Contact: Brenda Alvarez   (202) 822-7823

June 29, 2007

NEA Student Program Wraps Up Leadership Conference with High Marks

PHILADELPHIA -- The National Education Association’s Student Program held its Student Leadership Conference at the Radisson Valley Forge Convention Center in King of Prussia, Pa., from June 25-28.

The week-long conference drew more than 250 NEA student members from as far away as Hawaii to participate in leadership trainings, membership workshops and regional caucus meetings.

“NEA’s Student Program is a vital component for future educators. By developing student leaders, we are creating future advocates of public education and ensuring great public schools for every child,” said NEA President Reg Weaver. “We are proud of their commitment, and we look forward to working with them as professional educators.” 

A major highlight at this year’s conference included a surge in membership by new freshman and sophomore recruits, as well as a boost in participation from existing NEA student members. With the escalating costs of college tuition and the decline in government funding, such as Pell Grants, students wanting to become teachers have mobilized to remove the issue of affordability as a barrier to higher education.

From cyber lobbying and blogging to more traditional outreach efforts such as campus rallies and petition drives, NEA student members have responded to a national trend that has seen a shift of financing higher education from the state to the student.

In April, more than 700 Tennessee State University students signed a petition to promote college affordability. Organized by the Student Tennessee Education Association, the petition urged Congress to make college more affordable. Other states, such as Massachusetts and Illinois, organized letter writing campaigns and sent more than 100 letters to Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Sen. Dick Durban (D-Ill.)

“When the U.S. average shows that many college graduates face unmanageable debt, we lose thousands of good teachers every day,” said NEA Student Program President Anthony Daniels. “This is not about tuition; this is about managing loans. And by getting students involved in the Association, we create continued advocacy on a grassroots level so issues like college affordability are effective.”

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The National Education Association is the nation's largest professional employee organization, representing 3.2 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators
and students preparing to become teachers.