NEA Allocates Millions to Left-Wing Groups
Recent records reveal that one of the most influential teachers’ unions in the U.S. has channeled millions of its funds towards leftist political causes, voting initiatives, and social justice organizations. The National Education Association (NEA), with over 3 million members, disclosed these financial activities to federal labor authorities.
In filings from November, the NEA reported significant contributions, including $300,000 to the Sixteen Thirty Fund, which is a well-known financial collective for liberal activism. Additionally, the NEA made substantial donations to the Tides Foundation Network, an organization linked to various progressive movements and anti-Israel demonstrations.
One of the NEA’s most notable expenses was over $3.5 million directed to Education International, a global teachers’ federation where NEA President Becky Pringle serves as vice president. The documents also highlighted several hundred thousand dollars allocated to initiatives aimed at modifying education policies and voting regulations in states like Ohio, Massachusetts, Arizona, and Wisconsin.
The NEA’s financial strategy included a $500,000 investment in a Massachusetts campaign to do away with standardized testing and another $500,000 towards an anti-gerrymandering effort in Ohio. Furthermore, they allocated nearly half a million dollars to a progressive consulting firm specializing in political campaigning and voting strategies.
Beyond campaign financing, the union spent over $166,000 on Imagine Us LLC, a firm focused on racial equity training. This was part of a larger expenditure on organizations that promote what the NEA labels as “social justice education,” such as materials on race and gender identity in K-12 curricula.
The NEA also donated $350,000 to the Schott Foundation, a BIPOC-led organization that champions racial and educational justice.
Micah Hackner, a research director at the North American Values Institute, commented on these expenditures, stating that the focus has shifted from improving working conditions for teachers to supporting political agendas that may not align with the interests of most educators.
The NEA has been criticized for prioritizing political advocacy over the educational needs of students. For instance, past reports revealed they were guiding members on gender transition in the workplace and labeling conservative critics as adversaries, raising concerns about their alignment with educational goals.
Erica Sange, from Education Advocacy, suggested that it might be time to reassess the NEA’s federal charter, which was initially intended to strengthen the teaching profession and promote education in the U.S. She argued that the union’s current trajectory contradicts this mission.
