Educators and parents join together to tell Congress to support students now

Leaders from two of the largest and most influential education organizations, the National Education Association and the National PTA, along with teachers and education support professionals who continue to serve students during the coronavirus pandemic, will join together on Thursday, May 14 to talk about the future of public schools. They’ll address what must happen to support students and public schools amid the unprecedented global health and economic crises caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, especially when discussing the great inequalities exposed in too many communities.

The media call is announced on the heels of Dr. Anthony Fauci’s testimony in the Senate and as House Democrats introduced a new stimulus bill called the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act, which includes $100 billion in additional funding for education. The “HEROES Act” also would provide more than $900 billion in state and local aid, which is desperately needed to fend off the looming fiscal cliff and a projected 300,000 educator jobs that are likely to be cut as local and state revenues dry up.

NEA also will unveil findings of new polling that asked parents and educators the most pressing issues they and students are facing as the debate rages on over when and how to safely reopen school buildings and college campuses.

NEA is set to launch a seven-figure national advertising campaign to advocate on behalf of its 3 million members, their students and their families. The first video, titled School is Where the Heart is, will run on digital platforms nationwide and air on cable and broadcast outlets in the following target media markets: Phoenix, Ariz., Denver, Colo., Augusta, Maine; Raleigh, N.C., and Washington, D.C. Viewers will be directed to take action at nea.org/covidaction around the coronavirus stimulus legislation. This campaign is scheduled to run through May 31, with new creative rotating in targeting key legislators around the House and Senate votes.

WHO:

Lily Eskelsen García, President, National Education Association

Leslie Boggs, President, National PTA

Teachers and education professionals

WHAT:

Media conference call to explain what’s at stake for students, educators and their families if school buildings and college campuses are reopened too quickly and without the support of dire federal funding

WHEN:

10:30 a.m. EDT, Thursday, May 14, 2020

CONTACT: RSVP for a link to the media conference call line by contacting Staci Maiers of NEA Communications at 202-270-5333 or [email protected]