Statement

NEA Launches Hotline to Aid
Public School Employees, Students

Organization Pledges $1 Million

WASHINGTON -- In a pledge to support those impacted by the hurricane, the National Education Association (NEA) has established a toll-free hotline number for schools, teachers and school employees to apply for grants that total $1 million.

Public school employees who want to apply for assistance should call NEA’s toll-free hotline at: 1-866-247-2239.  Public school employees personally impacted by Hurricane Katrina are eligible to apply for grants to meet various needs, including:  housing, food, clothing and other personal needs.

NEA will also provide grants to public schools that have enrolled the estimated 300,000 students affected by the storm.  The NEA funds can be used to help purchase school supplies, textbooks and other materials needed to accommodate increased enrollment. The NEA grants will also be made available to public schools and their employees to assist displaced children with personal needs such as clothing.

“Our goal,” said NEA President Reg Weaver, “is to do everything within our power to help public school employees and their students recover as quickly and completely as possible from the ravages of Katrina.”

NEA urges public schools, teachers and education support professionals to apply for the grants via the toll-free hotline: 1-866-247-2239.  More information is available online at NEA's Web site.

September 13, 2005

For More Information Contact:

Staci Maiers, NEA Public Relations, (202) 822-7150, smaiers@nea.org

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The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing more than 2.7 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, and students preparing to become teachers.