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Published: February 19, 2025
The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) oversees 160 schools serving more than 66,000 students in 11 foreign countries, 7 states, Guam, and Puerto Rico.
Military-connected students are top performers despite the challenges of parental deployments and frequent moves.
On the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress, the nation’s report card, fourth and eighth graders in DoDEA schools were either at the top of the charts or in second place.
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Comments for Senate markup of FY27 National Defense Authorization Act
Submitted on June 8, 2026
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Comments on FY2027 National Defense Authorization Act
Submitted on June 3, 2026
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NEA Comments for Senate Vote on FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (S. 1071)
Submitted on December 15, 2025
Bills in Congress
Learn NEA's position on pending legislation related to public education, and take action to protect our schools
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Support
HR 9261 Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act www.congress.gov
Introduced on June 11, 2026
This bipartisan legislation would expand federal paid leave to include 12 weeks of family and medical leave. Under current law, federal employees are eligible for paid parental leave, but family and medical leave continues to be unpaid.
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Support
HR 7259 Military Dependents School Meal Eligibility Act www.congress.gov
Introduced on January 27, 2026
This bill would remove the basic allowance for housing (BAH) from the income calculation for eligibility in free and reduced-price school meal programs.
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Support
S 3070 Shutdown Student Loans for Feds Act www.congress.gov
Introduced on October 29, 2025
This bill would require the Department of Education to pause student loan payments for federal workers – including federal contractors and military personnel – in the event of a federal government shutdown lasting longer than two weeks. If passed, this legislation would take immediate effect for DoDEA educators and other federal workers during the current federal government shutdown.
We're speaking up for our students and public schools. Visit our Action Center to find out what you can do.
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