Three public school programs received this year’s Success in Public Schools awards from the Coalition for Public Education. Read about the award winners.

Representatives from the Ohio Board of Regents, state lawmakers, college administrators and representatives from the three higher education faculty groups met Oct. 2 to discuss the connections between student success in Ohio’s colleges and universities, academic staffing needs and Gov. Ted Strickland’s 10-year plan for higher education in Ohio.

The Ohio Federation of Teachers supports Gov. Ted Strickland’s plans for a tax freeze in order to avoid a budget hole that would severely gut Ohio schools.

The Ohio Federation of Teachers is delighted that the President of the United States will address the nation’s students on Sept. 8 concerning the value of succeeding in school through study, hard work and determination. It is disappointing that some have chosen to censor student access to the speech.

(August 26, 2009) - Despite serving larger populations of historically lower performing students, traditional public schools in Ohio’s eight largest urban districts eclipse charters in exceeding value-added expectations. The percentage of urban traditional public schools that exceeded value-added expectations more than doubled this year, according to state report card data released today by the Ohio Department of Education.

The education portion of the Senate’s budget plan is no plan at all. Doing more of the same will not rebuild or repair this state. What the Senate wants to do simply doesn’t help. Learn why ...

Ads put out today by a charter advocacy group make deceptive claims about attempts to hold the privately run operations accountable for performance. "These ads use race as a desperate attempt to sway the public because there simply is no good academic data for them to use to tout these failed operations." Read more ...

Ohio Federation of Teachers President Sue Taylor today delivered a letter to President Barack Obama to educate him about the vastly failing charter school program in the Buckeye State. Find out why.

The officers and executive committee of the Ohio Federation of Teachers this week expressed support for Governor Strickland’s plan to create a state education system that prepares students for the 21st century. OFT also supports improvements to the plan made by the House in Sub. HB1.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Deborah Delisle will deliver a keynote address before nearly 300 delegates at the 71^st Annual Ohio Federation of Teachers Convention Thursday.

The Governor offers a provocative and compelling case for academic and budget reform. Teachers will want to know the details and how these changes will impact their students and their classrooms. We applaud and encourage the direction of the Governor’s proposal. Read more ...

Communities within a school that transform academic knowledge to real world contexts won a Success in Public Schools award for one Toledo school Nov. 11.

(Oct. 14, 2008) Statement by Ohio Federation of Teachers President Sue Taylor on the selection of Deborah Delisle as Ohio’s Superintendent of Public Instruction. Ohio’s State Board of Education today announced it selected Deborah Delisle, superintendent of the Cleveland Heights-University Heights School District, as the new state Superintendent of Public Instruction to succeed Susan Zelman.

“Deborah Delisle has a demonstrated track record of willingness to explore innovative, creative ideas. This and her collaborative approach to include all stakeholders in key policy decisions will benefit Ohio’s public school system, its students and its teaching professionals. We look forward to working with her as state superintendent.”

Public School Districts Outperform Privately Operated Charters in Each Tested Subject, at Each Grade Level

(COLUMBUS - Aug. 26, 2008) Public school districts are more successful in raising student achievement than the independent system of privately operated charter schools, according to data released by the Ohio Department of Education today.

Seven members and staff of the Ohio Federation of Teachers were elected and/or appointed to serve as part of the Ohio Delegation to the Democratic National Convention being held in Denver this week. Ohio’s is the seventh largest state delegation participating in the Convention.

(July 16, 2008) John McCain demonstrated again today that he sadly has no idea what is needed to support America’s children and America’s teachers in this nation’s public school system. The Ohio Federation of Teachers warns the education plans McCain presented to the NAACP in Cincinnati are simply copies of George Bush’s failures.

The Ohio Federation of Teachers (OFT) has added 15 candidates to its list of endorsements for the fall election, bringing the total number of OFT-endorsed candidates to 83. Endorsed candidates include incumbents as well as several challengers on both sides of the political aisle. See which candidates support public education, public employees and working families.

The Ohio Federation of Teachers recently endorsed candidates in 57 state legislative races. Endorsed candidates include incumbents as well as several challengers.

IRS Asked to Examine 501(c)(3) Filings of For-Profit Charter Chains

By a letter sent to the IRS today, that federal agency is being asked to examine whether charter schools managed by the for-profit corporation White Hat Management, Inc. and its affiliates can be properly registered as 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entities under federal law.

The State Employment Relations Board certified election results in which 98 percent of votes were cast for the Ohio Federation of Teachers to provide union representation for the more than 500 employees of Franklin County Children Services. See the new local's officers. Check out the local union's website

(Feb. 6, 2008) “In his State of the State address, Gov. Ted Strickland sent a strong message that he is serious about strengthening public education,” said Ohio Federation of Teachers President Sue Taylor. “The Governor rightfully connected ideas on how to strengthen the economy and create jobs to the need to support a strong system of public education.” See the rest of OFT's response and read the text of his speech ...

Statement by Ohio Federation of Teachers President Sue Taylor 

“We are glad that Governor Ted Strickland protected education programs that have a direct impact on classrooms and schools,” said Ohio Federation of Teachers President Sue Taylor. “We hope that the Department of Education does all it can to protect funding for professional development and other programs that are necessary for teachers to continue to meet the challenges before them.” more...

Ohio Student Uses Grant to Attend American University

(Dec. 3, 2007) Keen passions for social justice and political action are just part of the routine for the winner of the first ever Tom Mooney Memorial Scholarship. A scholarship fund was established to honor the vast public education and union work legacy of the late Ohio Federation of Teachers President Tom Mooney who died Dec. 3, 2006.

(Nov. 13, 2007) A plan that fosters teacher leaders to fill curriculum gaps, an art-focused program to create school pride, and teacher leadership in a business community partnership that flipped low student achievement into a 100 percent graduation rate are among those highlighted in the Coalition for Public Education’s First Annual Recognition of Success in Public Schools.

(Oct. 24, 2007) Representatives of the Ohio Federation of Teachers will testify today before the House Education Committee during its review of Ohio Department of Education policies on investigating teacher professional conduct. “Schools should be the safest place for our children to spend their day. OFT welcomes any opportunity to work with school districts, the Ohio Department of Education and legislators on any programs or plans to guarantee that safety,” said OFT President Sue Taylor.

10th Anniversary Review of Performance Data Proves Ohio’s Charter School Experiment a Failure

(Aug. 22, 2007) Ohio’s traditional public schools continue to provide the best opportunity for children to learn and succeed, according to Ohio Department of Education (ODE) data. For the 10^th year in a row, Ohio’s public school districts far outperformed the state’s chain of publicly funded, privately operated charter schools.

(Aug. 14, 2007) Ohio's urban school districts have continued to make significant strides in student achievement, although the achievement targets in Ohio have changed in scope and complexity again this year. "We are extremely pleased that the hard work, skills and dedication of teachers in Ohio’s urban districts has helped make these accomplishments possible," said Ohio Federation of Teachers President Sue Taylor.

Representatives from Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo, Akron Speak During This Morning’s Senate Finance Committee

(May 29, 2007) Both district officials and teacher representatives from many of the state’s largest public school systems are at the Statehouse this morning to testify in support of Governor Ted Strickland’s proposed budget.

(March 14, 2007) – The Ohio Federation of Teachers (OFT) today applauded Gov. Ted Strickland’s plans to eliminate a statewide school voucher program, and to place a moratorium on new charter schools while prohibiting for-profit companies from running charters.

(March 12, 2007) – The Ohio Federation of Teachers (OFT) Friday elected Sue Taylor president during their Sixty-Ninth Annual Convention that was held in Columbus. “I am honored to lead the Ohio Federation of Teachers as we step up and move forward during this important time in our organization and our state,” Taylor said.

(March 10, 2007) OFT awarded its Friend of Public Education awards to state Rep. Brian Williams, a former educator and superintendent, and Jim Mahoney, executive director of Battelle for Kids.

Memorial Scholarship Fund Exceeds $40,000 Mark

(March 9, 2007) – The Ohio Federation of Teachers honored its past president Tom Mooney March 9 with a Celebration of Life banquet acknowledging the education leader’s work and the many recognitions received since his death Dec. 3.

(March 8, 2007) – Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher was the featured speaker for today’s start of the Sixty-Ninth Annual Convention of the Ohio Federation of Teachers March 8. Fisher addressed more than 200 delegates immediately following their return from lobby visits at the Statehouse, a biennial tradition of the OFT convention.

The Coalition for Public Education is pleased to see today’s recommendations by the Science and Mathematics Education Policy Advisory Council on public policy and educational practices that will help Ohio to become a leader in developing world-class talent, particularly in the areas of science and math. Coalition member organizations believe that many of Ohio’s public schools already provide the kinds of technology programs that students need in order to develop the high-level knowledge and skills in science and math they need for success.

Rep. Oelslager, Sen. Schuring Introduce Bills to Enforce Accountability

(Dec. 5, 2006) The Coalition for Public Education today announced that it is taking the necessary steps to terminate a lawsuit challenging Ohio’s charter school program, and instead shifting its focus to legislative and regulatory solutions to the serious problems that persist.

Several Issues Remain Alive in the Case

(Oct. 25, 2006) The Coalition for Public Education is obviously disappointed in the state Supreme Court’s 4-3 ruling today on the constitutionality of Ohio’s charter school program. While we are disappointed with the ruling, we acknowledge that the court did not give a cloak of legitimacy to failed academic performance by Ohio’s charter schools, or the lack of accountability for their use of public funds.

Public schools exceed charters on elementary and high school tests

(Aug. 16, 2006) Disadvantaged and African-American students enrolled in regular public schools perform better on state achievement tests than their counterparts who attend charter schools, an analysis by the Coalition for Public Education shows. The data refutes claims by charter school advocates that the privately operated schools provide better educational options for poor and minority students.

(May 19, 2006) Although charter schools are defined by Ohio law as public schools, those operated by educational management companies claim their teachers are not public employees. Charter schools are required to have independent, non-profit boards, yet boards assembled by management companies exercise little independent oversight. A new study of the four largest charter school chains provides new evidence that many Ohio charter schools do not operate as public schools, contrary to state law.

(May 10, 2006) More than 100 parents, students and teachers from across Ohio are slated to participate in a conference and lobby day May 10 in Columbus. Participants will meet with legislators to discuss the lack of adequate school funding, the governor’s Ohio Core proposal to raise graduation requirements, and a plan to eliminate the right for school employees to negotiate health care benefits.

(March 14, 2006) The Ohio Federation of Teachers today announced several endorsements that were approved following its 2006 statewide convention in Cincinnati March 9-11.

Parent-friendly schools, reduced bureaucracy key to reforms

(March 9, 2006) Ohio Federation of Teachers President Tom Mooney will call for bold reforms in public education today in his “State of the Union” address to the 2006 OFT Convention at the Millennium Hotel in Cincinnati. “It’s time to come to grips with the need for bold reforms, not just incremental change in public education,” Mooney said. Teachers and districts need to hear and react to the concerns of parents and students, and move to make schools more parent-friendly. Public schools need to eliminate the bureaucracies that impede decision-making.

(March 7, 2006) A comprehensive new report confirms that charter schools operated by White Hat Management Inc., are simply a chain of company stores, and not independent non-profit entities they are required to be under Ohio law. 

(Feb. 22, 2006) While the School Employees Health Care Board holds its first meeting today, the Hands Off Our Health Care Coalition will deliver a letter to its newly appointed members saying, in effect, “thanks, but no thanks.” The Coalition also will hold a news conference to highlight its concerns that the board is illegal and that other actions in the state’s move to force school employees into a mandatory health plan are in violation of state law.

(Feb. 14, 2006) In testimony before the Senate Education Committee today, representatives of the Coalition for Public Education will propose several amendments to Senate Bill 129 that are intended to raise the quality of Ohio’s charter schools. The amendments include provisions to increase charter school performance through increased academic and financial accountability.

Tardiness of Appointments Misses Deadline Assigned by House Bill 66

(Jan. 19, 2006) – A broad-based coalition opposing a mandatory statewide health care plan for school employees is questioning the legal standing of late appointments to a School Employees Health Care Board. By law, the board was to have been appointed by Nov. 13, so the Hands Off Our Health Care Coalition believes the board has no legal standing.

(Jan. 13, 2006) The Ohio Federation of Teachers has made two endorsements for the Democratic primary scheduled for May 2 – Ted Strickland for Ohio Governor and Sherrod Brown for U.S Senate.

Petitioners Oppose Rising Charges as Pay Cut

(Jan. 5, 2006) Officers and members of the Graduate Employees and Students Organization (GESO) yesterday presented 1,500 petition signatures to OSU administrators requesting that fees for graduate student employees be eliminated. GESO representatives met with OSU Associate Vice President for Human Resources Larry Llewellyn and other top administrators.

(Dec. 21, 2005) – A broad-based coalition opposing a mandatory statewide health care plan for education employees is questioning the award of a no-bid contract to a consultant. The appointment was made contrary to the law established by House Bill 66, which stipulated how the plan will be designed.

OFT Urges Education Committee to Broaden Scope of Hearing

(Nov. 15, 2005) The House Education Committee should examine the accuracy of enrollments claimed by charter schools and their widespread failure to test students during hearings that begin today on student enrollment and attendance data.

State Failed to Audit $2.56 Million in Public Funds

(Nov. 3, 2005) The Ohio Federation of Teachers is demanding that state Auditor Betty Montgomery conduct a complete and legitimate audit of the Life Skills Center of Southeastern Columbus and not allow her office to be blocked by crafty contracts devised by White Hat Management.

(Oct. 26, 2005) Figures released yesterday by the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) in response to a newspaper request confirm an analysis by the Ohio Federation of Teachers (OFT) that showed Life Skills charter schools failed to test the vast majority of their students.

Life Skills Charter Schools Fail to Account for Funded Students

(Oct. 25, 2005) Life Skills charter schools fail to account for most of their students when reporting scores on state achievement tests, according to an analysis by the Ohio Federation of Teachers (OFT).

White Hat Charters Fail to Test as High as 97.5 Percent of Students

(Oct. 24, 2005) Ohio’s biggest charter school business is paid tens of millions of tax dollars to educate high school students, but last year failed to administer mandatory state tests to 84 percent of them, an analysis by the Ohio Federation of Teachers (OFT) shows.

Rising Charges Constitute a Pay Cut

(Oct. 13, 2005) Graduate employees at the Ohio State University rallied in front of Bricker Hall Oct. 13 to protest rising fees that take money out of their pockets. The group delivered petition signatures to Dr. Karen Holbrook’s office asking her to meet with the Graduate Employees and Students Organization (GESO) to discuss alternatives to escalating fees.

Coalition Argues Charter Schools are Subject to Lower Standards

(Oct. 4, 2005) – The Ohio Supreme Court will hear oral arguments next month in a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Ohio’s charter school system. The case is scheduled to be heard at 9 a.m. Tuesday Nov. 29 in the first floor courtroom, 65 S. Front St.

Charter School Company Spends Thousands of Public Dollars to Place Ads

Students in Public School Districts Continue to Produce Higher Academic Achievement

(Aug. 17, 2005) – Academic achievement by Ohio’s charter schools plummeted last year while performance by the state’s large urban districts improved, according to data released yesterday by the Ohio Department of Education. Public districts in Akron and Cincinnati this year joined Toledo to earn Continuous Improvement ratings.

(July 12, 2005) The State Board of Education today was asked to investigate claims that the Lucas County Educational Service Center (LCESC) illegally authorized at least 78 contracts to sponsor charter schools across Ohio.

(June 23, 2005) A Statement by Tom Mooney, President of the Ohio Federation of Teachers

(June 7, 2005) The Coalition for Public Education (CPE) will urge the Conference Committee charged with crafting a final version of the next state budget to take its lead from the Ohio Senate when it comes to charter schools. Senators agreed to limit charter schools to 231, just six more than the current cap, which expiries June 30. The Senate version of the budget also imposed new academic accountability measures, including closing charter schools that don’t meet academic improvement goals after three years.

Senate Budget Will Worsen Fiscal Crisis in Public Schools

(June 2, 2005) – Ohio is poised to become the first state to launch a statewide school voucher program since the U.S. Supreme Court declared tax-funded tuition vouchers constitutional in 2002, while cutting funding for local public schools.

(May 9, 2005) Mary Ann Flannagan and Jeff Chapman, candidates supported by Protect Our Pensions Ohio, won two of the three contested seats on the State Teachers Retirement Board (STRS).

Statement by Ohio Federation of Teachers President Tom Mooney

(May 4, 2005) Ohio’s education system remains in crisis after voters rejected nearly half of the record number of school levy requests in yesterday’s primary election. The split vote follows record numbers of levy requests – and record rates of rejection – in 2004.

(March 15, 2005) The Ohio Federation of Teachers calls on Ohio lawmakers to improve the state’s economic future by ending a long history of insufficient funding for higher education.

(Feb. 8, 2005) Plan Shifts Tax Responsibility to Middle Class

Statement by Ohio Federation of Teachers President Tom Mooney in response to Gov. Taft’s State of the State Address