NEA Policy Statements

What Is an NEA Policy Statement?

Similar to an NEA resolution, a policy statement may include expressions of opinion, intent, or belief. Policy statements are different from resolutions in that they explore issues in greater depth, while resolutions are intended to set forth general concepts on the Association’s beliefs and positions. Additionally, policy statements may be action-oriented, and may also indicate support for or opposition to federal legislation.

What Are the Eight NEA Policy Statements?

Since their inception as one of NEA's primary policy vehicles, the Association has adopted eight policy statements:

Affirmative Action Policy for Ethnic Minorities and Women
Privatization and Subcontracting Programs
Kindergarten and Prekindergarten
Teacher Evaluation and Accountability
Digital Learning
Charter Schools
Community Schools
Safe, Just, and Equitable Schools

The 2023-2024 policy statements are available here. Statements are arranged chronologically by year of initial adoption. Dates for the first year adopted and last year amended are shown following the statement title. If only one year is shown, the statement has not been revised by the Representative Assembly.

How Can I Help Shape NEA Policy Statements?

The NEA Executive Committee annually reviews the policy statements, and the Resolutions and Legislative Committees will periodically consider proposed amendments to policy statements during the course of their regular committee work. However, NEA leaders value the input of all members.

To help shape NEA policy statements, you can:

Review the process for crafting and amending policy statements, below.
Submit a question to the Executive Committee about a policy.
Propose an amendment to a policy.

How Policy Statements Are Crafted and Amended

A proposed new policy statement may be presented to the NEA Representative Assembly for its consideration only by the NEA Board of Directors.

The NEA Executive Committee is responsible for reviewing all adopted policy statements each year to assure that they continue to serve the contemporary needs and interests of NEA. The results of the Executive Committee’s review, together with any recommendations, are reported to the NEA Board of Directors in advance of the annual Representative Assembly. Any amendments to the adopted policy statements approved by the Board of Directors are then submitted to the Representative Assembly for action.

In addition to the review of policy statements conducted by the NEA Executive Committee, the Resolutions and Legislative Committees will periodically consider proposed amendments to policy statements during the course of their regular committee work. Amendments that are approved by either committee are recommended to the NEA Board of Directors for its consideration in advance of the Representative Assembly, or to the NEA Committee on Constitution, Bylaws, and Rules for consideration at the Representative Assembly.

NEA members and delegates to the NEA Representative Assembly may also propose amendments to NEA Policy Statements. Prior to completion of the Executive Committee’s annual review of Policy Statements, any amendment submitted online through the Policy Resource Center will be transmitted to the Executive Committee for its review and consideration. Following delivery of the Executive Committee’s review to the Board of Directors at its spring meeting, NEA members and delegates are instructed to formally submit any proposed Policy Statement amendments to the NEA Committee on Constitution, Bylaws, and Rules on the forms provided while the Representative Assembly is in session. The final submission deadline for proposed amendments is 12 noon on the second day of the Representative Assembly.

If a newly proposed policy statement, or an amendment to an existing policy statement, is adopted by the NEA Representative Assembly, any resolution, new business item, or provision in the NEA Legislative Program that deals with the same subject is editorially changed to accommodate the positions taken in the policy statement. This action illustrates the primacy of an NEA Policy Statement over other Association policies that are annually adopted by the Representative Assembly.

Adopted policy statements continue in force until additional action is taken by a subsequent NEA Representative Assembly.

Propose an Amendment to a Policy Statement

Your Name

Street Address

City

State

Zip Code

Home/Personal Email Address

I propose amendment to the following NEA Policy Statement

Affirmative Action Policy for Ethnic Minorities and Women

Privatization and Subcontracting Programs

Kindergarten and Prekindergarten

Teacher Evaluation and Accountability

Digital Learning

Charter Schools

Community Schools

Safe, Just, and Equitable Schools

Proposed Text (If an amendment, please [bracket] deletions and *asterisk* before and after additions)

My Rationale

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nea-policy-statements-2022-23.pdf

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NEA Policy Statements

How Policy Statements Are Crafted and Amended

Propose an Amendment to a Policy Statement

Questions About a Policy Statement

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Learn More

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NEA Policy Statements

How Policy Statements Are Crafted and Amended

Propose an Amendment to a Policy Statement

Questions About a Policy Statement

Downloads

Learn More

Do More

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