NEA Thanks President Biden, Endorses Vice President Kamala Harris in General Election

Over the last four years, President Biden distinguished himself as the most pro-public education, pro-union president in history as educators have partnered with him, First Lady Jill Biden, and Vice President Kamala Harris to help ensure every student has access to the resources and learning opportunities needed to thrive. 

"We celebrate President Biden’s legacy and will be forever grateful for his leadership, and we respect his decision. Educators understand what is at stake in this election. Our students’ futures will be shaped by the decisions made in the Oval Office over the next four years, and the future of our public schools, freedoms, and democracy is on the ballot this fall,” said National Education Association President, Becky Pringle.  

NEA members and their students have and continue to feel the positive impacts of a leader in the White House who cares about the work they do each day. The shared leadership of President Biden and Vice President Harris, delivered for educators and students by expanding access to school meals for 5 million students (about twice the population of Mississippi), investing in student mental health, and providing student debt relief for millions of educators and working families. 

 NEA members are looking now for a new leader equally dedicated to building the future our students, educators, and families deserve. 

“We can elect a president who will make sure our students can live into their full brilliance and be exactly who they are without apology or a president who will demonize them and privatize our schools,” said Pringle. 

Endorsing Vice President Harris to Lead the Nation 

In unprecedented times, the NEA convened its Board of Directors, to vote on a new endorsement for the presidential election, having previously recommended Biden. The Board of Directors is made up of NEA members from every state and all job classifications including teachers, ed techs, bus drivers, and more. The Board is elected to office by educators in their respective home states.  

“The Biden-Harris administration has demonstrated strong support for our public schools and students. This is the type of leadership we need in Washington. As an elementary school music teacher, and President of North Carolina Association of Educators, I am confident that Vice President Harris will continue prioritizing the needs of our students while also backing the educators who tirelessly serve in our public schools," said Tamika Walker Kelly. 

NEA President Pringle echoed the sentiment of educators around the nation following the endorsement, adding now is the time to unite and ensure Donald Trump, a convicted felon, who has gutted public school programs and plans more of the same does not win in November. 

“Vice President Kamala Harris is a tireless advocate for students, public education, and working families. She has the experience, qualifications and dedication needed to continue delivering for students, educators and working families. She has delivered time and again for students and educators, and educators know we can count on her continued partnership in expanding access to free school meals for students, investing in student mental health, working to ensure no educator has to carry the weight of crushing student debt and, doing everything possible to keep our communities and schools safe,” said President Pringle. 

Harris on Public Education  

Vice President Harris’ commitment to public schools started long before she held her current office. First as the attorney general of California and then as U.S. senator from 2017 to 2021, Harris received an “A” grade from the NEA based on how she voted on key legislation, ranging from public education to labor.  

In 2020, when Harris ran for the Democratic Party’s nomination then Senator Harris was a key advocate for students and educators and proposed pay increases ($13,500) for every teacher, implementing universal preschool, proposed to increase funding for Head Start and Early Head Start, and much more. 

Harris has been vocal on many issues connected to education, especially in her opposition to any proposal, including Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign promise to “divert public school funding to private school vouchers.” In remarks opposing the nomination of Betsy DeVos, Harris said Trump’s promise “would mean ‘fewer teachers, fewer resources for students and parents.’” She also criticized DeVos’ “record of supporting the growth of largely unregulated charter schools in Michigan,” saying, “We cannot have someone who wants to lead our highest Department of Education who does not support the importance of oversight.” 

Most recently, Vice President Harris was instrumental in securing billions of dollars in federal dollars for our public schools as the tie-breaking vote to pass the American Rescue Plan which helped public schools recover from the pandemic. The Biden-Harris Administration has also economically supported our educators through student loan forgiveness and canceled more student debt than any other administration - $168.5 billion in relief for 4.76 million and counting. The loan forgiveness includes nearly one million public sector workers, including thousands of educators who saw their student loans eliminated through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). 

Harris on Labor 

As a U.S. Senator, Harris sponsored the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act, which guaranteed the right of public employees to organize and collectively bargain in all states. Collective bargaining and labor rights are a core belief of the Californian who used her voice again to stand up for teachers demanding smaller class sizes and fair pay.  

During the 2019 teachers’ strikes in Los Angeles and Oakland, California, Harris said, “I'm standing in solidarity with them as they strike for improved student conditions, such as smaller class sizes and more counselors and librarians....“Teachers in my hometown of Oakland will begin striking tomorrow because they know they deserve a raise. It's shameful that they don’t earn enough to live in the communities where they teach. I firmly support the teachers & hope for a quick resolution.” 

Harris on Racial Justice in Education 

Vice President Harris is a strong believer in racial justice and during her 2020 campaign proposed to double the size of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division while also enforcing civil rights laws and proposed the passage of new policies designed to protect every child’s right to an education. 

Harris believes and campaigned in 2020 to increase equity in our schools and her campaign plan stated: “meaningful access to education is a fundamental civil right, and, as President, she will continue to fight for all children to have access to a full continuum of early care and learning, and a safe, high-quality public education.”  

With the NEA's official endorsement of Vice President Harris as the Democratic nominee, educators are rallying behind her with renewed determination and unwavering support. 

"This is our moment. We must unite and stand up for our students, many of whom cannot yet vote themselves. We are their voice, and we need to make it loud and clear: Vice President Harris is the choice for their future and ours. The stakes have never been higher, and the choice has never been more clear," said Tyler Murphy, a high school social studies teacher from Lexington, Kentucky. 

Educators have already begun to organize around Harris, preparing for the upcoming Democratic National Convention in Chicago beginning on August 19^th where Harris will officially accept the party's nomination.