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|Logo = Nealogo.gif
|Logo = Nealogo.gif
|Location = [[Washington, D.C.]]
|Location = [[Washington, D.C.]]
|Type = [[501(c)#501(c)(5)|501(c)(5)]]
|Type = [[501(c)(5)]]
|Affiliation =  
|Affiliation =  
|Top official = [[Lily Eskelsen García]], President
|Top official = Becky Pringle, President
|Founder(s) =  
|Founder(s) =  
|Year founded =1857
|Year founded =1857
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|Member =  
|Member =  
|Connections =  
|Connections =  
}}
}}{{tnr}}
 
The '''National Education Association''' (NEA) is a [[501(c)(5)]] [[nonprofit organization]] based in [[Washington, D.C.]] The organization is a professional association representing teachers that describes itself as "the voice of education professionals. Our work is fundamental to the nation, and we accept the profound trust placed in us."<ref name=mission>[https://www.nea.org/about-nea/mission-vision-values ''National Education Association'', "Our Mission, Vision, & Values," accessed September 26, 2025]</ref>
{{tnr}}The '''National Education Association''' (NEA) is a [[501(c)(5)]] professional organizational and labor union, representing public education professionals.<ref>[http://www.nea.org/home/19583.htm ''National Education Association,'' "NEA's Vision, Mission, and Values," accessed November 26, 2013]</ref> It is the largest labor union in the United States.<ref>[http://klfy.com/2015/09/18/national-education-assoc-president-visits-acadiana-schools/ ''KLFY'', "National Education Assoc. president visits Acadiana school," September 18, 2015]</ref>
 
==Mission==
The stated mission of the National Education Association is quoted from the NEA website below:<ref>[http://www.nea.org ''National Education Association'', "NEA's Vision, Mission and Values," accessed July 14, 2015]</ref>
{{Quote|Our mission is to advocate for education professionals and to unite our members and the nation to fulfill the promise of public education to prepare every student to succeed in a diverse and interdependent world.}}
 
==History==
[[Image:National Education Association headquarters.JPG|thumb|300px|The National Education Association building in Washington, D.C.]]
NEA was founded in 1857 by one hundred educators. In 1966 it merged with the American Teachers Association. Since that time, its membership has increased to over 3.2 million.<ref>[http://www.nea.org/home/1704.htm ''National Education Association,'' "Our History," accessed November 26, 2013]</ref>


==Background==
==Background==
A group of ten state education associations founded the organization as the National Teachers Association (NTA) in 1857. The organization adopted its current name in 1870. It merged with the majority-Black American Teachers Organization in 1964. During the 1980s, it expanded its membership to also include education support professionals.<ref>[https://www.nea.org/about-nea/mission-vision-values/history-nea ''National Education Association'', "The History of NEA," accessed September 26, 2025]</ref>


The NEA is a volunteer-based organization that relies upon its members to perform much of the Association's work. In turn, the members are supported by a network of staff at the local, state, and national levels. The stated goal of NEA's work is encapsulated in its tagline: "building great public schools for every child."<ref>[http://www.nea.org "National Education Association Website"]</ref>
As of September 2025, the organization had the following mission statement:<ref name=mission/>
{{Quote|
Our mission is to advocate for education professionals and to unite our members and the nation to fulfill the promise of public education to prepare every student to succeed in a diverse and interdependent world.}}


At the local level, affiliates perform a variety of activities (as determined by the local members), which may range from raising funds for scholarship programs to conducting professional workshops on issues that affect faculty and school support staff to bargaining contracts for school district employees.<ref name=Do>[http://www.nea.org/home/49809.htm ''NEA'', "Affiliates," accessed August 6, 2015]</ref>
==Leadership==
 
As of September 2025, the following individuals held senior leadership roles at the National Education Association:<ref>[https://www.nea.org/our-leaders ''National Education Association'', "Our Leaders," accessed September 26, 2025]</ref>
State affiliates regularly lobby state legislators for funding and other resources; they seek to influence education policy and they campaign for higher professional standards for educators and support professionals. The extent to which the NEA and its state and local affiliates engage in political activities, especially during election cycles has, however, been a source of controversy.<ref>[http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=11785 "Human Events Article: NEA: 30 Years of Lobbying Democrats"]</ref>
*'''Becky Pringle''', ''president''
*'''Princess R. Moss''', ''vice president''
*'''Noel Candelaria''', ''secretary-treasurer''
*'''Kim Anderson''', ''executive director''
*'''Bill Farmer''', ''executive committee''
*'''Mark Jewell''', ''executive committee''
*'''Gladys Fátima Márquez''', ''executive committee''
*'''Ron Duff Martin''', ''executive committee''
*'''Shannon McCann''', ''executive committee''
*'''Dr. Tia T. Mills''', ''executive committee''


At the national level, the NEA lobbies the United States Congress and federal agencies on behalf of its members and public schools, works with other education organizations and friends of public education, provides training and assistance to its affiliates, and generally conducts activities consistent with the policies set by its elected governing bodies.<ref name=Do/>
==Work and activities==
 
===Electoral activities and influence===
===Structure===
====2016 elections====
{{Template:09272017TexedRight}}
NEA's 3.2 million members are served by 14,000 local affiliates (including some 800 higher education affiliates), 51 state-level affiliates (50 state associations and the Federal Education Association), and roughly 555 staff members working at its headquarters in Washington, D.C., and in regional offices.<ref>[http://www.nea.org/topics/truth.html "NEA Response to Critics"] ''([[dead link]])''</ref>
 
In 2006, the NEA and the AFL-CIO also announced that, for the first time, stand-alone NEA locals as well as those that had merged with the AFT would be allowed to join state and local labor federations affiliated with the AFL-CIO.<ref name=Do/>
 
===Advocacy areas===
NEA lists the following issues as its current focus:<ref>[http://www.nea.org/home/18526.htm ''National Education Association, "Issues," accessed August 10, 2016]</ref>
<div style="column-count:3;-moz-column-count:3;-webkit-column-count:3" class="mobile-columns">
*Achievement Gaps
*Affordable Health Care
*Career and Technical Education
*[[Charter schools]]
*Child Nutrition
*College Affordability
*[[Common Core]] State Standards
*Community Schools
*Early Childhood Education
*Educator Tax Relief
*Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
*E-Rate Program
*Green Schools & Environmental Education
*Higher Education/Student Loans
*Human & Civil Rights
*IDEA / Special Education
*Immigration
*International Relations
*Leading the Profession
*Minority Community Outreach
*NEA's Bully Free, It Starts with Me
*Pension Protection
*Priority Schools Campaign
*Privatization
*Professional Pay
*Reading
*Recovery Act (ARRA)
*Rural Schools
*School Safety
*Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM)
*Social Security Offsets (GPO/WEP)
*Teacher Quality
*Testing
*Union Rights
*Vouchers
</div>
 
==Political activity==
===2016 elections===


In October 2015, NEA President [[Lily Eskelsen García]] announced that the NEA would endorse 2016 [[Democratic]] presidential nominee [[Hillary Clinton]]. García stated the following:<ref>[http://www.nea.org/home/64092.htm ''NEA'', "NEA President: Clinton is a strong leader who will do what is best for America’s students," October 3, 2015]</ref>
In October 2015, NEA President [[Lily Eskelsen García]] announced that the NEA would endorse 2016 [[Democratic]] presidential nominee [[Hillary Clinton]]. García stated the following:<ref>[http://www.nea.org/home/64092.htm ''NEA'', "NEA President: Clinton is a strong leader who will do what is best for America’s students," October 3, 2015]</ref>
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The National Education Association proudly supports Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to be the Democratic nominee for president of the United States. Clinton is a strong leader who will do what is best for America’s students. For more than four decades, Clinton has fought to make sure all children have a fair opportunity to succeed regardless of their ZIP code. Clinton will continue to advocate on behalf of students, educators and working families because she understands the road to a stronger U.S. economy starts in America’s public schools.}}
The National Education Association proudly supports Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to be the Democratic nominee for president of the United States. Clinton is a strong leader who will do what is best for America’s students. For more than four decades, Clinton has fought to make sure all children have a fair opportunity to succeed regardless of their ZIP code. Clinton will continue to advocate on behalf of students, educators and working families because she understands the road to a stronger U.S. economy starts in America’s public schools.}}


===2014 elections===
====2014 elections====
As of November 2013, NEA has spent $1,646,370 in the 2014 election cycle: $310,370 went to Democratic candidates, $55,500 to Republicans and the remaining $1,280,000 was soft money given to political organizations.<ref name=os>[http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/totals.php?id=D000000064&cycle=2012 ''OpenSecrets'', "National Education Assn Totals," accessed November 26, 2013]</ref>
As of November 2013, NEA has spent $1,646,370 in the 2014 election cycle: $310,370 went to Democratic candidates, $55,500 to Republicans and the remaining $1,280,000 was soft money given to political organizations.<ref name=os>[http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/totals.php?id=D000000064&cycle=2012 ''OpenSecrets'', "National Education Assn Totals," accessed November 26, 2013]</ref>


===2012 elections===
====2012 elections====
NEA spent $14,899,964 in the 2012 election cycle: $2,260,847 on Democratic candidates, $177,707 on Republicans, and $12,486,260 as soft money given to political organizations.<ref name=os/>
NEA spent $14,899,964 in the 2012 election cycle: $2,260,847 on Democratic candidates, $177,707 on Republicans, and $12,486,260 as soft money given to political organizations.<ref name=os/>


====2012 Expenditures====
=====2012 expenditures=====
The following table displays the top 10 candidates who received the most money from NEA.<ref>[http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/toprecips.php?id=D000000064&cycle=2012 ''OpenSecrets'', "National Education Assn, Recipients," accessed November 26, 2013]</ref>
The following table displays the top 10 candidates who received the most money from NEA.<ref>[http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/toprecips.php?id=D000000064&cycle=2012 ''OpenSecrets'', "National Education Assn, Recipients," accessed November 26, 2013]</ref>


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|}
|}


===Federal bills===
==Notable endorsements==
====2015-2016====
<APIWidget where='endorser_organization=21244'  template='EndorsementsByEndorser' />
Below is a list of the bills the NEA {{Greener | start=1/3/2017 11:00pm EST|before=supports or opposes | after=supported and opposed }} during the [[114th United States Congress]].<ref>[http://edadvocacy.nea.org/bills ''NEA'', "Bills," accessed August 10, 2016]</ref>
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" margin-right: 3px; margin-top: 3px; margin-bottom:3px; margin-left:3px; style="background:none; width:850px;"
! colspan="3" align="center" style="background-color:gray; color: white;" | NEA's stance on federal legislation.
|-
! style="background-color:#444; color: white;" | Bill
! style="background-color:#444; color: white;" | Description
! style="background-color:#444; color: white;" | NEA stance
|-
| HR 5055  || Fiscal 2017 Energy-Water Appropriations ([[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House]]) || {{support}}
|-
| HR 5003  || A bill to reauthorize child nutrition programs, and for other purposes. || {{oppose}}
|-
| HR 4901  || A bill to reauthorize the Scholarships for Opportunity and Results Act, and for other purposes.  || {{oppose}}
|-
| HR 4725  || A bill to reduce the Federal deficit through reforms in spending under Medicaid, CHIP, and the Prevention and Public Health Fund (official title to be confirmed).  || {{oppose}}
|-
| HR 4042  || A bill to provide grants for high-quality prekindergarten programs.  || {{support}}
|-
| HR 3817  || A bill to amend the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to clarify the availability and appropriateness of training for local food service personnel, and for other purposes.  || {{support}}
|-
| HR 3795  || A bill to improve certain provisions relating to charter schools.  || {{support}}
|-
| HR 3762  || Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act  || {{oppose}}
|-
| HR 3696  || A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to prevent Medicare part B premium and deductible increases for 2016.  || {{support}}
|-
| HR 3604  || A bill to establish a grant program to assist States to establish or expand universal prekindergarten in public schools and public charter schools.  || {{support}}
|}


===Ballot measure activity===
==Affiliations==
====Overview of ballot measure support and opposition====
As of September 2025, the following organizations were affiliated with the National Education Association:<ref>[https://www.nea.org/nea-affiliates ''National Education Association'', "NEA Affiliates," accessed September 26, 2025]</ref>
The following table details NEA's ballot measure stances available on Ballotpedia:
<div style="column-count:5;-moz-column-count:5;-webkit-column-count:5" class="mobile-columns">
*[[Alabama Education Association]]
*[[NEA-Alaska]]
*[[Arizona Education Association]]
*[[Arkansas Education Association]]
*[[California Teachers Association]]
*[[Colorado Education Association]]
*[[Connecticut Education Association]]
*[[Delaware State Education Association]]
*[[Federal Education Association]]
*[[Florida Education Association]]
*[[Georgia Association of Educators]]
*[[Hawaii State Teachers Association]]
*[[Idaho Education Association]]
*[[Illinois Education Association]]
*[[Indiana State Teachers Association]]
*[[Iowa State Education Association]]
*[[Kansas National Education Association]]
*[[Kentucky Education Association]]
*[[Louisiana Association of Educators]]
*[[Maine Education Association]]
*[[Maryland State Education Association]]
*[[Massachusetts Teachers Association]]
*[[Michigan Education Association]]
*[[Education Minnesota]]
*[[Mississippi Association of Educators]]
*[[Missouri NEA]]
*[[Montana Federation of Public Employees]]
*[[Nebraska State Education Association]]
*[[Nevada State Education Association]]
*[[NEA-New Hampshire]]
*[[New Jersey Education Association]]
*[[NEA-New Mexico]]
*[[New York State United Teachers]]
*[[North Carolina Association of Educators]]
*[[North Dakota United]]
*[[Ohio Education Association]]
*[[Oklahoma Education Association]]
*[[Oregon Education Association]]
*[[Pennsylvania State Education Association]]
*[[NEA Rhode Island]]
*[[The South Carolina Education Association]]
*[[South Dakota Education Association]]
*[[Tennessee Education Association]]
*[[Texas State Teachers Association]]
*[[Utah Education Association]]
*[[Vermont-NEA]]
*[[Virginia Education Association]]
*[[Washington Education Association]]
*[[Education West Virginia]]
*[[Wisconsin Education Association Council]]
*[[Wyoming Education Association]]
</div>


{| class="wikitable"
== Finances ==
! colspan="5" align="center" style="background-color:#00008B; color: white;" |  Ballot measure support and opposition for NEA
The following is a breakdown of the National Education Association's revenues and expenses from 2004 to 2024. The information comes from [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/530115260 ProPublica].
<datatable caption="National Education Association financial data 2004-2024">
! align="left"|Year
! Revenue 
! Expenses
|-
|-
! valign="bottom" style="background-color:#00008B; color: white;" | Ballot measure
| 2004 || $294.5 million || $295.3 million
! valign="bottom" style="background-color:#00008B; color: white;" | Year
! valign="bottom" style="background-color:#00008B; color: white;" | Position
! valign="bottom" style="background-color:#00008B; color: white;" | Amount
! valign="bottom" style="background-color:#00008B; color: white;" | Status
|-
|-
| [[Maine Minimum Wage Increase, Question 4 (2016)]]|| 2016|| Support || $131,000<ref>[https://secure.mainecampaignfinance.com/PublicSite/SearchPages/BQCList.aspx ''Maine Commission on Government Ethics and Election Practices'', "Ballot Questions," accessed April 15, 2016]</ref> || align=center | {{#Dpl: title = Maine Minimum Wage Increase, Question 4 (2016) | include = {Ballot box}:status image,{Ballot box}:status|secseparators = &nbsp;,}}
| 2005 || $304.1 million || $299.4 million
|-
|-
| [[Arkansas Minimum Wage Initiative, Issue 5 (2014)]]|| 2014|| Support || $50,000<ref>[http://www.arkansasethics.com/ ''Arkansas Ethics Commission'', "LOCAL-OPTION/BALLOT/LEGISLATIVE QUESTION COMMITTEE FILINGS," accessed December 6, 2014]</ref> || align=center | {{approved}}
| 2006 || $322.1 million || $314.5 million
|-
|-
| [[Illinois Minimum Wage Increase Question (2014)]]|| 2014 || Support  || ||align=center | {{approved}}
| 2007 || $341.0 million || $328.8 million
|-
|-
| [[Missouri Teacher Performance Evaluation, Amendment 3 (2014)]]|| 2014 || Oppose  || ||align=center | {{defeated}}
| 2008 || $357.4 million || $336.7 million
|-
|-
| [[Nevada Margin Tax for Public Schools Initiative, Question 3 (2014)]]|| 2014 || Support ||  || align=center | {{defeated}}
| 2009 || $366.9 million || $366.6 million
|-
|-
| [[Washington Class Size Reduction Measure, Initiative 1351 (2014)]]|| 2014 || Support || $1,833,000<ref>[https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/9/90/CLASS_SIZE_COUNTS-2014-contributions.pdf ''Washington Public Disclosure Commission'', "Class Size Counts," accessed August 17, 2016]</ref> || align=center | {{approved}}
| 2010 || $376.6 million || $360.4 million
|-
|-
| [[Oklahoma State Question 744 (2010)]]|| 2010|| Support || || align=center | {{defeated}}
| 2011 || $376.5 million || $373.2 million
|-
|-
| [[California Proposition 1A (May 2009)]]|| 2009|| Support|| $3,010,888<ref>[http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/ballot.phtml?m=630 ''Follow the Money'', "Proposition 1A," accessed August 17, 2016]</ref> || align=center | {{defeated}}
| 2012 || $380.7 million || $356.2 million
|-
|-
| [[Maine Auto Excise Tax Repeal, Question 2 (2009)]]|| 2009|| Oppose|| $350,000<ref>[http://www.mainecampaignfinance.com/public/entity_list_BQC.asp ''State of Maine'', "Cash Contributions to PAC," October 13, 2009]</ref> || align=center | {{defeated}}
| 2013 || $384.6 million || $341.7 million
|-
|-
| [[Washington Lower Property Taxes, Initiative 1033 (2009)]]|| 2009|| Oppose|| $328,600<ref>[http://www.pdc.wa.gov/querysystem/committees/initiativedata.aspx ''Washington Public Disclosure Commission'', "No on I-1033 Committee," accessed October 13, 2009]</ref> || align=center | {{defeated}}
| 2014 || $384.2 million || $343.0 million
|-
|-
| [[Arizona Majority Rules, Proposition 105 (2008)]]|| 2008|| Oppose|| $500,000<ref>[http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/frontpage/100739.php ''Arizona Republic'', "Big money behind some ballot props," October 27, 2008]</ref> || align=center | {{defeated}}
| 2015 || $370.6 million || $343.4 million
|-
|-
| [[Colorado Education Funding and TABOR Rebates, Amendment 59 (2008)]]|| 2008 || Support||  || align=center |  {{defeated}}
| 2016 || $371.6 million || $373.5 million
|-
|-
| [[Nebraska Civil Rights Initiative, 424 (2008)]]|| 2008 || Oppose||  || align=center | {{approved}}
| 2017 || $374.4 million || $361.0 million
|-
|-
| [[Utah School Vouchers, Referendum 1 (2007)]]|| 2007|| Supported veto|| || align=center | Vetoed
| 2018 || $383.8 million || $362.8 million
|-
|-
| [[Missouri Minimum Wage Act, Proposition B (2006)]]|| 2006|| Support|| $200,000<ref>[http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/committee.phtml?c=2082 ''Follow the Money'', "GIVE MISSOURIANS A RAISE," accessed May 20, 2014]</ref> || align=center |  {{approved}}
| 2019 || $377.1 million || $356.6 million
|-
|-
| [[Ohio Minimum Wage Initiative (2006)]]|| 2006 || Support || $710,000<ref>[http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/committee.phtml?c=1981 ''Followthemoney.org'', "Donors to Yes on 2," accessed July 30, 2013]</ref> || align=center | {{approved}}
| 2020 || $396.5 million || $377.1 million
|-
|-
| [[Maine Education Funding Carryover Initiative (2004)]]|| 2004|| Support||  || align=center | {{approved}}
| 2021 || $396.8 million || $380.7 million
|-
|-
| [[Washington Charter School Authorization, Referendum 55 (2004)]]|| 2004 || Oppose||  || align=center | Vetoed
| 2022 || $378.2 million || $389.2 million
|-
|-
| [[Florida Minimum Wage, Amendment 5 (2004)]]|| 2004 || Support ||  || align=center | {{approved}}
| 2023 || $388.4 million || $399.4 million
|-
|-
| [[Utah Radioactive Waste, Initiative 1 (2002)]]|| 2002|| Support|| || align=center | {{defeated}}
| 2024 || $402.8 million || $411.1 million
|}
</datatable>
 
==Finances==
 
Most NEA funding comes from dues paid by its members ($295 million in dues from a $341 million total budget in 2005).<ref>[http://www.townhall.com/columnists/PaulWeyrich/2006/04/12/secretary_of_labor_elaine_chao_%E2%80%93_a_lady_of_achievement “Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao”]</ref> According to the NEA's website yearly membership dues are $300.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/2/http://www.nea.org/ncueahome/images/memberform06-07.pdf "NEA Dues membership form"]</ref>
 
Federal law prohibits unions from using dues money or other assets to contribute to or otherwise assist federal candidates or political parties, in accordance with their tax-exempt status. The [https://web.archive.org/web/2/http://www.neafund.org/ "NEA Fund for Children and Public Education"] is a special fund for voluntary contributions from NEA members which can legally be used to assist candidates and political parties. Critics have repeatedly questioned the NEA's actual compliance with such laws, and a number of legal actions focusing on the union's use of money and union personnel in partisan contexts have ensued.
 
==Opposition==
===Teachers before students claims===
Substantial criticism has been leveled against the NEA and other teachers unions for allegedly putting the interests of teachers ahead of students and for consistently opposing reforms that critics claim would help students but harm union interests.<ref>[http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=95000771 "What Teachers Really Think"]</ref> The NEA has supported class size reductions and across-the-board salary increases for teachers: two measures that increase the number and compensation of NEA teachers. On the other hand, the NEA has often opposed measures such as merit pay, school vouchers, reforms to teacher tenure, curriculum reform, the [[No Child Left Behind Act]], and many accountability reforms. In a 1999 interview, conservative commentator Pat Buchanan said that "ever since the judges have gotten heavily into education, and the National Education Association has gotten into control of that [http://www.doe.gov "Department of Education"], test scores go down, there’s violence in classroom, things are going wrong." Also criticized is the NEA's alleged "goal of changing public opinion on homosexuality, starting with the youngest generation,"[26] according to a former chairman of the NEA Ex-Gay Educators Caucus.<ref>[http://www.nea-exgay.org/ "NEA Ex-Gay Caucus"]</ref><ref>[http://www.365gay.com/Newscon06/07/070106teachers.htm "Gays, Ex-Gays face off at NEA Convention"]</ref>
 
===Voucher programs===
Apple Inc. CEO, Steve Jobs, has criticized the NEA and other teacher unions for its lack of support for voucher programs, merit pay, and the removal of bad teachers. On February 17,2007 at an education reform conference in Texas, Jobs said, "What kind of person could you get to run a small business if you told them that when they came in they couldn’t get rid of people that they thought weren’t any good?”<ref>[http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/4.02/jobs_pr.html "Steve Jobs Interview"]</ref>
 
===Membership===
NEA has come under fire for taking advantage of laws in some states that compel, under certain conditions, membership in the association. In a case brought before the U.S. Supreme Court ([http://www.scotusblog.com/movabletype/archives/05-1589_All.pdf "Davenport v. Washington Education Association)"] on behalf of 4,000 Washington State teachers who are not NEA members but are nonetheless forced to pay NEA dues, the Court partially addressed the issue of collection and use of dues by unions such as the NEA.


==[[Noteworthy events]]==
==[[Noteworthy events]]==
===Call for Education Secretary Arne Duncan's resignation===
===Call for Education Secretary Arne Duncan's resignation===
A July 4, 2014 vote by members of the National Education Association called for [[U.S. Department of Education|Education Department]] Secretary [[Arne Duncan]]'s resignation. A majority of the 9,000 delegates attending the convention in [[Denver, Colorado]] made the vote because "the Department's failed education agenda focused on more high-stakes testing, grading and pitting public school students against each other based on test scores." The vote originated from the [[California Teachers Association]] after Duncan commented on the court case ''Vergara v. California'', which dealt a blow to tenure rules in the state. Motions calling for Duncan's resignation have been raised at each of the NEA's annual meetings since 2010, but none had received the majority vote for passage.<ref>[http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/teacherbeat/2014/07/nea_calls_for_sec_duncans_resi.html ''Education Week'', "NEA Calls for Secretary Duncan's Resignation," July 4, 2014]</ref> Then-NEA former President Dennis Van Roekel defended the vote, claiming the union would continue to push the administration to put forward policies "that are influenced by those who know best— educators working in our classrooms and in our schools — rather than profiteers." When asked to for Duncan's comments on the vote, a department spokesperson stated, "Secretary Duncan looks forward to continuing to work with NEA and its new leadership."<ref>[http://www.politico.com/story/2014/07/arne-duncan-dismiss-resignation-call-national-education-association-108615.html#ixzz37jiDRPED ''Politico'', "Arne Duncan dismisses union call for resignation," July 7, 2014]</ref>
A July 4, 2014 vote by members of the National Education Association called for [[U.S. Department of Education|Education Department]] Secretary [[Arne Duncan]]'s resignation. A majority of the 9,000 delegates attending the convention in [[Denver, Colorado]] made the vote because "the Department's failed education agenda focused on more high-stakes testing, grading and pitting public school students against each other based on test scores." The vote originated from the [[California Teachers Association]] after Duncan commented on the court case ''Vergara v. California'', which dealt a blow to tenure rules in the state. Motions calling for Duncan's resignation have been raised at each of the NEA's annual meetings since 2010, but none had received the majority vote for passage.<ref>[http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/teacherbeat/2014/07/nea_calls_for_sec_duncans_resi.html ''Education Week'', "NEA Calls for Secretary Duncan's Resignation," July 4, 2014]</ref> Then-NEA former President Dennis Van Roekel defended the vote, claiming the union would continue to push the administration to put forward policies "that are influenced by those who know best— educators working in our classrooms and in our schools — rather than profiteers." When asked to for Duncan's comments on the vote, a department spokesperson stated, "Secretary Duncan looks forward to continuing to work with NEA and its new leadership."<ref>[http://www.politico.com/story/2014/07/arne-duncan-dismiss-resignation-call-national-education-association-108615.html#ixzz37jiDRPED ''Politico'', "Arne Duncan dismisses union call for resignation," July 7, 2014]</ref>


The [[American Federation of Teachers]] approved a motion on July 13, 2014, urging Duncan's resignation if he did not make improvements.<ref>[http://www.politico.com/story/2014/07/arne-duncan-american-federation-of-teachers-108854.html#ixzz37jlCvlUK ''Politico'', "Another teachers union ding for Arne Duncan," July 13, 2014]</ref>
The [[American Federation of Teachers]] approved a motion on July 13, 2014, urging Duncan's resignation if he did not make improvements.<ref>[http://www.politico.com/story/2014/07/arne-duncan-american-federation-of-teachers-108854.html#ixzz37jlCvlUK ''Politico'', "Another teachers union ding for Arne Duncan," July 13, 2014]</ref>
==Leadership==
NEA is governed by an executive committee and a board of directors. The president of the NEA is [[Lily Eskelsen García]] and the vice president is Becky Pringle.<ref>[http://www.nea.org/home/609.htm ''National Education Association,'' "Our Leaders," accessed August 10, 2016]</ref>
Below is the list of the NEA executive committee:<ref name=exec>[http://www.nea.org/home/1688.htm ''NEA'', "Executive Committee," accessed August 10, 2016]</ref>
<div style="column-count:2;-moz-column-count:2;-webkit-column-count:2" class="mobile-columns">
*'''Eric Brown'''
*'''Kevin F. Gilbert'''
*'''Maury Koffman'''
*'''Shelly Moore Krajacic'''
*'''George Sheridan'''
*'''Earl Wiman'''
</div>
For a list of the board of directors, see the [http://www.nea.org/home/1686.htm NEA page here]
==Affiliated programs==
{{Union super PAC}}
==Recent news==
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for "'''National + Education + Association'''"
:''All stories may not be relevant to this organization due to the nature of the search engine.''
{{RSS|feed=http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&gl=us&q=National+Education+Association&um=1&ie=UTF-8&output=rss|template=slpfeed|max=10|title=National Education Association News Feed}}


==See also==
==See also==
*[[No Child Left Behind Act]]
* [[What is an influencer|What is an influencer?]]
*[[Common Core]]
*[[501(c)(5)]]


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.nea.org/ Official website]
*[https://www.nea.org/ National Education Association official website]
*[https://www.facebook.com/NEA.ORG Facebook page]
*[https://www.facebook.com/neatoday National Education Association on Facebook]
*[https://twitter.com/neamedia NEA Media Twitter feed]
*[https://bsky.app/profile/neatoday.bsky.social National Education Association on Bluesky]
*[http://www.youtube.com/user/NEAABS YouTube channel]
*[https://www.instagram.com/neatoday National Education Association on Instagram]
*[http://www.landmarklegal.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=161 NEA Accountability Project] Landmark Legal Foundation
*[https://www.threads.net/@neatoday National Education Association on Threads]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/2/http://www.neafund.org/ "NEA Fund for Children and the Public"]
*[http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/society/A0834941.html "National Education Association." Infoplease. Based on Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed., 2007.]
*[http://www.landmarklegal.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=161 "NEA Accountability Project. Landmark Legal Foundation."]
*[http://www.learningforacause.org "Learning for a Cause"]
*[http://www.aft.org "American Federation of Teachers Web site"]
*[http://www.doe.gov "Department of Education"]
*[http://www.scotusblog.com/movabletype/archives/05-1589_All.pdf "Davenport v. Washington Education Assoc."]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/2/http://www.access.gpo.gov/uscode/title36/subtitleii_partb_chapter1511_.html "Title 36, Chaper 1511 of the United States Code."]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/2/https://www.neateachertoolkit.com/TTK/Default.aspx?id=911 "NEA Teacher's Toolkit"]
*[http://www.capitaleye.org/orgs/summary.php?id=D000000064 "OpenSecrets.org NEA Money"]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/2/http://www.afa.net/pdfs/unionfacts_nea.pdf "UnionFacts NEA Money"] ''([[dead link]])''


==Footnotes==
==Footnotes==
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[[Category:Education policy influencers]][[Category:501(c)(5)]]
[[Category:Education policy influencers]][[Category:501(c)(5)]]
[[Category:National Education Association]]
[[Category:National Education Association]]
[[Category:Active influencers]]

Latest revision as of 20:34, 26 September 2025

National Education Association
Nealogo.gif
Basic facts
Location:Washington, D.C.
Type:501(c)(5)
Top official:Becky Pringle, President
Year founded:1857
Website:Official website


The National Education Association (NEA) is a 501(c)(5) nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C. The organization is a professional association representing teachers that describes itself as "the voice of education professionals. Our work is fundamental to the nation, and we accept the profound trust placed in us."[1]

Background

A group of ten state education associations founded the organization as the National Teachers Association (NTA) in 1857. The organization adopted its current name in 1870. It merged with the majority-Black American Teachers Organization in 1964. During the 1980s, it expanded its membership to also include education support professionals.[2]

As of September 2025, the organization had the following mission statement:[1]

“

Our mission is to advocate for education professionals and to unite our members and the nation to fulfill the promise of public education to prepare every student to succeed in a diverse and interdependent world.[3]

”

Leadership

As of September 2025, the following individuals held senior leadership roles at the National Education Association:[4]

  • Becky Pringle, president
  • Princess R. Moss, vice president
  • Noel Candelaria, secretary-treasurer
  • Kim Anderson, executive director
  • Bill Farmer, executive committee
  • Mark Jewell, executive committee
  • Gladys Fátima Márquez, executive committee
  • Ron Duff Martin, executive committee
  • Shannon McCann, executive committee
  • Dr. Tia T. Mills, executive committee

Work and activities

Electoral activities and influence

2016 elections

In October 2015, NEA President Lily Eskelsen García announced that the NEA would endorse 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. García stated the following:[5]

“

The National Education Association proudly supports Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to be the Democratic nominee for president of the United States. Clinton is a strong leader who will do what is best for America’s students. For more than four decades, Clinton has fought to make sure all children have a fair opportunity to succeed regardless of their ZIP code. Clinton will continue to advocate on behalf of students, educators and working families because she understands the road to a stronger U.S. economy starts in America’s public schools.[3]

”

2014 elections

As of November 2013, NEA has spent $1,646,370 in the 2014 election cycle: $310,370 went to Democratic candidates, $55,500 to Republicans and the remaining $1,280,000 was soft money given to political organizations.[6]

2012 elections

NEA spent $14,899,964 in the 2012 election cycle: $2,260,847 on Democratic candidates, $177,707 on Republicans, and $12,486,260 as soft money given to political organizations.[6]

2012 expenditures

The following table displays the top 10 candidates who received the most money from NEA.[7]

Top 10 largest National Education Association expenditures in 2012[6]
Candidate Party State Office Total Desired Result
Barack Obama Democratic Party N/A President $61,577
Yes.png
Kathleen Hochul Democratic Party NY House $19,000
No.png
Tammy Baldwin Democratic Party WI House $17,080
Yes.png
Derek Kilmer Democratic Party WA House $16,000
Yes.png
Christopher Donovan Democratic Party CT House $15,000
No.png
Elizabeth Esty Democratic Party CT House $15,000
Yes.png
Pete Gallego Democratic Party TX House $15,000
Yes.png
Chris Murphy Democratic Party CT House $15,000
Yes.png
Elizabeth Warren Democratic Party MA Senate $14,550
Yes.png
Ron Barber Democratic Party AZ House $14,250
Yes.png

Notable endorsements

See also: Ballotpedia: Our approach to covering endorsements

This section displays endorsements this organization made in elections within Ballotpedia's coverage scope.

Notable candidate endorsements by National Education Association
EndorseeElectionStageOutcome
Amie Baca-Oehlert  source  (D) U.S. House Colorado District 8 (2026) Primary–
David Trone  source  (D) U.S. Senate Maryland (2024) PrimaryLost Primary
Trudy Busch Valentine  source  (D) U.S. Senate Missouri (2022) GeneralLost General
Notable ballot measure endorsements by National Education Association
MeasurePositionOutcome
Colorado Amendment 17, Parental Right to Direct Upbringing, Education, and Discipline of Children Initiative (1996)  source OpposeDefeated
Illinois Allow for Graduated Income Tax Amendment (2020)  source SupportDefeated
Nebraska Referendum 435, Private Education Scholarship Program Referendum (2024)  source OpposeDefeated
Ohio Issue 1, 60% Vote Requirement to Approve Constitutional Amendments Measure (2023)  source 1  source 2  source 3  source 4  source 5 OpposeDefeated
Ohio Issue 1, Establish the Citizens Redistricting Commission Initiative (2024)  source 1  source 2  source 3 SupportDefeated
Oklahoma State Question 832, $15 Minimum Wage Initiative (June 2026)  source SupportOn the ballot
Utah Prohibit Public Sector Union Collective Bargaining Referendum (2026)  source OpposeOn the ballot

Affiliations

As of September 2025, the following organizations were affiliated with the National Education Association:[8]

  • Alabama Education Association
  • NEA-Alaska
  • Arizona Education Association
  • Arkansas Education Association
  • California Teachers Association
  • Colorado Education Association
  • Connecticut Education Association
  • Delaware State Education Association
  • Federal Education Association
  • Florida Education Association
  • Georgia Association of Educators
  • Hawaii State Teachers Association
  • Idaho Education Association
  • Illinois Education Association
  • Indiana State Teachers Association
  • Iowa State Education Association
  • Kansas National Education Association
  • Kentucky Education Association
  • Louisiana Association of Educators
  • Maine Education Association
  • Maryland State Education Association
  • Massachusetts Teachers Association
  • Michigan Education Association
  • Education Minnesota
  • Mississippi Association of Educators
  • Missouri NEA
  • Montana Federation of Public Employees
  • Nebraska State Education Association
  • Nevada State Education Association
  • NEA-New Hampshire
  • New Jersey Education Association
  • NEA-New Mexico
  • New York State United Teachers
  • North Carolina Association of Educators
  • North Dakota United
  • Ohio Education Association
  • Oklahoma Education Association
  • Oregon Education Association
  • Pennsylvania State Education Association
  • NEA Rhode Island
  • The South Carolina Education Association
  • South Dakota Education Association
  • Tennessee Education Association
  • Texas State Teachers Association
  • Utah Education Association
  • Vermont-NEA
  • Virginia Education Association
  • Washington Education Association
  • Education West Virginia
  • Wisconsin Education Association Council
  • Wyoming Education Association

Finances

The following is a breakdown of the National Education Association's revenues and expenses from 2004 to 2024. The information comes from ProPublica.

National Education Association financial data 2004-2024
Year Revenue Expenses
2004 $294.5 million $295.3 million
2005 $304.1 million $299.4 million
2006 $322.1 million $314.5 million
2007 $341.0 million $328.8 million
2008 $357.4 million $336.7 million
2009 $366.9 million $366.6 million
2010 $376.6 million $360.4 million
2011 $376.5 million $373.2 million
2012 $380.7 million $356.2 million
2013 $384.6 million $341.7 million
2014 $384.2 million $343.0 million
2015 $370.6 million $343.4 million
2016 $371.6 million $373.5 million
2017 $374.4 million $361.0 million
2018 $383.8 million $362.8 million
2019 $377.1 million $356.6 million
2020 $396.5 million $377.1 million
2021 $396.8 million $380.7 million
2022 $378.2 million $389.2 million
2023 $388.4 million $399.4 million
2024 $402.8 million $411.1 million

Noteworthy events

Call for Education Secretary Arne Duncan's resignation

A July 4, 2014 vote by members of the National Education Association called for Education Department Secretary Arne Duncan's resignation. A majority of the 9,000 delegates attending the convention in Denver, Colorado made the vote because "the Department's failed education agenda focused on more high-stakes testing, grading and pitting public school students against each other based on test scores." The vote originated from the California Teachers Association after Duncan commented on the court case Vergara v. California, which dealt a blow to tenure rules in the state. Motions calling for Duncan's resignation have been raised at each of the NEA's annual meetings since 2010, but none had received the majority vote for passage.[9] Then-NEA former President Dennis Van Roekel defended the vote, claiming the union would continue to push the administration to put forward policies "that are influenced by those who know best— educators working in our classrooms and in our schools — rather than profiteers." When asked to for Duncan's comments on the vote, a department spokesperson stated, "Secretary Duncan looks forward to continuing to work with NEA and its new leadership."[10]

The American Federation of Teachers approved a motion on July 13, 2014, urging Duncan's resignation if he did not make improvements.[11]

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 National Education Association, "Our Mission, Vision, & Values," accessed September 26, 2025
  2. ↑ National Education Association, "The History of NEA," accessed September 26, 2025
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  4. ↑ National Education Association, "Our Leaders," accessed September 26, 2025
  5. ↑ NEA, "NEA President: Clinton is a strong leader who will do what is best for America’s students," October 3, 2015
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 OpenSecrets, "National Education Assn Totals," accessed November 26, 2013
  7. ↑ OpenSecrets, "National Education Assn, Recipients," accessed November 26, 2013
  8. ↑ National Education Association, "NEA Affiliates," accessed September 26, 2025
  9. ↑ Education Week, "NEA Calls for Secretary Duncan's Resignation," July 4, 2014
  10. ↑ Politico, "Arne Duncan dismisses union call for resignation," July 7, 2014
  11. ↑ Politico, "Another teachers union ding for Arne Duncan," July 13, 2014
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