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elementary students standing in front a school bus

It’s time to invest in student & educator well-being

Our students reach their fullest potential when they—and their educators—are healthy and safe in their schools.

Fostering school environments where educators and students are supported, and safety concerns are addressed, are two major components of creating safe schools. As the nation’s largest union, the National Education Association works to ensure the protections and infrastructure our children and educators so desperately need to succeed and live healthy lives are implemented across the nation.

The resources on this page—and in our related resource hubs on student and educator mental health, gun violence prevention, infection control & COVID-19, and healthy buildings—offer a foundational understanding of the issues that educators and communities face in providing a safe and positive school culture. These resources provide practical tools and skills that are needed to help create healthy environments that get to the root causes of school safety issues.

Our work is centered in NEA's Policy on Safe, Just, and Equitable Schools 2022, which explains in detail principles to guide the beliefs, actions, advocacy, partnerships, and other organization-wide efforts to achieve and sustain NEA's vision for safe, just, and equitable schools for every student, educator, parent/guardian, and community.

Gun Violence Prevention

Educators in front of the White House with a sign that says "Educators to end gun violence"

Responding to Gun Violence

NEA remains committed to ending gun violence in our nation’s public schools and communities through legislative action, crisis preparation, and supporting the mental health, education, and well-being of every student and educator.
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We Can Change This: Educators Take On Gun Violence

Educators across the country are working to end the era of school shootings that has defined students' lives.
person at a rally holding a sign at a rally that reads "We just want to live through high school"

‘Help Us Stop the Attacks’: Educators Urge Action on Gun Violence

Working through their union, educators are doubling down on efforts to end gun violence in their schools and communities.
photo of blonde-haired educator speaking to a brown-haired educator in a classroom

Strategies for Effective Health and Safety Dialogue

The NEA Health and Safety Program partnered with the Right Question Institute and the Brown School of Public Health to support families, educators, and students with strategies for effective communication around health and safety issues. This page contains a training module—Pathways for Effective School-Family Partnerships: A Strategy for Productive School Health and Safety Dialogue—that can be used by individuals or by groups.

Educator Safety and Wellness Resources

teacher well-being

Make Educator Well-Being a Priority Now

According to a new survey, teachers are twice as likely to experience job-related stress compared to other working adults.
mental health resources

Bargaining and Advocacy Tactics to Support Educators' Mental Health

Consider these tactics to improve mental health support of educators using collective bargaining or advocacy.
looking into two classroom doors from a school hallway with orange walls and blue lockers

Healthy Buildings & Systems

Our students and educators deserve school environments that have optimal ventilation and air quality and are free from health and safety hazards.

Resources to Support Students

behavorial secialists

Five Things that Behavioral Specialists Want You to Know

Be prepared for student misbehavior and other classroom challenges with these tips from award-winning Delaware behavioral specialist Rosa DiPiazza.
elementary students sit on top of school desks and meditate

Trauma-Informed Practices

No matter where you work in our school communities, you can use these practices to create safe and supportive learning environments for all students.
teen students and teacher sitting in a circle in a classroom

Restorative Practices

Introducing restorative practices to your school can provide a positive, effective alternative to exclusionary discipline.
Black teacher and student work together in school computer lab

Whole Student Education

Meeting the needs of every student requires a holistic approach to education that extends well beyond academics.
African American boy in wheelchair writing at school desk with classmates in background

Supporting Students with Differing Abilities

Inclusive education policies and practices ensure all of our students have the skills they need to thrive in their schools, careers, and communities.
human trafficking

How Schools and Educators Can Combat Human Trafficking

Creating safe and supportive school communities can start with looking out for the most vulnerable students and working to identify and respond to the signs of exploitation.

Professional Learning Resources

NEA offers several professional development opportunities in the form of micro­credentials, to help educators ensure safe, just, and positive school climates. Micro­credentials are free for NEA members and $75 each for non-members.
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Creating Bully-Free School Environments

One of the most important things you can do as an educator is to educate yourself about bullying in our schools. NEA provides multiple professional learning opportunities for our members, on topics including "Creating Bully-Free Environments in Structured Environments," "Cyberbullying/Cyber Security," and many more.

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Safety, Bias, and LGBTQ+: Supporting Students in Schools and in the Community

Designed for all members, particularly those committed to addressing bias around sexual orientation and gender identity, this program teaches school personnel how to create a safe school climate for students and staff.

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Adult Social and Emotional Learning: Essentials in Personal and Professional Settings

In this micro-credential course, you will focus on CASEL’s five core social and emotional competencies. You will also learn strategies for developing personal social and emotional competencies that deepen your personal and professional awareness.

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SchoolMe Podcasts

Our podcasts empower educators and experts to use their years of experience and wisdom to help you get the most out of your career in education. Listen to the episodes below or view the complete list of episodes.

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Delaware behavioral specialist Rosa Di Piazza shares tips on managing classroom behavior.

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Dr. Bloodine Barthelus, Director of Practice Innovation at the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) describes how educators can use these social and emotional learning (SEL) practices to enable better learning and create a more welcoming and safe environment for all students.

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How restorative practices can change school environments for the better.

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Nurse applies a bandage to a child's arm

Decoding Educator Healthcare Benefits

Making sense of your health care coverage is important, whether you're reviewing the plan you are currently enrolled in, working with your employer to restructure a plan, or looking for a new plan. NEA's health care experts have broken down some of it for you.
National Education Association

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.