Every Student Belongs In a Great Public School
Across America, parents and educators are teaming up to make this school year great.
Public schools are one of the few places where all children are welcomed just as they are, no matter what they look like, where they come from, or how much money their family has. We know when students feel a deep sense of belonging, they don’t just learn; they flourish.
Families and educators are partners in this journey, working side by side to make sure public schools have the tools, resources, and care every student needs to succeed. As students and their families prepare for the start of a new school year, educators are doing the same—getting classrooms ready, planning lessons, and making sure every child is met with encouragement and possibility on day one.
NEA members dedicate their lives to creating public schools where every student feels valued, respected, and inspired—no exceptions. That means fighting for full and fair funding, standing up for students’ rights, and building school communities that lift up every learner.
Back to school isn’t just a season. It’s a powerful opportunity to get involved, to show up, and to help ensure every child has what they need to learn, grow, and thrive.
Help Your Child Succeed
One of the best ways parents can help their child succeed in school is to be engaged in their child’s learning and in their school community. Another is to support your neighborhood school by advocating for fully funded schools that are inclusive and free from censorship. Use these resources to get started.
Attending School Events: What You Need to Know
Fact: parents’ involvement at their child’s school is directly related to improved academic performance. Here are some tried and true tips to help parents make the most out of attending school events.
Parents and Educators are a Team
Learn how to support your child’s education goals in and out of the classroom.
Read Across America for Parents
Learn how and why to make room for books and reading together at home with these resources, activities, and information.
Union Made School Supplies
Shop union-made items for school and get an A+ in supporting fair wages, quality products, and building a brighter future for all!
Preparing for Back to School Night
Start the year off right and learn how to foster collaboration between fellow parents, educators, and students.
Prepare for Your Best Year
Teachers and school support staff can start their school year off right with these NEA-created resources.
Eight Ways to Make Back-to-School Night Better
NEA Today asked participants in NEA’s Teacher Leadership Institute—which prepares teachers to lead and transform their profession—for their favorite ways to welcome families back to school. Here are their top tips.
Professional Learning Resources
NEA provides cutting-edge resources from our experts—our staff, affiliates, and members—on the skills and topics educators need to join, stay in, and advance our profession.
Creating Safe and Welcoming Schools
NEA offers educators the information, tools, and resources they need to support transgender and non-binary students, to be more inclusive of LGBTQ+ history in their classrooms, and to stop LGBTQ+ bias and intolerance in our public schools.
Know Your Rights as an Educator
Learn more about how to elevate your educator voice with our "Know Your Rights" guide. From lesson plans to school safety to speaking up for students, this guide walks you through key rights that every educator has—and how to protect them.
Managing Your Classroom for Student Success
Check out this advice on common classroom management issues educators are facing this year.
Does your School Have a Calming Room? It Should!
Providing a place to calm down and learn self-regulation strategies averts future outbursts and gets student back in the classroom ASAP.
How Flexible Seating Can Boost Classroom Engagement
Meet two educators who say they’ve noticed negative behaviors decreasing after bringing more seating options to students.
Take Cellphones Out of the Classroom, Educators Say
Across the country, a ‘teacher-led movement’ is demanding new cellphone policies to curb the constant distractions and disruptions to learning.
A Back-to-School Guide to Union Membership
Whether this is your first year or you are a long-time educator, it is never too late to connect with your union! Our back-to-school guide will make navigating the opportunities and resources of your union membership easy.
Support Public Schools
Educators and parents know that America's students need more opportunities to succeed, and we need to strengthen our public schools where 90% of students learn and where every student belongs. Join us to support and protect our public schools.
Funding for Students and Schools
Learn more about education funding, including how much federal funding your state receives.
Ideas to Organize Locally to Protect Students and Public Schools
Now's the time to use your voice to speak up for public school students, educators, and communities. Use our toolkit to get started.
Protect Public Schools
Parents, educators, and community members are coming together to protect and strengthen public schools for our students, families, and ourselves. Use our resources to learn more and take action.
Join the Movement for Public Education
Do you believe in the power of public schools? It has never been more important for people who do not work in our schools to have educators’ backs. NEA needs your voice and your passion. Become a Community Ally and you will join an unbreakable movement to create safe schools, advocate for educator pay, and fight for equal opportunities for all students to thrive and succeed.
