NEA-Retired members across the country are outraged by the Trump administration’s relentless assault on public education. The list of injustices is long, including dismantling the Department of Education; delaying and withholding education funding for political gain; allowing immigration enforcement at schools; and censoring educators’ freedom to teach inclusive curricula, to name just a few.
Given these high stakes and our nation’s divisive political climate, you may wonder what you can do to make your voice heard. The most important step is to vote for pro-public education candidates in every election. But with the 2026 elections still more than a year away, here are a few positive actions you can take to strengthen public education and help students and educators get the resources they deserve.
1. Push back against the Trump administration’s efforts to defund and weaken public education.
If the Trump administration succeeds in shuttering the Department of Education (ED) and abolishing the critical federal programs that ED oversees, every school district in every community across the nation will feel the impact. These destructive actions will hurt all students by gutting their civil rights protections, sending class sizes soaring, cutting job training and career and technical education programs, taking away special education services for students with disabilities, and making higher education even more out of reach.
As this is happening, school voucher schemes—which siphon already scarce funding from public schools to pay for private school tuition and other expenses—are proliferating. And Congress just passed the nation’s first federal voucher program. However, thanks to the advocacy of NEA and other groups, the voucher program cannot be forced on the states; instead, each state must opt into the program.
For all of these reasons, it’s important that educators speak out in their states. You can make a real difference locally. Spread the word about the harm these actions will inflict on students and urge your state lawmakers not to opt into the federal voucher program. Write letters to the editor, op-eds, or social media posts voicing opposition to this agenda. Speak up at school board meetings and schedule meetings with your members of Congress, at their district offices, to talk about school funding. House parties can also be great ways to share personal stories, inspire action, and strengthen partnerships. Click here to make an impact in your community.
2. Speak out against book bans and censorship in schools.
Book bans have been spreading across the country since 2021. When politicians ban books that represent diverse perspectives, they take away many students’ ability to see themselves reflected in their lessons. This is harmful to all students and especially to students of color and LGBTQ+ students.
NEA and its state and local affiliates have mobilized members to curtail the damage. Union-led lawsuits have challenged many of the bans on constitutional grounds and argued that the bans undermine the value of public education.
How can you help? To start, take the freedom to read pledge by clicking here. You can also learn how to form in-person or online book clubs to celebrate reading. Click here for resources as well as Freedom to Read bookmarks and a poster.
This community engagement is critical to passing a Freedom to Learn Resolution, which affirms a school district’s commitment to providing an equitable and honest education. Explore NEA’s sample language and a detailed step-by-step guide to the process.
3. Help strengthen your association.
Championing students and public education depends on having a strong voice—and that begins with strong unions and associations. But a bigger and better union depends on members staying involved and helping to build membership.
You can play a role in growing the union. Sometimes all it takes is getting to know the issues, reaching out to start a conversation, answering questions, or extending an invitation.
Where do you start? Click here to find a wealth of resources on union-building and member recruitment, such as a conversation guide, videos, graphics, downloadable posters, and more.
4. Protect immigrant students.
The Trump administration’s brutal crackdown on immigrants has unleashed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on public schools and college campuses; attempted to end birthright citizenship (a right guaranteed by the 14th Amendment that says anyone born in the U.S. is a U.S. citizen); and promised to carry out the largest deportation program in American history.
Amidst some of the most draconian immigration policies in recent history, NEA is taking action to protect immigrant students and educators, using its power and resources to ensure public schools remain safe and inclusive for all. It is the right of every child, regardless of immigration status, to access a free public education.
Educators, families, and community advocates are working together to protect students and their families.
With ICE now allowed in public schools, countless school districts across the country have already passed Safe Zone resolutions, which outline procedures for how educators should respond to law enforcement and keep families and staff informed.
If your district does not have Safe Zones in place, you can work with your state association to advocate for a resolution in your school district. Click here to learn more about Safe Zones and immigration in schools.
In addition, “red cards”—written in English and Spanish—describe the constitutional rights of citizens and non-citizens. Community members and students can hand them to agents during raids. You can download free red cards and share them or carry them personally.
5. Run for office!
Most education decisions are made at the state and local level. Too often, those governing bodies have not included educators in decision-making. When educators have a seat at the table, school districts are far more likely to get adequate funding.
Thousands of current and retired educators serve on school boards, city councils, and other legislative bodies, according to NEA estimates. Some serve as state legislators, including Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as well as former National Teacher of the Year and Connecticut congresswoman Jahana Hayes.
Running for elected office is a big decision. NEA’s See Educators Run candidate-training program helps NEA and NEA-Retired members build the confidence and skills to lead successful campaigns. Click here to learn more about See Educators Run.
6. Stay Informed.
Keeping up to date with the fast-changing education news and advocacy can be a challenge. You likely have already subscribed to the NEA Today for NEA-Retired Members magazine, but NEA also offers a wealth of online resources to help you stay informed about the issues impacting education—and how you can take action to protect public schools and students. Start with the weekly EdAction and EdAction in Congress emails that provide news as well as the latest advocacy tools. Click here to sign up.
