Ballot papers are being issued to more than 200,000 teachers as part of growing union plans for a strike on November 30 in the bitter row over public sector pensions.
Members of the NASUWT in England and Wales will take part in the union's first national industrial action ballot for a decade, with the result due on November 17.
The NASUWT is the latest union to hold a strike ballot, threatening the biggest outbreak of industrial unrest since the 1979 Winter of Discontent.
The move follows a vote by members of Unison, the biggest public sector union, to take industrial action.
Unison said its members, ranging from school dinner ladies and refuse collectors to social workers and NHS staff, backed a campaign of industrial action by 245,358 votes to 70,253, in a 29% turnout.
The Government said Unison's voting figures showed there was "extremely limited support" for strikes, adding that the NHS had contingency plans in place to ensure quality of patient care was not compromised.
Downing Street said the strike vote was "disappointing, unnecessary and potentially damaging" and a No 10 spokeswoman said: "We have a good deal on the table - one that is fair and affordable - and we would urge the trade unions to reconsider and look at the deal on the table."
Unison's ballot was the biggest in union history, with 1.1 million voting papers sent to its members, including nurses, teaching assistants, social workers, care assistants, paramedics, police staff, school dinner ladies, probation officers, cleaners and other public sector employees.
General secretary Dave Prentis said: "The decisive 'yes' vote in the ballot reflects the deep concern that our members have over Government ministers' proposals for their pensions."
Mr Prentis said a new offer from the Government on Wednesday was a "marked improvement" on earlier proposals, adding: "But it is important to understand that the statement has to be translated into offers in the scheme specific talks. We still have had no offer in those negotiations, where such an offer can legitimately be made. We support the TUC day of action on November 30, but will be negotiating right up to then and beyond to get a fair deal for our members."
