What about the kids? Commenters call out Ohio Education Association for list of ‘issues that matter most to educators’
A prominent school choice advocate is calling out the Ohio Education Association for its list of the “issues that matter most to educators,” saying the teachers’ union left out a key aspect of education.
In a post to X, the OEA, the largest teachers’ union in Ohio, cited collective bargaining rights, public school funding, retirement security, affordable healthcare, and accountability for publicly funded schools.
“Public schools don’t just happen—they’re shaped by the decisions of others,” the group said in its post.
However, Corey A. DeAngelis, a research fellow for the Center for Education Policy at the Heritage Foundation, and others on social media noticed what was missing from the list: the students.
“They don’t care about the kids,” he said on X.
They don't care about the kids. https://t.co/G4DpQTxakM
— Corey A. DeAngelis, school choice evangelist (@DeAngelisCorey) August 21, 2026
He wasn’t alone.
“Interesting list,” another commenter said. “Notice what’s missing: Students & parents. Retirement security, healthcare, and school funding all matter. But where are the students? Academic excellence? Parental choice? Accountability for results?”
“So, kids don’t make the list. Got it. That is why School Choice is sweeping the nation,” another said.
Education outcomes don’t even make the top 10?
Not surprised. #TeacherUnionsHurtOhio
— AFPOhio (@AfpOhio) August 21, 2026
The debate comes as new findings question the performance of Ohio’s public schools. In WalletHub’s new States with the Best & Worst School Systems in 2026 report, Ohio ranked 36th.
Like many states, Ohio has seen an increase in students attending non-public schools, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, public school enrollment in the state has dropped from more than 1.7 million students in 2010 to nearly 1.6 million students in 2025, a drop of about 9%.
Additionally, the number of home-schooled students has increased from 30,923 students during the 2017-18 school year to 53,051 students during the 2023-24 school year, an increase of more than 71%.
During the 2025 fiscal year, the state spent more than $1 billion on voucher programs, with much of the money going to students attending Christian schools, WCMH-TV reported. The Buckeye State offers five state voucher programs, including EdChoice, that offer scholarships to K-12 students to attend private or charter schools.
