The largest labor union and professional association in the United States, representing 3 million public school educators — and a major actor in education policy, progressive pedagogy, and Democratic Party politics.
Union power in education: The NEA's significance: (1) Political influence — with 3 million members and substantial political spending, the NEA is one of the most powerful interest groups in Democratic Party politics, reliably opposing school choice, vouchers, and charter schools. (2) Curriculum influence — NEA resolutions and policy positions on DEI, comprehensive sexuality education, and social-emotional learning are widely adopted. (3) Culture war flashpoint — NEA's 2021 resolution to fund research into 'critical race theory' and '1619 Project' and its opposition to parental rights legislation has made it a symbol of progressive capture of public education. Its size gives it outsized influence on teacher training and professional standards.
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