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Toolkit

The Early Enrollment Campaign

The Early Enrollment Campaign is the spring component of the NEA’s year-round organizing program.
Published: January 19, 2021
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The 2024 Early Enrollment Program

NEA is proud to partner with our Affiliates for the upcoming 2024 Year-Round Organizing Campaign. Early Enrollment allows potential members, First-Time Active members, and Aspiring Educators to experience the transformative impact of being part of the union for no immediate cost.

NEA's Guide to Early Enrollment

This year, we are excited to announce that states will automatically be opted in to the NEA Early Enrollment promotion, which begins April 1 and runs through August 31, 2024, as part of your spring recruitment campaign. States that do not want to participate in Early Enrollment will need to opt OUT via our YRO Campaign intake survey.

Campaign staff within NEA’s Center for Organizing will keep you informed of the latest developments throughout the Early Enrollment campaign season. Contact us at [email protected].

Quote byWilliam Spiegel , UniServ Specialist Utah Education Association

"The NEA Early Enrollment campaign is an important part of our affiliate’s year-round organizing plan, supporting Association leaders in inviting new membership to belong and setting us up for the most success at the start of the membership year."
—William Spiegel , UniServ Specialist Utah Education Association

Theory of Change

The Early Enrollment Membership Program is offered to support your spring or summer membership organizing efforts by inviting First-Time Active members and Aspiring Educators to experience the transformative impact of being part of the Association for no immediate cost. Between April 1 - August 31 educators can join without paying dues until the new school year starts.

First-time Active or new Aspiring Educator recruits will become members effective September 1 and receive immediate access to NEA Educators Employment Liability Program coverage (liability insurance) and NEA Member Benefits programs.

The Early Enrollment Campaign is part of our Year-Round Organizing Framework, which is designed to work with educators throughout important cycles of their year. Other components of the Year-Round Organizing Framework include:  

Get The Conversation Started

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Conversation Starters

Looking for a way to start the conversation around membership? We’ve created tools and explainers about unions, health care, pensions, student debt, and the school rescue fund priorities tool that you can send to potential members.
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Union Wins Map

When educators unite and speak truth to power, we can have an enormous impact. Learn how NEA’s nearly three million members join together for improved working conditions, better pay and benefits, and the learning conditions your students need to thrive.
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Changemaker Quiz

Educators can take our short quiz to find out where they fit into union activism. Then, we’ll follow up with resources to get them started!

Tools to Help

One of the most effective ways to build more meaningful relationships with our members and supporters is through content. ​We've identified key pieces of content streams that highlight the value of the union to potential members and develop processes to engage educators with those streams, capture data, and put them on a path to membership.

Early Enrollment Communications Toolkit

Looking for a way to talk about Early Enrollment with potential members? We've created messaging guidance and communications tools to get you started!

  • Learn the best ways to talk about our Early Enrollment Membership Program.
  • Share our conversation starters to reach potential members with resources that make a difference.
  • Use prompts to schedule follow up conversations that deepen relationships and connections.

Communications Toolkit

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Year-Round Organizing Cards 

When educators fill out the card, they will receive opportunities that: 

  • Support educators to grow in their professional practice.  
  • Help elect pro-public education candidates from both parties.  
  • Get the word out about ways to work together to improve working conditions.  
  • Work to increase education funding at your school, district, and state. 

Every state has their own Year-Round Organizing card. Text CONNECT to 48744 to be connect directly with your state. For more information about Year-Round Organizing cards and how to access the data gathered, visit our organizing toolkit.

YRO Card Resources

Text Join Tool

Our Text Join Tool allows people to join the union straight from their phones! All they need to do is text JOIN to 48744 and share their state and they will be sent the relevant join page. You can make the most of this tool by:

  • Putting it on social media graphics and in caption copy
  • Adding the "Text JOIN to 48744" ask to speeches
  • Highlighting the ask on event banners, podiums, and posters
  • ...Your creativity is the limit!

QUESTIONS? 

Please email [email protected] if you’d like to be connected with the AFSE Organizational Specialist assigned to your state affiliate who can assist you with developing an organizing campaign tailored towards your affiliate’s specific needs.

CONTACT US

Sign up your local

Be part of the vibrant campaign that is changing how our union organizes and communicates with members and potential members.
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Important organizing resources

We've compiled a complete library of resources to promote a culture of organizing at your affiliate.
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.