Ohio Senate bill would allow veterans to teach without a degree

Ohio Federation of Teachers (OFT) President Melissa Cropper joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed a bill in the Ohio Senate that, if passed, would allow veterans to become public school teachers without a teaching degree.

Sponsored by Ohio State Sen. Jerry Cirino (R-Willoughby), the bill, if passed, would allow veterans to bypass teaching degrees if they complete four years of military service, received an honorable discharge and have a reference letter from a former commanding officer that says the veteran is qualified to teach.

Cropper discussed how the bill, if passed, would loosen teacher requirements and negatively impact the quality of public education in Ohio. She said the bill surprisingly has legs, given the number of Republicans in the Ohio legislature who might see it as a quick fix to Ohio’s teacher shortage. However, she stressed the shortsightedness of the bill, as it does not address why teachers are fleeing the profession and why fewer people want to become teachers.

Cropper then talked about the importance of Ohio Board of Education races on the Nov. 8 ballot and the candidates endorsed by the OFT. She also stressed the need to support Ohio Senate candidate Tim Ryan, a Democrat, over his opponent J.D. Vance, a Republican.

Listen to the entire episode to learn more about these topics.