Sen. Bill Cassidy, chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), has called for Congress to review the charter of the National Education Association (NEA), the nation's largest teachers union. The move comes amid concerns over the union's alleged ties to far-left organizations and its financial practices.
Cassidy, a Republican, outlined his concerns in a report detailing the NEA's collaborations with educational nonprofits such as the Zinn Education Project and Rethinking Schools. According to the report, these organizations have published materials that, for example, justify the actions of the Black Panther Party and include lesson plans that encourage role-playing as "queer liberation" activists. The report states that ideologies espoused by groups like the Black Panthers are inconsistent with the U.S. Constitution, citing their advocacy for armed force and involvement in violence.
Rethinking Schools also reportedly published a lesson plan guiding teachers on incorporating LGBTQ+ material into elementary school lessons. The NEA has worked closely with these groups, providing them with platforms at conferences, collaborating on curriculum, and promoting their materials.
Cassidy argued that the NEA, chartered in 1906 with a mission to "elevate the character and advance the interests of the profession of teaching; and to promote the cause of education in the United States," has strayed from its original purpose. While revoking the charter would be a symbolic blow, the union could continue to operate.
The report also points to the NEA's involvement in left-wing protest movements, including promoting and participating in demonstrations critical of former President Donald Trump. Webinars hosted by the NEA reportedly advised educators to "bring activism into the classroom," even targeting children as young as three years old. In Chicago, students were allegedly encouraged to skip class for protests, despite subpar reading and math scores in the city's public schools.
Financially, the report highlights that since 2015, the NEA has contributed hundreds of millions of dollars to advocacy organizations and political action committees, predominantly those with left-of-center alignments. These include substantial donations to organizations like the Sixteen Thirty Fund and the Tides Foundation, described as major dark money operations aligned with Democrats. The union's own PAC, which overwhelmingly supports Democratic candidates, also received millions.
The report also alleges that the NEA has failed to adequately represent its Jewish educators. A letter from the union's Jewish Affairs Caucus claimed members reported "shunning, harassment and antisemitic comments" at the union's annual assembly.
Similar criticisms regarding perceived mission drift were also directed at the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), another major teachers union. The report cited the AFT's participation in protests, boycotts, and advocacy on LGBTQ+ issues, as well as its financial contributions to liberal causes.
The NEA, which represents approximately 3 million educators, recently transitioned to new leadership, with Princess R. Moss beginning a three-year term as president on Tuesday, succeeding Becky Pringle. The union, along with Rethinking Schools and the Zinn Education Project, did not respond to requests for comment.