a caucus for workers in Central Ohio’s public schools.

Committed to doing whatever it takes for the wins we need.

About

Central Ohio Rank and File Educators (CORE) is a caucus of labor union members who work in public education. We’re bringing active unionism to our locales because our jobs and profession must change. Public education has been on the decline for decades, and each election cycle has brought more privatization, less funding, and faster turnover. We refuse to sit back and let elected leaders manage the decline of our schools, our jobs, and our union. Instead, we are rapidly building rank and file power across the state to answer the national call for unions to strike on May 1, 2028. We organize direct actions and run issue campaigns around our four central demands.

Academic freedom

Let the teachers teach! CORE demands all public educators reserve the right to teach culturally responsive curricula across all grades and higher education institutions, as well as subject areas, departments, and programs. This demand includes:

  • Full and immediate repeal of Senate Bill 1

  • Return of a democratically elected State Board of Education with defined regular educator consultation

  • Locally developed and culturally relevant curriculum and assessment

  • Full and immediate restoration of all programs related to diversity, equity, and inclusion

  • Immediate repeal and abolishment of RIMPs and MIMPs

  • Immediate repeal of mandated scripted curricula

  • Removal of credit recovery and advancement programs from outside companies, including but not limited to the companies Edmentum and Edgenuity.

    Collective bargaining rights

    Our collective bargaining rights are hanging by threads in Ohio. This demand includes:

  • Full and immediate restoration of collective bargaining rights for all unions, public and private sector

  • Open collective bargaining statewide.

    • With open collective bargaining, sessions are held in public, so anyone can observe negotiations between the workers and the bosses.

  • Full and immediate restoration and retainment of the right to strike

  • Immediate removal of all “no-strike clause” language in collective bargaining agreements


    Justice and protections for members, students, and families

    Black educators, students, and families must be protected. Immigrant educators, students, and families must be protected. LGBTQIA+ educators, students, and families must be protected. Members and students with disabilities must be protected. Public schools welcome all students, but the system of public education has never protected marginalized students or communities, and CORE educators are putting an end to that system. Educational justice transforms schools to equitably serve all students, especially those historically marginalized by racism, poverty, ableism, xenophobia. This demand includes:  

  • Legal protection and support against all Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, activity, detainment, and deportation. 

  • All public school buildings and grounds be places of safety and sanctuary against hostile government entities, individuals, and programs.

  • Work sponsored visas

  • Recruitment and retainment policies for Black educators


    Fair and full funding

    The method for funding public schools in Ohio has been ruled unconstitutional by the state’s Supreme Court four times since 1997, and yet, nothing has changed. It has simply gotten worse. This demand includes:

  • Immediate end and repeal to all voucher programs

  • Immediate implementation of the Fair School Funding Program with current numbers

    • legal ramifications for all Ohio lawmakers who have been operating against the Ohio Constitution and the rulings of the Ohio Supreme Court on the grounds of funding public schools from March 24, 1997 to the current day

    • backpay to all public school districts which have been underfunded by Ohio lawmakers from March 24, 1997 to the current day

  • Immediate repeal of appointed STRS Board members

  • All public libraries be immediately and fully funded

    • backpay to all public library systems that have received funding cuts from the passage of the state budget in June 2025 to the current day.

  • All special education programs and English language learner programs be fully and immediately funded to meet the legal requirements of the state of Ohio, in addition to the collective bargaining agreement language of the union local and Board of Education in each public school district on the topics.

    • All Board of Education members and superintendents be held to immediate legal ramifications if and when this funding is not allocated and/or staffing ratios do not meet the legal requirements outlined above.  

Central Demands