Melissa Cropper, President of the Ohio Federation of Teachers, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the ongoing battle for fair school funding in Ohio and recent federal policy changes impacting educators.
Cropper began by highlighting the critical importance of following Ohio's Fair School Funding Plan, which has been threatened by Speaker of the Ohio House Matt Huffman. She emphasized that the current push for universal private school vouchers is unsustainable and diverts resources from the public schools serving most of Ohio's students.
Cropper also discussed recent federal policy changes, including the Social Security Fairness Act, which addresses long-standing inequities for public sector workers, including many educators. This victory, championed by unions and lawmakers like former U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, will significantly impact retired teachers and other public employees who previously faced reduced Social Security benefits.
Cropper also offered practical advice for educators concerned about the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, encouraging them to document their payments and reassuring them that unions will keep fighting to continue the program.
Listen to the full episode featuring Cropper to hear more about the ongoing fight for fair school funding and recent policy victories for educators.