Back-to-school is a moment filled with possibilities. Learning spaces are being prepared, students arrive with hope, families look ahead with anticipation, and educators stand ready to welcome them all into a new school year.  

But that hope meets a stark reality in 2026. Families are being pushed to the breaking point by rising costs. Too many students are coming to school carrying instability that no child should have to shoulder. And educators, who give everything to their students, are being asked to give even more, often paying out of their own pockets just to meet basic classroom needs.

This is not just the start of a school year. It is a call to action.

With so much at stake for our schools and communities, this back-to-school moment is more than a transition. It is a turning point. The decisions being made right now about resources, support, and community investment will determine what our public schools become and who they truly serve.  

What we choose to nurture and organize toward will shape what is possible for every student, every educator, and every family. We choose to organize forward, to come together for the opportunities our students need and the respect we deserve. 

A Time for Accountability

Too many politicians have the wrong priorities. It’s clear from the needless pain families and educators face that some elected officials only care about themselves. They underfund our public schools while enriching themselves and their donors. They are throwing billions at ICE and war while taking away support for our families. They cut programs like Medicaid and SNAP that nourish kids at home and in school. They ignore us and our pain while catering to billionaires. 

We have decided it’s time for our voice to be heard and for our union to grow so we can fix what’s broken, strengthen what’s working, and transform what is possible into a new reality.  

We will support the candidates and leaders who support us, so we have elected officials who respect and listen to educators and families who make up our communities. We will stand up to, and vote out, the anti-public education politicians who don't.

Support for Educators

Together we are the biggest and loudest advocates for our schools, our students, and ourselves. We band together to improve public school classrooms for ourselves and our students and to make ourselves heard in the halls of power.

The collective power of NEA members has won us access to important union benefits, including health care, pensions and retirement security, fair pay, and the full suite of NEA Member Benefits.

Being an NEA member means you are supported by a community of millions of educators dedicated to helping you and your students succeed.

If you aren't a member, consider joining us today! If you'd like to discover new ways to connect with your union, check out our union bulletin board.

Support for Families

Families and educators are a team. One of the best ways families can help their child succeed in school is to be engaged in their child’s learning and in their school community. Another is to support your neighborhood school by advocating for fully funded schools that are inclusive and free from censorship. 

Together we can support your child’s education goals in and out of the classroom.