Urgent Legislative Update: The threats to public education and the opportunities to act now
From the Trump administration's 'skinny budget' that aims to cut $12 billion from the US Department of Education to the latest version of the state budget which underfunds Ohio's public schools by $2.75 billion in the next two years, threats at the federal and state levels make it more important now than ever the educators stand up for the supports and resources our students need. There are also opportunities to make our schools even better, including proposed legislation to support school meals and to provide financial support for student teachers. OEA Director of Government Relations breaks down some of the big issues, and tells us what we can do to make a difference right now.
TAKE ACTION NOW | Click here for the OEA Action Alert to contact your state lawmakers and tell them to fully and fairly fund our public schools in this state budget. Click here to sign a petition to protect Ohio's classrooms and support the Fair School Funding Plan. Click here for a flyer with QR links and information to help encourage others to take action, too.
TELL YOUR STORY | Lawmakers need to hear from Aspiring Educators and active educators about what working full time as a student teacher while paying full tuition and receiving no compensation has meant in your own life, and why things need to change. Please contact OEA Government Relations if you have a story to share when HB 205, the Future Educators Support Act, comes up for proponent testimony.
LEARN MORE | Click here to see how your school district would benefit under a fully funded Fair School Funding Plan. Click here to see much your local school district will be shortchanged under the House-passed version of the state budget. Click here for fact sheets about the school districts in each Ohio legislative district to help in your conversations with your lawmakers. Click here for more resources from the All in for Ohio Kids coalition to help you engage your local school board and your state lawmakers on this critically important issue.
SCHEDULE A MEETING WITH YOUR MEMBER OF CONGRESS | With Congress on recess from May 27 through June 2, now is the ideal window to meet with your U.S. Representative and Senators in your home district. In-person meetings during recess are one of the most powerful ways to make our voices heard. Here’s how to get started:
TAKE ACTION NOW | Click here for the OEA Action Alert to contact your state lawmakers and tell them to fully and fairly fund our public schools in this state budget. Click here to sign a petition to protect Ohio's classrooms and support the Fair School Funding Plan. Click here for a flyer with QR links and information to help encourage others to take action, too.
TELL YOUR STORY | Lawmakers need to hear from Aspiring Educators and active educators about what working full time as a student teacher while paying full tuition and receiving no compensation has meant in your own life, and why things need to change. Please contact OEA Government Relations if you have a story to share when HB 205, the Future Educators Support Act, comes up for proponent testimony.
LEARN MORE | Click here to see how your school district would benefit under a fully funded Fair School Funding Plan. Click here to see much your local school district will be shortchanged under the House-passed version of the state budget. Click here for fact sheets about the school districts in each Ohio legislative district to help in your conversations with your lawmakers. Click here for more resources from the All in for Ohio Kids coalition to help you engage your local school board and your state lawmakers on this critically important issue.
SCHEDULE A MEETING WITH YOUR MEMBER OF CONGRESS | With Congress on recess from May 27 through June 2, now is the ideal window to meet with your U.S. Representative and Senators in your home district. In-person meetings during recess are one of the most powerful ways to make our voices heard. Here’s how to get started:
- Find your members of Congress
– Visit www.house.gov and www.senate.gov to look up your district’s Representative and Senators. - Request a meeting
– Use their online “District Office” scheduling portals or call their local offices directly. - Prepare your message
– Oppose proposed federal cuts: Explain how rollback of Title I, IDEA, ESSA and other critical education programs would widen opportunity gaps, undermine supports for students with disabilities, and force cuts to classroom staff and school services.
– Highlight equity impacts: Emphasize that reduced funding disproportionately harms low-income and rural communities, jeopardizing after-school programs, mental-health services, and resources for English learners.
– Call for investment: Urge them to protect and increase federal education funding so every student has access to qualified teachers, up-to-date materials, and safe learning environments. - Bring allies
– Invite fellow educators, parents, or community members to join you for greater impact. - Provide feedback
– Use OEA’s member lobbying feedback form to let us know how the conversation with you elected officials went and what subjects you discussed. Please also indicate if your requests went unanswered using OEA’s feedback form.
Featured Public Education Matters guest:
- Dan Ramos, OEA Director of Government Relations
- Dan Ramos is from Lorain, Ohio, where he attended school at St. John the Baptist and Lorain Southview High School. After graduating high school in 2003, Dan obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science, International Affairs and Philosophy from Baldwin Wallace College in Berea, OH in 2007. Through the 2008 presidential election cycle, he joined the Obama for America campaign, working to help elect President Obama in northeastern Ohio. In 2009, Dan was hired by the Service Employees’ International Union (SEIU) District 1199 WV/OH/KY. Initially working with SEIU as an Administrative Organizer, representing and negotiating contracts for SEIU’s state employees’ division, he became SEIU 1199’s Political and Legislative Liaison in late 2010. In 2011, Dan worked with fellow labor lobbyists and attorneys in the effort to stop Senate Bill 5 while it was in the General Assembly, and then lead SEIU’s efforts field in Central and Northeast Ohio to collect signatures referendum and then defeat SB 5 on the November 2011 ballot. In 2012, Dan moved to the Ohio Education Association. Dan has served as OEA’s Political Advocacy Consultant, where he was responsible for growing OEA’s member political action and legislative advocacy, increasing OEA’s PAC membership, the Fund for Children and Public Education, and assisting in OEA’s political coalitions, such as LEAD Ohio and the America Votes Coalition. In 2018, Dan Ramos moved to Cincinnati, Ohio where he served as a Labor Relations Consultant for the Warren County Leadership Council, representing over 2,400 certified and classified K-12 teachers and ESPs.
- Dan returned to his political role with OEA in 2021, returning as a UniServ Political Advocacy Consultant and then moving into his current role as the Manager of Government Relations in May of 2022. Now, as the Director of Government Relations, Dan heads up OEA’s efforts to engage the Ohio General Assembly and Members of Congress to advance OEA’s legislative policy priorities, build relationships with Ohio’s elected officials, and engage members in advocacy and accountability programs. Dan also helps coordinate OEA’s political, coalition, and electoral programs.
Connect with OEA:
- Email educationmatters@ohea.org with your feedback or ideas for future Public Education Matters topics
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- Get the latest news and statements from OEA here
- Learn more about where OEA stands on the issues
- Keep up to date on the legislation affecting Ohio public schools and educators with OEA's Legislative Watch
About us:
- The Ohio Education Association represents nearly 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.
- Public 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 an Emmy Award winning 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. She lives in Central Ohio with her husband and two young children.
This episode was recorded on May 14, 2025.
