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.
Streaming Now!
Pension Fight Club
The new documentary, Pension Fight Club, is now available to stream online.
Pension Fight Club is an investigative documentary by awardwinning filmmaker Doug Orchard that provides a national examination of the systemic financial risks and lack of transparency currently facing public retirement funds, including the State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio (STRS Ohio).
You'll see Ohio teachers Trina Prufer, Robin Rayfield, Dean Dennis, and Rudy Fichtenbaum. Also in the film are John Damschroeder, Chris Tobe, and Ted Siedle.
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Click on the Purchase to Watch button.
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Pay $9.00. After you purchase the film, you can watch it as many time as you want to.
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Watch on your phone, tablet, laptop.
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Cast it to your TV.
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Have a movie night for your colleagues, family, and friends.
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Share the link with your colleagues.
Weekly Update: June 20, 2026
In the event you missed last week’s update, it was merged into the ORTA June Monthly Update. You can find it under the Member Benefits tab on the ORTA website.
What was notable in last week's update was that the first of the 1.6% COLA checks will start arriving on July 1st for members who retired on that anniversary date. As an example, I retired on January 1st, so I’ll receive my 1.6% COLA on January 1st of 2027. This July 1st will be the earliest anyone can receive the 1.6% COLA. Also worth noting is that the STRS June public Board meeting will be June 24-26, with public participation scheduled for June 25.
Lastly, ORTA recognizes that local ORTA chapter meetings offer a welcoming community and valuable networking opportunities. Members can connect, build relationships, and find meaningful ways to become engaged.
ORTA county chapters serve as grassroots hubs for retired educators. The chapters also serve as a way for members to stay informed about ORTA’s pension advocacy alongside their community endeavors. In short, ORTA county chapters offer a variety of activities for their members.
My best, and as always, ORTA is advocating for you.
Dean Dennis, ORTA Executive Chair
A Message from Robin Rayfield, Executive Director
Greetings ORTA Faithful!
I wanted to clarify for our membership a couple of issues that I have received phone calls about. The first is a simple question from several members: When will I see my 1.6% COLA that was passed by the STRS board in March of 2026’. For many retirees the answer is on July 1, 2026. For many others, the answer is June 1, 2027. This confuses retirees as they see their friends and colleagues receive an increase 11 months sooner than they receive theirs. The reason for the difference is related to the Ohio Revised Code that determines when any COLAs are granted. The two biggest months of retirement are July and June. Since the COLA is awarded on the anniversary of a person’s retirement, that determines the date a retiree will receive their increase. Since the COLA was awarded in the fiscal year 2027 (beginning July 1, 2026) anyone with a retirement anniversary of June 1, will wait until that date in the fiscal year that began on July 1, 2026. Hence the COLA is awarded on June 1, 2027.
The second topic I want to discuss is what STRS refers to as the SBP. This acronym stands for Sustainable Benefit Program. If you recall, ORTA has been asking for a ‘pathway’ to COLA for several years. In speeches to the STRS board I have asked about a pathway or plan for COLA restoration. For years, the answer from STRS was ‘We are doing our best. We are investing the money prudently and slowly but surely the pension is improving’. But there was no identified action plan or strategic plan to pay retirees what they were promised. In December of 2025, a plan was put forward that would provide a pathway or roadmap to pay retirees more of what they were promised. The December version of the SBP Decision Matrix was modified and in March of this year the board passed a policy that provides a template for increasing retiree benefits. This template also includes a plan to strengthen the pension and for reducing the years of service requirement for active contributors. Some basic information to help everyone understand what to expect include:
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No increases in benefits are available unless the funded ratio is above 80%.
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If the funded ration is above 80% but less than 90% money may be available for increases in benefits. However, the money available is ‘split’ three ways. Some of the money available will go towards strengthening the pension, some of the money will go towards reducing the years of service for actives, and some of the money will go towards increases for retirees.
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As the pension is strengthened, and the funding ratio improves to 90% or 100% more money becomes available for retirees and for active people as the unfunded liabilities are paid down.
Retirees have provided information to STRS through surveys that support the notions of strengthening the pension and the need for inflation protection. In the current year (FY 2027) the ‘split’ of money between the three areas looks like this:
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1.2 billion dollars to strengthen the pension (50% of what is available)
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$700 million for COLA to retirees (30% of what is available)
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$435 million to reduce the number of years of service to 32 years through 2035 (20% of what is available)
Although ORTA believes that the division of the money should be weighted so that a 2% COLA is guaranteed, we also recognize that the board is working toward the goal of a permanent COLA for retirees.
ORTA Political Advocacy
ORTA is working to collect information on where state elected representatives and senators stand on matters of importance to STRS members. ORTA has reached out via email and mailed letters to each representative and senator describing our concerns with the STRS pension system and other matters concerning education. The areas of concern we have shared include:
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STRS retirees were promised inflation protection, however with the suspension of a guaranteed COLA beneficiaries have not received this benefit. The result of the loss of COLA amounts to a loss of purchasing power approaching 25% since 2017.
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Ohio’s employer rate paid to STRS is one of the lowest in the nation. Specifically, Ohio’s employer contribution (14%) is less than ½ of the national average of employer rates.
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ORTA asks that all elected officials support HB 719 that eliminates the amendment in the state budget that changes the composition of the pension board from a majority of elected pension board members to an overwhelming majority of politically appointed STRS board members.
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ORTA points out that the Ed Choice Voucher system in place violates Ohio’s constitution and hurts the public schools in Ohio. Each year Ohio sends over 1 billion dollars in vouchers to private schools. Most of the families receiving vouchers are well above the poverty line. Every Ohio taxpayer is either receiving an Ed Choice voucher or is paying for an Ed Choice voucher.
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ORTA warns all elected officials that the effort to eliminate property tax in Ohio will have catastrophic consequences not only for schools in Ohio but for all essential governmental services.
Thus far very few of the elected officials contacted have responded to ORTA’s contacts. Many ORTA members have reached out to their locally elected state officials and have received non-committal responses. It appears that the elected people currently holding office have little regard for the concerns of the educators in their districts. As the fall election approaches ORTA plans to provide an information sheet that will include where each elected official stands on matters of importance to STRS retirees.
What's happening at your
county chapter of ORTA?
ORTA's county chapters play an important role in supporting Ohio’s retired educators through pension advocacy, networking opportunities, member benefits, and community involvement.
Some chapters offer classroom grants and student scholarships. Joining your local chapter is a great way to stay informed, connected, and engaged during retirement.
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.
Stand Up for Rudy and His $100,000 Commitment to You
Throughout his career, and as an elected member of the STRS Ohio Retirement Board, Rudy Fichtenbaum fought for the rights of Ohio's educators. As an STRS board member and Chair, he stood on the front lines to protect and restore the retirement benefits teachers have earned through decades of hard work.
Now, Rudy faces a massive personal challenge. Because of his commitment to teachers, he was targeted by a lawsuit from the Ohio attorney general, incurring over $100,000 in legal fees defending his actions as a board member. While ORTA previously provided assistance, they were forced to cease due to an investigation by the Ohio Ethics Commission. Rudy must now finance this battle on his own. We cannot let an educator stand alone after he stood up for us.
Your contribution, no matter the size, makes a difference. If you are unable to donate, please consider sharing Rudy's story and his GoFundMe campaign with your network of colleagues and friends. Together, we can ensure that standing up for teachers doesn't result in individual financial ruin.
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 (below) 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
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.
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.
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!
Each webinar begins with an ORTA update by Dr. Robin Rayfield, Executive Director.
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.
ORTA Video Library