Third Charter School Unionizes in Cleveland

CLEVELAND—Teachers and support staff at Cleveland College Preparatory School voted 22-0 today to join the Cleveland Alliance of Charter Teachers and Staff (ACTS), an affiliate of the Ohio Federation of Teachers. The win, overseen by the National Labor Relations Board, adds to the wave of charter school union victories across the city.

CCP educators said they wanted a union so they could become genuine partners to improve the school curriculum, reduce teacher turnover, increase teacher voice and accountability, and secure better resources for students and teachers. CCP is part of a network of charter schools operated by the Cleveland-based I Can schools and is a Cleveland Metropolitan School District partner school.

CCP is the third I Can-managed school to unionize in recent months, after teachers and staff at University of Cleveland Preparatory School and Northeast Ohio College Preparatory High School also voted overwhelmingly to join Cleveland ACTS.

Gabrielle Jackson, a fourth-grade teacher, said, “Today teachers and staff of CCP stood together in solidarity with our students. Our union will ensure that we can strengthen our focus on preparing our scholars for success by ensuring teacher retention, equitable materials and just working conditions. We look forward to negotiating a contract that will ensure that we can effectively advocate for our scholars and ourselves.”  

Sean Belveal, a middle school social studies teacher, said: “Today marks a day when teachers and student voices have been heard. As a fifth-year teacher at I Can, I am ecstatic to see the day finally come when my colleagues and I can be true advocates for our students. Forming our union has moved us closer to our goal of a contract for educators that improves accountability and gives teachers a strong collective voice to advocate for our students.”

Cleveland Teachers Union President David Quolke, who is an American Federation of Teachers vice president, said: “There’s a reason Cleveland charter educators are standing together and raising their voices—they know that the best way to improve their students’ education is to bargain for more resources and support in the classroom. By joining with their sisters and brothers across the I Can network, they can work together to improve conditions and help their students succeed.”  

Ohio Federation of Teachers President Melissa Cropper, also an AFT vice president, said: “Frontline educators are demanding a key role in the decisions that affect their students and their classrooms. I Can is beginning to see that the best way of improving accountability and raising standards is to work directly with teachers and support staff. Working together, we can make a real difference in students’ lives.”

Today’s victory brings to 227 the number of charter schools represented by the AFT across 15 different states.  

“Teachers across the country want a real say in the education of their students, and those at Cleveland College Prep are no different. Like so many others, they stood up and voted for a union to achieve professional respect and a voice in the workplace, and to make sure they have the programs, services and resources all kids need to succeed,” AFT President Randi Weingarten said.