NEA Legislative Program

The National Education Association’s Legislative Program encapsulates our priorities for advocating in Congress for federal laws that support public K-12 schools and postsecondary institutions, student learning, and educators.

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Reference Number	Topic	Issue	Stance	Amendment
I.A.01	High Quality Public Education	Student Learning, Growth, and Development	Supports	federal programs that provide assistance to public schools to achieve excellence and to meet the needs of students at the pre-K through postsecondary levels, including those who are English Language Learners or who have special needs
I.A.02	High Quality Public Education	Student Learning, Growth, and Development	Supports	federal programs to enhance educational programs and improve student performance in all curricular areas
I.A.03	High Quality Public Education	Student Learning, Growth, and Development	Supports	a "whole child" approach to learning, teaching, and community engagement that encourages parental and community involvement in all aspects of a child's education, addressing multiple dimensions such as students' physical, social, and emotional health and well-being; ensures equity, adequacy, and sustainability in resources and quality among public schools and districts; and ensures that students are actively engaged in a wide variety of experiences and settings within and outside the classroom
I.A.04	High Quality Public Education	Student Learning, Growth, and Development	Supports	programs that promote the infusion of the arts and design into student learning of science, technology, engineering, and math as a means of fostering student creativity, innovation, and inventiveness
I.A.05	High Quality Public Education	Student Learning, Growth, and Development	Supports	programs that provide all students, pre-kindergarten through graduate school, support in developing advanced critical thinking and information literacy skills and mastery of new digital tools
I.A.06	High Quality Public Education	Student Learning, Growth, and Development	Supports	programs and policies designed to achieve equity in education funding, resources, and opportunities
I.A.07	High Quality Public Education	Student Learning, Growth, and Development	Supports	federal programs to assist schools in educational reform and restructuring efforts that include educator, parental, and community engagement
I.A.08	High Quality Public Education	Student Learning, Growth, and Development	Supports	programs to provide assistance to local school districts to provide optimum class size
I.A.09	High Quality Public Education	Student Learning, Growth, and Development	Supports	federal programs designed to increase the high school graduation rate and to ensure that students remain in school through the completion of high school graduation while ensuring that all pathways to postsecondary learning are developmentally appropriate for individual learners
I.A.10	High Quality Public Education	Student Learning, Growth, and Development	Supports	federal programs that promote GED or high school completion for all, including incarcerated individuals

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Our legislative program is set every year by our members at the Representative Assembly, the primary legislative and policymaking body of NEA. Our members propose, amend, and ultimately adopt every bullet point, setting our legislative priorities for the year.

The program represents the goals, perspectives, and on-the-ground experiences of NEA members.

Our 4 goals for federal legislation

1. High-Quality Public Education Legislative issues designed to address the many factors that impact the quality of public education directly in the classroom or school

2. Supporting Student Succes Legislative issues intended to create the best possible conditions for all children in support of both their development and education

3. A Voice in the Workplace Legislative issues linked directly to some of the most basic employee issues faced by all education employees

4. Good Public Policy Legislative issues related to ongoing concerns of national importance to both NEA members and the rest of the nation.

A Guide to Reference Numbers

Amendments are identified by reference numbers based on:

Topic: I (High-Quality Public Education); II (Supporting Student Success); III (A Voice in the Workplace); IV (Good Public Policy)
Issue within issue area: A, B, C, D, etc.
Subissue (if necessary): a, b, c, d, etc.
Amendment line: 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.

Please use the full reference number when proposing additions, deletions, or other changes.

I. High-Quality Public Education

A. Student Learning, Growth, and Development (a. Assessments)
B. Child Care and Early Childhood Education Development
C. Parental Involvement
D. Youth Development (a. Juvenile Justice; b. Community Service Programs; c. School Counseling)
E. Safe Schools
F. School Choice
G. Education Funding
H. Educator Professional Development (a. Educator Recruitment and Retention; b. Educator Professional Development; c. National Board for Professional Teaching Standards; d. Education Research and Development)
I. School Modernization (a. Education Technology, Equipment, and Materials)
J. IDEA Special Education
K. Postsecondary Education (a. Adult Education)
L. Career and Technical Education
M. English Language Learners
N. Federal Impacted Areas
O. Federal Role in Education (a. Block Grants)

II. Supporting Student Succes

A. Children's Health (a. School Nurses)
B. Children's Safety
C. Children's Nutrition
D. Child Poverty / Homelessness
E. Youth Employment
F. Substance Abuse / Dependency

III. A Voice in the Workplace

A. Public Employee Rights (a. Parity Between Public and Private Employees; b. Union Regulation)
B. Public Employee Retirement Security
C. Pension Fund Protection
D. General Employee Rights

IV. Good Public Policy

A. Public Health and Well-Being (a. Affordable Housing; b. Culture and Communications; c. Energy; d. Environment; e. Healthcare; f. Jobs & Economy; g. Senior Citizens; h. Social Security)
B. Human and Civil Rights (a. For School Children; b. For the General Public -- Equal Rights, Non-Discrimination, and Protection from Violence; c. Specific Populations; d. Privacy, Freedom of Information, and Governmental Intervention; e. Slavery and Genocide; f. Judiciary; g. Incarceration; h. Other; I. Immigration and Naturalization; j. Native Landsl k. United Nations; l. Voting and Election Reform)
C. Fiscal Policy (a. Credit Unions; b. Education and National Security; c. Taxation; d. Trade)

About the Standing Committee on Legislation

The NEA Board Strategic Committee on Legislation is responsible for reviewing the NEA Legislative Program, including gathering feedback from NEA members, and providing recommended modifications to the Program annually to the NEA Board of Directors. Members are appointed by the NEA President and may serve a total of two three-year terms. The Board Strategic Committee on Legislation includes classroom teachers, education support professionals, retired and student educators, and higher education faculty.

What Is the NEA Legislative Program?

The Program guides NEA in lobbying the United States Congress, presenting the views of the membership to federal agencies, and working with like-minded national organizations to achieve the Association’s pro-public education legislative goals.

How the NEA Legislative Program Is Crafted and Amended?

The NEA Legislative Program represents the collective decisions of the Association’s three million members nationwide. The NEA Standing Committee on Legislation seeks and receives input from a broad spectrum of the membership throughout the year and through the virtual hearing.

How Can I Help Shape the NEA Legislative Program?

The NEA Standing Committee on Legislation values the input of all members. To help shape the NEA Legislative Program, you can:

Review the process for crafting and amending the Legislative Program, below.
Propose an amendment to the Legislative Program (form below).

Propose an Amendment to the Legislative Program

Full Name

City

State

Home/Personal Email Address

Home Cell/Telephone

Please provide the reference number for your proposed change/proposed NEW amendment.

I propose to

Add a new item to the Legislative Program

Delete an existing item from the Legislative Program

Amend an existing item in the Legislative Program

Is your proposed amendment a statement of support or of opposition to a particular policy?

NEA supports

NEA opposes

Please provide the text of your proposed change/proposed NEW amendment.

Please provide the rationale for your proposed change/proposed NEW amendment.

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NEA Legislative Program

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