Welcome to a History
Of the National Education Association

In 1857, one hundred educators answered a national call to unite as one voice in the cause of public education. At the time, learning to read and write was a luxury for most children—and a crime for many Black children. One hundred and fifty years later, public education and the profession of teaching are transformed. In 1966 we joined forces with the American Teachers Association. Since then, our voice has swelled to 3.2 million members, and what was once a privilege for a fortunate few is now an essential right for every American child, regardless of family income or place of residence.

Explore this Web site to discover the role that NEA and our members have played—and continue to play—in this transformation. Read our story, view a timeline of events, learn about people who have guided our growth, look at historical images, watch video clips, take a quiz , and learn about members' experiences in the Association.

A turn-of-the-century classroom

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¹The Association was originally named National Teachers' Association; in 1870, the name was changed to National Education Association.