Time’s Up: Why the NEA Should Lose Its Charter

For decades, the National Education Association (NEA) has positioned itself as a champion of public education. But somewhere along the way, it stopped prioritizing students and teachers and instead became a hyper-political machine more focused on advancing a progressive agenda than on delivering quality education.

It’s time to have a serious conversation about whether the NEA still deserves its federal charter—and whether its continued influence is helping or hurting America’s students.

1. Students Are No Longer the Priority

The NEA claims to advocate for students, but its actions speak louder than words. From opposing school choice to resisting performance-based evaluations, the union routinely stands in the way of reforms that could improve outcomes—especially for students in underperforming districts.

When parents demanded safe in-person learning during the pandemic, the NEA pushed to keep schools closed, ignoring both science and student well-being. Learning loss, mental health crises, and declining literacy rates followed. Who paid the price? Students—especially low-income ones.

2. Politics Over Education

Rather than sticking to educational issues, the NEA has become increasingly ideological. It now uses its resources and influence to push a progressive political agenda. The union has taken stances on issues wholly unrelated to the classroom—from abortion access to climate change to voting rights legislation.

Public education should be about reading, writing, and arithmetic—not radical activism.

3. Silencing Teachers Who Disagree

Many teachers feel they have no voice within the NEA unless they toe the political line. Conservative and moderate educators are often shut out or ignored, while union leadership pours millions into candidates and causes many dues-paying members do not support.

This isn’t representation; it’s coercion.

4. Misuse of Public Funds

The NEA, through its local affiliates, collects dues from teachers whose salaries are funded by taxpayers. Then it funnels a portion of that money into lobbying efforts that often contradict the values of those very taxpayers. This cycle of money and influence creates a conflict of interest that no other public-sector organization would tolerate.

5. Obstruction of Reform

Whether it’s merit-based pay, school choice, or tenure reform, the NEA’s default position is “no.” Innovation is met with lawsuits, lobbying, and fearmongering. Instead of helping teachers thrive and students succeed, the NEA protects the status quo—even when it’s failing.

Why Revoking the Charter Matters

The NEA’s federal charter, granted in 1906, is largely symbolic today—but symbols matter. It sends a message that this is a trustworthy, non-partisan organization working in the national interest. That is no longer true.

Revoking the NEA’s charter wouldn’t eliminate the union, but it would send a clear signal: American education should be about children, not politics. It's time to put the power back in the hands of parents, teachers, and communities—not entrenched bureaucrats and ideologues.

Our children deserve better. The NEA has had its chance. It failed. Time to move on.