Organized labor remains central to the teaching profession, and the National Education Association serves as the country’s largest union for teachers in the nation’s public schools, as well as some private and charter schools. Founded in 1857, the union has grown to a total membership of more than 2.9 million educators across the country. In addition to its nationwide scope, the union also functions as a lobbying group and a tough negotiator on behalf of educators at the state and local level. To get a better view of what makes the NEA so important to modern education, consider how this group functions at the national, state, and local levels, on behalf of educators everywhere.
A National Reach: Lobbying for Better Education Policies
The NEA is most often thought of as a national body, and that’s because its large size and historic protection of the teaching profession has put it at the center of changes to state standards, teacher compensation, benefit programs, and the way teachers are viewed in public policies. Because of the NEA’s massive size, it maintains a large and highly effective lobbying office in Washington, D.C. This lobbying office works alongside legislators to help craft policies that advance education while also advancing the cause of educators in each classroom.
The national NEA office also focuses on the creation and distribution of membership materials that focus on new trends in education, new ideas for instruction, and updates to policies that affect teachers. All of these materials are printed and produced on a “volunteer” basis, with all funding coming from NEA membership dues. Alongside this crucial operation at the national level, the NEA also works at the state and local levels to advance the teaching profession.
State-Level Advocacy Work
The NEA maintains a state chapter in each of the 50 states, which usually replaces the word “National” with the state name, such as the Pennsylvania Education Association. These state organizations work in much the same way as the national NEA, by reviewing pending state legislation relating to education in public, private, and charter schools. The union takes a stand on this legislation, informs its members of the legislation’s biggest impacts, advantages, and drawbacks, and helps push only for new laws that will benefit the teaching profession. State-level groups also organize local and regional conferences for NEA members where they can network, discuss current issues, and organize when necessary.
Local Chapters: A District-Level Approach to Organization
Finally, the NEA operates a local chapter at many of the nation’s public schools. In the United States, schools often choose between either NEA or AFT union membership. Those schools that have opted for NEA membership often replace “National” in the NEA’s name with the name of their school district. At this level, the union primarily focuses on representing the district’s employees in labor talks, negotiations, and disputes, and works alongside teachers to protect their positions, fight for tenure, and advance salaries. Local chapters also produce their own publications regarding union activities, hold local meetings, and meet with local district officials about new policies.
A Key Part of the Teaching Profession
The NEA stands out as the largest organized labor union in the country, with a massive membership and a key voice in all developments related to working at the head of a classroom. With national, state, and local activities, the National Education Association sets the tone for education in the United States and very often has the last word on new developments that affect teachers and administrators in every district.
