OEA – Teacher wage gap report highlights teacher shortage cause
“Ohio must do more to make teaching an attractive profession, and that starts with paying educators fairly as the skilled professionals they are,” said Ohio Education Association President Scott DiMauro. “Between the fact that you can get paid a lot more money working in another career field and the constant attacks from extremist politicians who are ignoring the will of the overwhelming majority of Ohio parents who trust their children’s teachers to do the jobs they were trained to do, it’s no surprise that we’re seeing far fewer Ohioans entering the profession than even a few years ago and we’re struggling to keep many highly qualified, experienced teachers in this career. Something has to give.”
According to the EPI report, average weekly wages of public school teachers in the United States, adjusted for inflation, increased just $29 from 1996 to 2021, while inflation-adjusted weekly wages for other college graduates rose $445 over that same period. And, even when things like health insurance and retirement plans are accounted for, the benefits advantage for teachers has not been enough to offset the growing wage penalty, which was a record-high 23.5% nationally last year.
“This report should set off huge alarm bells for policy makers at every level. We are at a tipping point,” DiMauro said. “Without significant action right now to address the pay disparities for teachers and the other major issues contributing to staffing shortages, our schools are not going to be able to maintain the workforce levels needed to deliver the world-class education every student deserves. Ohio’s families need our lawmakers to step up and invest in our public schools.”
“Ohio must make a long-term commitment to fully and fairly funding our schools and paying our educators what they deserve,” DiMauro added. “OEA calls on every Ohio lawmaker to take this EPI report to heart.”
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PRESS RELEASES
- November 14, 2024 – OEA applauds leadership of STRS Board over the last decade that enabled move to reduce retirement eligibility age for a three-year period
- September 20, 2024 – OEA thanks Ohio Congress members from both parties for their work to move bipartisan Social Security Fairness Act forward
- September 13, 2024 – 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
- August 29, 2024 – OEA congratulates the 2025 OTOY
- July 1, 2024 – OEA congratulates CNP on ballot signature success
- June 20, 2024 – As teacher license fee hike looms, OEA calls for Controlling Board action
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LEGISLATIVE WATCH RELEASES
- December 13, 2024 – Lame Duck Edition #4: SB 295: Senate May Pass Mandate to Close School Buildings Based on Test Scores; HB 432: Career-Technical Educator Licenses; SB 293 & HB 8: Religious Release Time Mandate Amended Into ‘Forced Outing’ Bill
- December 9, 2024 – Lame Duck Edition #3: Amendments Making Changes to Student Privacy Bill (Senate Bill 29) Clear Both Chambers; Ohio Senate Committee to Take Up School Closure Bill; Holds Hearing Controversial “Parents’ Bill of Rights” Legislation; Bill Dealing with Student Discipline Clears the Ohio House; Voucher Accountability Legislation Gutted in Committee; Senate Passes Bill Allowing Reemployed Retirees to Run for STRS Board
- November 22, 2024 – Lame Duck Edition #2: Legislative Caucuses Select Leadership Teams for the 136th General Assembly; Keep Up the Work to Pass the Social Security Fairness Act this Congress; OEA Supported Bills Receive Sponsor Testimony; View Committee Hearings in Ohio Channel Archive
- November 15, 2024 – Lame Duck Edition #1: Important Victory! U.S. House Passes GPO-WEP Repeal; Honesty Partners Host Webinar on Intellectual Freedom and Ohio Libraries; Bill to Increases Teacher Minimum Salary to $50,000 Receives First Hearing; Trans-Bathroom Bill Restrictions Go to Governor for Signature; School Bus Safety Bill Receives Amendments in House Transportation Committee; Career-Technical Licensure Bill Receives Hearings in Senate Committee; Religious Release Time Bills Get Committee Hearings
- November 8, 2024 – U.S. House to Vote on Repeal of GPO-WEP; Lame Duck Session for the 135th General Assembly begins Next Week; Release Time for Religious Instruction Bill Set for House Education Committee Hearing next week
- September 12, 2024 – This is our chance to end GPO-WEP
- August 23, 2024 – OEA Applauds State Controlling Board Decision to Approve Full Funding for the State Board of Education
- August 9, 2024 – U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown Calls for Vote on Repeal of GPO/WEP
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EVENTS – or visit the Master Calendar
- December 23 – Columbus Blue Jackets vs Montreal Canadiens
- December 31 – Columbus Blue Jackets vs Carolina Hurricanes
- January 21 – OEA New President Power Hour: Helpful tips for successful negotiations
- January 22 – Wellness Wednesday: Slow Cooker Simple Creations
- January 25 – Cleveland CAVs vs Houston Rockets
- January 25-26 – AE ONE Annual Conference
- February 2 – Cleveland CAVs vs Dallas Mavericks
- February 18 – OEA New President Power Hour: Best practices in communicating with your members and the community
- February 21 – Cleveland CAVs vs New York Knicks
- February 20-22 – 2025 Advocacy and Organizing Institute (AOI)
- February 22 – Wellness Wednesday: Virtual Paint and Sip
- March 2 – Cleveland CAVs vs Portland Trail Blazers
- March 7-9 – NEA Leadership Summit
- March 18 – OEA New President Power Hour: Your voice in the OEA Democratic Structure and resources available to you and your members
- April 15 – OEA New President Power Hour: “What If” Sharing problem-solving strategies
- May 28 – Wellness Wednesday: End of Year Let It Go Party!!
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Updated December 19, 2024
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