The Early Enrollment Program

NEA is proud to partner with our Affiliates for the 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, 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 yro@nea.org.

Program Benefits

• No Cost! Early enrollees joining between April 1 and August 31 pay no union dues for that period
• Access as “Insureds” to the NEA Educators Employment Liability (EEL) Program
• Having your voice heard within your local union. Participation in local governance matters is determined by each local union.
• NEA Member Benefits programs. *NEA Benefits (NEAMB) may limit access to certain benefits. For example, SAVI Student Loan Navigator, NEA Complimentary Life Insurance, and Introductory Life Insurance programs are not available to early enrollees until their memberships are fully activated in September.

Without the Early Enrollment Incentive, employees who become members during this period must pay union dues to receive these membership benefits.

Terms & Conditions

Make sure to read the following terms and conditions and how they apply to the Early Enrollment program. 

Organizing 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:  

• Back-To-School
• Winter Worksite
• Education Summer

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

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 yro@nea.org 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