The National Education Association (NEA) is America’s largest labor union representing nearly three million employees, principally teachers. With affiliates in every state across 14,000 communities 9
Early Issue Advocacy
NEA has a long history of issue advocacy, beginning with support for the Morrill Act of 1862, which supported land-grant colleges and the creation of public state universities.12 By the mid 20th century, NEA was advocating for more controversial policies, such as advocating for the Bilingual Education Act, providing federal funding for the development and implementation of bilingual education programs, in 1968.13
Over the intervening century from founding to 1957, NEA grew from its original 43 to 700,000 members.16 The average employee at NEA is compensated nearly $100,000 per year, with top employees earning salaries of over $400,000.17
NEA also produces at least seven publications, including NEAToday.org, Higher Education Advocate, and the NEA Almanac of Higher Education.21 Top recipients of NEA money during the 2016 cycle were:23
2012 General Election
In the 2012 election, NEA gave $61,577 to elect Barack Obama for president over his rival Mitt Romney. NEA also spent $19,000 on House candidate Kathleen Hochul (D-N.Y.), $17,080 on Senate candidate Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin), and $16,000 on House candidate Derek Kilmer (D-Washington), among many others. 29 Later in the handbook, a section claims the NEA would use “digital communication tools” to “educate members on the difference between anti-Zionism and antisemitism.” 29
On July 5, 2025, during the union’s “2025 National Education Association Representative Assembly” in Portland, Obregon, representatives voted in favor of a proposal that would have the union sever ties with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which stated it “will not use, endorse, or publicize any materials from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) such as its curricular materials or its statistics. NEA will not participate in ADL programs or publicize ADL professional development offerings.” 30 The proposal also read that the union “will not…tolerate antisemitism, anti-Palestinian bias or hateful rhetoric or behavior.” 30 Additional ADL materials that would’ve been reportedly banned under the proposal included “Holocaust curricula, statistics, and programs.” 31 On July 18, the NEA Board of Directors voted to reject the proposal, with NEA president Becky Pringle releasing a statement that the NEA “opposes efforts to shut down debate, to silence voices of disagreement, and intimidation. … Not adopting this proposal is in no way an endorsement of the ADL’s full body of work…[w]e are calling on the ADL to support the free speech and association rights of all students and educators.” 32 Pringle’ statement also read, “We know antisemitism and anti-Arab bigotry are very real and urgent problems in this country and around the world…NEA and our members actively work to fight them in our classrooms, on our campuses, and in our communities.” 31
Positions
Critical Race Theory
In July 2021, the NEA’s Representative Assembly passed a resolution encouraging the organization to “oppose attempts to ban critical race theory and/or The 1619 Project.” 50 In addition, the same report alleges that multiple NEA blog posts and press releases have promoted “the Zinn Education Project’s classroom materials, stating that the organization “promotes and supports teaching history accurately.”” 50
Controversies
9/11 Terrorism
After the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, NEA issued guidelines on how teachers should discuss the attacks, urging teachers to show students how America had mistreated other people and nations, stressing the need for children to be tolerant of other cultures, and stating that teachers should not “suggest that any group [was] responsible” for 9/11. Instead, they urged teachers to have students “discuss historical instances of American intolerance.”55
Financial Information
Revenues
NEA is predominantly funded by member dues and “agency fees” paid by teachers obligated to be represented by the union in non-right-to-work states. 56 At least in previous years, NEA has received in more in dues than the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).57
State Affiliate Grants
NEA distributes gifts and grants each year predominantly to its statewide affiliates, such as the California Teachers Association, which has received the largest sum ($10,599,007).59 and has given “more than $7.1 million to fund nearly 4,500 grants to public school educators.”69 She earns a salary of $371,278.70
Vice President
Princess R. Moss is the vice-president of the NEA as of 2022. 0){
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