A report by the Washington think tank Education Sector criticizes the National Education Association for using donations to push for changes in the No Child Left Behind Act.
The July 11 report does not accuse the 2.8 million-member union of violating any laws, but says it should be more forthcoming about its spending to bolster opposition to the federal law.
The report highlights the NEA’s financial support of the Washington-based Communities for Quality Education, an education advocacy group that has criticized the NCLB law. The report says the NEA contributed $2.5 million to the group in the 2004-05 fiscal year. The group was set up to lobby and take part in political campaigns by the NEA, but doesn’t advertise the union’s support. (“NEA Sets Up Entity to Advocate Changes in Education Law,” May 5, 2004.)
NEA President Reg Weaver said that though the NEA may help fund studies, researchers “draw their own conclusions independently.”
