We’re here to make sure that every student & educator succeeds.
The National Education Association (NEA) is more than 3 million people—educators, students, activists, workers, parents, neighbors, friends—who believe in opportunity for all students and in the power of public education to transform lives and create a more just and inclusive society.
Our best hope for student success is you.
Your passion and commitment are crucial to helping all students—of all colors and backgrounds—learn, grow, and fulfill their potential. Here’s how you can get started.
Advocate for your rights & working conditions.
Achieve professional excellence and become a leader in your profession.
Advance justice with us.
Are you an affiliate?
Jump to updates, opportunities, and resources for NEA state and local affiliates.
Our journey began more than a century ago. Yours starts now.
We’ve spent decades working for students and educators—but, there’s still more to do. Like our progress during the civil rights and women’s rights movements, we need to dig in and speak up for the students and educators who are still facing inequality every day.
Let’s get real
Let’s bring real change
Let’s get real
Seventy-three percent of parents say their children could benefit from mental health counseling.
Let’s bring real change
“You can’t teach if you’re not addressing mental health. To know what our students and staff have gone through in the past two years … to say we don’t need mental health supports? It’s like saying you don’t need air. It’s unimaginable!.”
— Rene Myers, intervention specialist, St. Paul, Minnesota
Bring mental health resources into our schools
Sixty percent of teens with depression did not get treatment last year.
Let’s bring real change
“After consecutive years of pandemic, [students] just don’t have the stamina. The frequency and intensity of mental health issues is dramatic, and the number of suicide risk assessments has been unprecedented.”
— Gloria Ho (left), social worker, Milton, Delaware
How local unions are fighting to help student mental health
Almost 20 percent of teachers leave the profession because of low pay.
Let’s bring real change
“Many veteran teachers like me love our students and love teaching, but we didn’t see hope in making salary gains. And some of us were planning to retire early, making the teacher shortage crisis in Hawaii worse. “We are here to stay if we can afford it! Addressing salary compression gives us hope and will encourage veteran teachers to stick around. HSTA’s support ... has made that possible.”
— Victoria Pescaia, technology coordinator, Hawaii
Read more of Victoria's story and other ways unions help educators
What’s on Your Mind?
We’re here to help. Our community comes to us seeking tools (guides, reports, trainings, and more) to help answer everyday questions. We’re here to support you in whatever you need.
How You Can Help Students and Families in Jackson
Clean water is a basic, human right—and Jackson, Mississippi's children and families don't have it due to a failure of local water treatment facilities. By working together, the Mississippi Association of Educators is determined that community leaders can find a solution. In the meantime, an NEA & MAE Safe Water Campaign Crisis Relief Fund has been set up to aid fellow educators and the public school students with their immediate need for water.
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Great public schools for every student
The National Education Association (NEA), the nation's largest
professional employee organization, is committed to advancing the cause of
public education. NEA's 3 million members work at every level of
education—from pre-school to university graduate programs. NEA has
affiliate organizations in every state and in more than 14,000 communities
across the United States.