U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator:
On behalf of the members of the National Education Association—who include educators at Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools, members of the Federal Education Association—we urge you to vote YES on S.Amdt. 642 to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Votes associated with this legislation may be included in the NEA Report Card for the 118th Congress.
S.Amdt. 642, a bipartisan amendment led by Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) with sponsors including Sens. Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Thom Tillis (R-NC), would maintain current student-to-teacher class size ratios for DoDEA schools through the end of the 2029-2030 academic year.
Members of the Federal Education Association (FEA) strongly support this amendment. Their mission is to ensure all students have the opportunity for an education that inspires their curiosity and enthusiasm for discovery and prepares them for the future. Engaging students at a high level requires class sizes that enable educators to connect one-on-one with students—overseeing their work when necessary, encouraging them when they doubt their abilities, and acknowledging their efforts when they meet a goal.
This level of engagement is particularly important for military-connected students whose families often face frequent deployments and relocations. Despite this challenge, DoDEA students consistently rank at or near the top on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), the nation’s report card. Maintaining class sizes that allow educators to give students individualized support is an important key to this success.
We ask you to OPPOSE amendments to ban books or other measures that would disregard educators’ expertise, as well as amendments that would attack the LGBTQ+ community, restrict the ability to have a diverse, educated, and informed workforce, and inflame culture wars. Instead, please support amendments to provide military-connected students with the resources, attention, and well-rounded curricula they deserve.
Sincerely,
Marc Egan
Director of Government Relations
National Education Association
