(CNN) Teachers at Ohio's largest school district voted Sunday to go on strike for better learning and teaching conditions, just days before school is scheduled to start, according to the teachers' union.
Just a day before the vote in Ohio, a union representing about 2,000 School District of Philadelphia employees voted to authorize a strike for higher wages and adequate training programs -- just over one week before school there is set to start.
The strikes come as schools around the country face critical teacher shortages and low morale among educators, exacerbated by the pandemic, low pay and ever more crowded classrooms.
Also weighing on teachers are a growing number of school shootings and changing guidance on what educators are allowed to teach.
Despite the strike, the school year is still scheduled to begin Wednesday, with classes online and led by substitutes, according to the school district's website.
The district's own administrators may also teach online classes as the strike continues, it said.
But since teachers make up most of the district's coaching staff, sports activities may be rescheduled or canceled, according to the website. »