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Ohio Retirement for Teachers Association
Fighting for Ohio's teachers since 1947!
The mission of ORTA is to monitor, advocate for, and protect the pensions and benefits of its members. ORTA demands accountability from the State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio andlobbies Ohio's legislators to provide a strong and sustainable retirement system for all Ohio educators, Pre-K through higher education. We rely on membership dues to continue our work.
We respectfully honor our members who have recently passed,celebrating their lives of service to Ohio’s children.
Weekly Update - April 11, 2026
As of this date, there is still no ruling on the Glenetta Krause v. State Teachers Retirement Board appeal, and our Board remains intact.
Here is the update on ORTA’s political advocacy. We want to make sure the Ohio Legislature is aware of our issues, so we have done the following. ORTA has sent a hard copy of the attached letter stating our concerns to both House and Senate members. This has been followed up by two emails.
Additionally, ORTA has followed up via email with all our local chapter leaders, sharing the letter the legislators received. Finally, all ORTA members who have an email address on file received a letter asking them to contact their local elected state officials.
ORTA is advocating for proper funding for our pension plan because, compared to other states, we are drastically underfunded. This is the primary reason we don’t have a proper COLA. ORTA is also fighting to keep our Board intact as it is.
Lastly, ORTA wants legislators to understand that Ohio’s Ed Choice voucher plan hurts our pension system, and the proposed property tax elimination could also have crippling consequences to our pension plan.
As always, my best,
Dean Dennis, Chair
ORTA Executive Council
Close the Loop: Report Back to ORTA
To: ORTA Members
From: Dr. Robin Rayfield, Executive Director, ORTA
Date: April 9, 2026
Re: Contact Your State Elected Officials
ORTA has sent the enclosed letter (above) to all Ohio state legislators (Senators and Representatives). The purpose of this letter was to clearly outline the loss of benefits to STRS members and provide important background on the ongoing challenges facing our retirement system.
Now, we need your voice.
We are asking every ORTA member and chapter leader to personally contact your state Senator and Representative and urge them to support Ohio’s retired teachers. A phone call or email from a constituent carries significant weight—especially when legislators hear from multiple educators in their district.
What to Say: Key Talking PointsWhen contacting your elected officials, please emphasize the following:
Retirees Lack Inflation Protection
STRS members do not receive guaranteed inflation protection, despite being promised annual cost-of-living increases. Social Security recipients do receive guaranteed inflation protection. Additionally, Social Security benefits are not subject to Ohio income tax, while STRS benefits are taxed by the state.
Ohio Teachers Pay More but Receive Less
Ohio STRS members pay the highest individual contribution rate among non-Social Security states. At 14%, our members are contributing more into the system relative to the value of benefits received. At the same time, the employer contribution rate—also 14%—is the lowest among non-Social Security states and is less than half of the national average. This imbalance is a key driver of the challenges facing STRS retirees.
ED Choice Diverts Funding from Public Education
Ohio’s Ed Choice voucher program directs approximately $1.1 billion in taxpayer dollars to private and religious schools. This diverts critical funding away from public education and weakens the STRS system. The primary beneficiaries of these vouchers are families well above the poverty threshold.
Support HB 719
A bipartisan bill has been introduced at the statehouse that would protect the STRS pension board from a takeover by political appointees. HB 719 would reverse the amendment placed into the budget bill that silenced the voices of all STRS members. Most legislators didn’t even know the amendment was in the bill when they voted for the budget.
Oppose Property Tax Elimination That Harms Schools
The proposed elimination of property tax in Ohio will reduce support for public schools, along with other essential government services. ORTA urges all public officials to oppose this measure.
Close the Loop: Report Back to ORTA
After contacting your elected officials, please share their response—or lack of response—with the ORTA office. This information is critical as we continue to advocate on behalf of Ohio’s retired educators.
You can contact:
Dr. Robin Rayfield
Phone: 614-431-7002
Email: rrayfield@orta.org
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ORTA Pension Defense Fund
Please consider making a donation to the Pension Defense Fund to help pay legal fees and expenses to defend and protect our pension and retirement benefits from current and future legal attacks.
Judge grants preliminary injunction in lawsuit over Ohio teachers retirement system
On October 15th, the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas issued a preliminary injunction preventing changes to the composition of the STRS Board while litigation is in progress.
ORTA wishes to thank the organizations and individuals who have engaged in our fight to retain elected teachers on the STRS Ohio Retirement Board.
The Ohio Federation of Teachers, Ohio Education Association, and Ohio Conference of American Association of University Professors funded the injunction to stop the removal of elected teachers to the STRS Ohio Board. They released this statement:
“We are thankful for Judge Aveni’s ruling to grant a preliminary injunction. This determination confirms what retired and active members of STRS have known since June: this is an unconstitutional power grab by the legislature. Educators, just like all other public employees in Ohio, deserve a meaningful voice in our pension plan.” — Statement from OEA President Jeff Wensing, OFT President Melissa Cropper, and OC AAUP Executive Director Sara Kilpatrick.
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Colleen Marshall, NBC4 Columbus, has reported factually and without bias on STRS Ohio since the Governor's failed attempt to remove Wade Steen from the STRS Board in May 2023. Watch her report on Judge Aveni's decision to support the preliminary injunction.
David Pepper has dedicated many of his Substack articles to the state's ongoing attack on members of the STRS Ohio Board.
"I have detailed the saga of how Ohio’s always lawless lawmakers have spent years attempting to steal the power of teachers and retirees over their own ($100B) pension fund. And how a number of their attacks have been in clear violation of Ohio law and the constitution." - David Pepper
And above all, we want to thank all of Ohio's teachers who contacted their legislators, asking them not to support this attempt by a small group of politicians to remove democratically elected members from our pension Board.
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Join ORTA today! Take advantage of all of our member benefits!
Free AMBA Webinars
ORTA has partnered with AMBA to offer a series of short webinars about important topics like long term care, Medicare, medical transportation, and more. The talks are educational and informative. Join us for the next one, and invite a friend! āā
Each webinar begins with an ORTA update by Dr. Robin Rayfield, Executive Director.āā
ORTA County Chapters
Join your local county chapter of ORTA for social, educational, and volunteer activities, as well as presentations about STRS Ohio and your retirement benefits. Check our list of county chapters for links to chapter websites and Facebook groups. If your county doesn't have an active chapter, contact ORTA about starting one!
AMBA Benefits
ORTA has partnered with Association Member Benefits Advisors, to offer our members exclusive group rates on health, Medicare supplement, life, dental, vision, and professional liability insurance. AMBA focuses on providing customized coverage through top-rated insurance providers, with options often available to members who may not otherwise qualify for group rates. ā
ORTA Video Library