OEA Educational Foundation
The work of the Ohio Educational Foundation is to fund initiatives that enhance student learning, student achievement, and well being, as well as promote social justice. Its Board of Directors is pleased to introduce four new funding opportunities available to all OEA members:
- Diversity Grant
- Innovation Grant
- Whisper Grants
- Make-A-Wish® / Adopt-A-Wish®
Grant applications may be submitted using the new OEA online form tool or printed and then mailed/email to the addresses within the application. Click HERE for more details!
October 2018 Ohio Schools
- COVER STORY: Champions of Public Education – In the 2019 election, support those who support our students and our schools
- Notebook
- Ohio’s 2018 School District Report Cards incomplete
- misleading Poll shows far-reaching support for teacher strikes
- higher pay Help for educators impacted by Hurricane Florence
Moved recently? Contact the OEA Member Hotline to update the address on file at 1-844-OEA-Info (1-844-632-4636) or email, membership@ohea.org. Representatives are available Monday-Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. | OhioSchools — Past Issues
Oh Yes, We’re Social — Join the Conversation!
September 2018 Ohio Schools
- COVER STORY:Heart and Soul — For Northridge educators, student success starts with respect, trust and understanding
- FEATURE: 2018 OEA Summer Academy
- LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
- OEA opposes US Department of Education proposal to use federal funds to buy guns for teachers
- Educators across the nation are joining the RedforEd movement as advocates for students and public schools
Moved recently? Contact the OEA Member Hotline to update the address on file at 1-844-OEA-Info (1-844-632-4636) or email, membership@ohea.org. Representatives are available Monday-Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. | OhioSchools — Past Issues
Oh Yes, We’re Social — Join the Conversation!
OEA ESP Aspiring Teacher Scholarship
The $4,000 ESP Aspiring Teacher Scholarship is presented each year to an Education Support Professional member currently enrolled in an undergraduate teacher education program in Ohio or a senior-level education student who has been formally accepted for graduate study in a master’s degree of education program at an accredited Ohio college or university.
Applicants must be current members of the Ohio Education Association. Current members of the OEA Board of Directors and association staff members are not eligible for this scholarship. In addition, OEA Awards and Scholarship Committee Members are not eligible for two years after completion of service on the committee to apply or to be nominated.
The award will be presented at the OEA Spring Representative Assembly.
The online nomination form must be completed in a single session, as you will not be able to save, and return to it at a later time without starting over. In addition it must be received on or before February 29, 2024. Late applications will not be considered.
TIP: Consider using this nomination worksheet as a guide prior to completing the online form. This guide can not be submitted in lieu of the online nomination form.
Please click here to see the rubric that the OEA Awards Committee will use to evaluate each submission.
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OEA #RedForEd T-Shirts!
We’re calling on all Ohio educators and support professionals to wear red every Wednesday!
- Order a custom OEA #RedForED t-shirt today. Only $15.00
Join your peers around the nation to raise our collective voice on behalf of our students, our communities, and our profession! Take the National #RedForEd pledge!
Ohio Education Association Strongly Endorses Issue 1
At its September 15, 2018, meeting, the Ohio Education Association Board of Directors voted unanimously to endorse Issue 1 on the 2018 November ballot.
The Neighborhood Safety and Drug Treatment Amendment reduces the number of people in state prison for low-level, nonviolent crimes and puts the money to better use by directing future savings to drug treatment and victim services.
“As educators, we see the terrible impact of the opioid epidemic on our communities and the families of our students…too often, the resources for treatment are not there.”
— Pres. Becky Higgins
→ Issue 1: Frequently Asked Questions
“We believe that Issue 1 helps to address the urgent need to fix Ohio’s broken and overcrowded prison system that puts in jail non-violent offenders at the expense of adequately funding prevention and treatment programs,” said OEA President Becky Higgins.
Issue 1 would not change laws or funding for incarcerating people convicted of serious crimes such as murder, rape, and child molestation. A broad, bipartisan coalition of community, faith, law enforcement, and business groups has formed to support this measure and help Ohio improve safety and reduce prison costs.
OEA Outstanding Local Treasurer Recognition
Program Intent: To Recognize Outstanding Local Treasurers
Criteria
- A completed Dues Transmittal Agreement form has, or had, been received by the OEA Membership Department by September 30, 2024
- The IRS 990 – Filing Verification Form* has, or had, been received by the OEA Membership Department by January 20, 2025
- Materials from the Membership Enrollment Packet’s checklist including: the Continuous Roster, the eDues Roster and the Enrollment Summary Form has, or had, been received by the OEA Membership Department by October 15, 2024
Any nominating Local must not have incurred an interest penalty on any outstanding dues payments to OEA during the school year.
For more information, contact: the OEA Membership INFO Help Line at 1-844-OEA-Info (1-844-632-4636) or by email: membership@ohea.org
Additional Resources
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Updated August 14, 2024
Ohio’s 2018 District Report Cards Incomplete, Misleading
Columbus, OH — September 13, 2018 | The Ohio Department of Education (ODE) has released its 2018 Ohio School District Report Cards; but, the more than 600+ district reports cards are misleading.
“Missing are the critical elements that thoroughly evaluate a district’s performance,” said Becky Higgins, president of the Ohio Education Association.
“Unfortunately, as an evaluation of student readiness and academic achievement levels, unfortunately, this tool is too simplistic.”
Higgins added, “socioeconomic factors remain a consistent and reliable predictor of an array educational outcomes…. Unfortunately, as an evaluation of student readiness and academic achievement levels, this tool is too simplistic.”
Accordingly, the OEA continues to urge the General Assembly to pass the proposed report card reforms contained in House Bill 591 (Rep. Mike Duffey—R).
“Reforms include ending the arbitrary districtwide letter grades and replacing them with different, but more realistic performance indicators,” emphasized Higgins.
Additional proposals would also address the misguided state takeover of local school districts that result from the effects of systemic poverty.
Referencing the ODE’s Each Child Our Future, Higgins says the document’s three core principles acknowledge the correlation is real. In its review of Ohio’s educational environment, the strategic plan argues:
1. job categories are changing and require new skill sets;
2. the student body has become a more diverse, with nuanced learning needs; and,
3. increased student exposure to poverty and other adverse childhood experiences.
“Numerous studies continue to support the same,” says Higgins. “Moreover, the current letter-grade system as well as state takeover measures do not help educators to address these barriers,” said Higgins.
The Ohio Education Association represents 125,000 teachers, faculty members and support professionals in Ohio’s public schools, colleges and universities.
OEA Applauds Cordray’s Education Plan
(September 12, 2018—Columbus) – Today, Richard Cordray announced his plan, Supporting Ohio’s Students. The plan was applauded by Becky Higgins, president of the Ohio Education Association.
“We believe Rich Cordray has a student-centered agenda that makes public education a top priority. He has an impressive understanding of the key education issues Ohio’s next Governor will face — from the need to invest in support services, ending the reliance on high-stakes, standardized tests, to reining in poorly performing charter schools.”
“We believe Richard Cordray has the leadership skills and commitment to students needed to address the many challenges our state will face in the years ahead,” said Higgins. “He is the right choice for Ohio’s next Governor.”
Related: Campaign 2018 — OEA Endorsed Candidates
The Ohio Education Association represents 125,000 teachers, faculty members and support professionals in Ohio’s public schools, colleges and universities.
OEA: Should We Believe What DeWine Says About Education or What He’s Actually Done?
Gubernatorial candidate Mike Dewine outlines his flawed education plan
“We welcome some of the good ideas on education offered today by gubernatorial candidate Mike DeWine – ideas with which we agree, such as reducing standardized testing and getting more state funding into our schools,” said Ohio Education Association President Becky Higgins.
As a member of Congress, he voted was voting against funding programs that would have benefited Ohio’s public schools! …. Where was DeWine to rein in ECOT?
“But, unfortunately, his record tells another story. As a member of Congress, he voted against funding programs that would have benefited Ohio’s public schools. In addition, his call for more accountability for Ohio’s e-schools begs the question of where he’s been all these years when he could have done something to rein in the abuses of the state’s most notorious e-school, ECOT.”
We think a better bet for ensuring that every student and educator in Ohio has the resources and support they need to succeed is to vote for Richard Cordray for Governor.”
Related Items
• Countdown to Campaign 2018 — OEA Endorsed Candidates
• Ohio Education Association Endorses Richard Cordray for Governor
• 08.06.2018 Columbus Dispatch: Under fire for ECOT, DeWine wants to reduce student testing in Ohio schools and establish a pay-for-performance mode