to Make State Report Cards a Useful Tool for Parents
“The dedication of Ohio’s educators to support our state’s students is evident in the progress shown during the past year,” OEA President Scott DiMauro said. “The growth in math and reading scores among English Learners and Economically Disadvantaged students—two groups that were hardest hit by learning disruptions during the pandemic—and improved reading scores for elementary students are a testament to the hard work of Ohio educators.”
DiMauro also noted the improvement in student attendance, with chronic absenteeism rates declining from 26.8% to 25.6%, saying, “Students need to be present to learn, and the positive trend in attendance is directly related to the increases we are seeing in academic outcomes, including overall graduation rates. It is crucial that Ohio continues to properly fund wraparound services and promote academic programs that address the needs of the whole child.”
At the same time, the OEA says significant work is needed to make the state report cards a useful tool for parents, including changes to improve accountability standards for Ohio’s charter schools and the private schools that take taxpayer-funded vouchers.
“Parents cannot make apples-to-apples comparisons between their local public schools and the private schools taking public taxpayer-funded vouchers because private schools are still not held to the same accountability and transparency standards as public schools in our state,” DiMauro said.
“Public tax dollars belong in the public schools that serve nearly 90 percent of the students in our state. If the state is going to continue to take critical resources from our public schools to fund private school tuition for the mostly wealthy families who have overwhelmingly taken the near universal vouchers since that became available to them, we must make sure Ohio’s taxpayers are getting a good return on their investment for what they’re spending on private schools,” DiMauro said. “With our state’s current report card system, it is impossible to say, and that is by design.”
The General Assembly has failed to require the accountability and transparency standards for private schools that would enable Ohioans to make any true comparisons. While the State Report Cards released this week for public schools continue to rely heavily on data from high-stakes standardized tests public school students are required to take every year, private schools continue to be able to pick and choose assessments for their students, often not even on the same subjects for which their public school peers are tested. Private schools should be included in the State Report Cards, but the data about private school performance—limited as it may be—is released separately, much later in the year.
“Ohio is constitutionally required to maintain a ‘thorough and efficient system of common schools’ but Ohio lawmakers have intentionally created two very different systems of evaluating and sharing
information about the quality of our state’s private and public schools,” DiMauro said. “Ohio parents, students, and taxpayers deserve better.”
OEA congratulates the 2025 OTOY
“Ms. Pinckney is an outstanding educator who is making a tremendous difference in the lives of her students and in her community every day,” OEA President Scott DiMauro said. “The entire Twinsburg City Schools community is lucky to have Ms. Pickney serving the students of that district with such passion, dedication, and professionalism. She is extremely deserving of this Ohio Teacher of the Year honor.”
Pinckney has been recognized for her work to create a senior-level African American Literature course at Twinsburg High School, as well as for the community service opportunities she facilitates for her students, to increase civic engagement and promote social responsibility.
“Every student – of every race, background, gender, ethnicity, and ability – deserves a great public education where they can see themselves respected and reflected in their curriculum, and where they can receive the tools they need to become strong critical thinkers, engaged citizens, and great future leaders,” DiMauro said. “Ms. Pinckney’s work at Twinsburg High School exemplifies that mission.”
Daneé Pinckney was previously honored as 2023 Twinsburg City Schools Teacher of the Year and a 2023 Fund for Teachers Fellow. She was selected as 2025 Ohio Teacher of the Year from among eleven 2025 State Board District Teachers of the Year, all of whom are Ohio Education Association members.
OEA congratulates CNP on ballot signature success
“When we pass this bipartisan measure to end gerrymandering once and for all, we will finally give Ohioans a true voice in the decisions that affect our schools and communities every day,” said Ohio Education Association President Scott DiMauro. “From securing school funding to meet the needs of the 90 percent of Ohio children who attend public schools to the bills that attempt to dictate what and how Ohio’s trained, experienced educators can teach, the policy decisions of Ohio’s lawmakers have an enormous impact on our ability to deliver the world-class education our students deserve.”
“With fair legislative districts that make lawmakers accountable to the voters of our state, we can ensure pro-public education candidates—from both parties—have a fair shot at winning seats in our statehouse to represent us,” DiMauro said.
If voters approve the Citizens Not Politicians ballot initiative in November, a 15-member panel of citizens – five Democrats, five Republicans, and five Independents – will draw Ohio’s legislative district maps through a newly designed process emphasizing transparency and fairness.
To learn more about the Citizens Not Politicians ballot initiative and OEA’s support for this effort, listen to OEA’s recent conversation with Retired Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor and former Ohio Supreme Court Justice Yvette McGee Brown in the latest episode of the Public Education Matters podcast.
As teacher license fee hike looms, OEA calls for Controlling Board action
“Instead of working to fix this issue and close the State Board’s funding shortfall, the Senate has passed the buck onto the backs of hardworking teachers who already pay out of their own pockets for continuing education and classroom supplies to ensure that their students have the resources they need to succeed,” said OEA President Scott DiMauro. “Educators in Ohio deserve dignity and respect for their work to support 90% of students attending Ohio’s public schools rather than increased licensure fees that will continue to exacerbate Ohio’s growing school staffing crisis by creating one more obstacle to staying in this critically important profession.”
Now that the Senate has closed the door on a legislative fix, OEA calls upon Governor DeWine and a bipartisan set of lawmakers from the Ohio General Assembly to ensure that the State Board receives the funding it needs at the next Controlling Board meeting on July 8.
OEA appreciates the work of the Ohio House of Representatives to fund the State Board of Education adequately through its passage of Substitute Senate Bill 117
OEA Applauds Cell Phone Law
“Educators across the state have seen firsthand the challenges that unrestricted cell phone use in schools has created for students’ learning and wellbeing, especially when inconsistent rules have had to be enforced on a classroom-by-classroom basis,” OEA President Scott DiMauro said. “This law will ensure educators have clear guidance and support while allowing for local flexibility to set policies that will improve learning conditions. Our members must be included in the development of those local policies.”
The newly adopted resolution, which reflects OEA members’ priorities and guides OEA’s advocacy work, states the following:
“The Ohio Education Association believes that the unrestricted use of cellphones and other personal electronic devices in classrooms and other academic areas detracts from the educational environment, reduces the efficacy of teaching and learning, distracts students, facilitates cyberbullying and other harms, and undermines the educational mission of schools.
The Association also believes that limiting student access to cellphones and other personal devices in schools improves student engagement, reduces cyberbullying, enhances interpersonal communication, and supports student mental health. These benefits contribute significantly to learning outcomes and the wellbeing of students.
The Association supports the establishment of a clear statewide policy to restrict student access to personal electronic devices during school hours. This policy must allow for local decision-making on specific details to accommodate varying needs and circumstances of different school districts. Given the crucial insights and experiences of educators, this policy must require the inclusion of educators in the development of those details.
The Association recognizes the need for school-approved exceptions to ensure that students with medical needs or disabilities have necessary access to technology as required for their health and well-being. The Association asserts that educators should be able to facilitate the use of personal electronic devices when there is a clear instructional need.”
OEA, EGCCEA call for transparency, path forward for Eastern Gateway students, staff
“Eastern Gateway Community College has been an invaluable resource for our community, our students, and their families for nearly 60 years. Despite the challenges stemming from mismanagement and the changing landscape of this institution over the last several years, the 138 members of the Eastern Gateway Community College Education Association have remained steadfast in their commitment to providing all students – on campus and online – with the best education possible to prepare them for their future lives and careers,” said EGCCEA President Jim Corrin. “We want nothing more than to continue providing excellent education in this community, but we need answers from the Board about whether our positions will continue to exist after the spring semester, how long this “pause” in enrollment may last, and whether there will eventually be a college to return to here.”
“The Board’s vote to suspend EGCC operations and initiate another round of staff layoffs is truly a devastating blow to the college’s students and the faculty and staff who have dedicated their lives and careers to serving them. State leaders must rise to the challenge of this moment and provide meaningful support for the 40 EGCC staff who will need immediate job placement assistance, as well as for potentially countless others who have been left in limbo by the Board’s lack of transparency on its decisions and timelines,” OEA President Scott DiMauro added. “The Board’s vote on Wednesday started a countdown clock to the end of the spring semester. EGCC students and staff can’t afford to have leaders wait around or build layers of red tape and bureaucracy. They need a plan and a path forward today.”