Education

Union Basics

October 30, 2002 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

The National Education Association, the largest union in the United States, and the American Federation of Teachers have many resources at their disposal to try to shape education policy.

NEA AFT
Founded 1857 1916
Headquarters Washington Washington
Annual budget* $267 million $110 million
Political action committee spending in 2001-02, as of Sept. 30*
$3.9 million $4.2 million
Federal lobbying expenditures, 2001*
$1.1 million $938,868
Number of members 2.7 million 1.2 million
Number of teacher members 1.9 million 600,000
Number of state affiliates 51 37
Number of local affiliates 14,000 4,000
Number of paid national staff members 565 290
Professions represented Teachers and others working within pre-K-12, collegiate, and other education systems
Teachers and others working within pre-K-12 and collegiate systems, nurses and other health-care workers, and public employees

* Data for national organizations only.

SOURCES: National Education Association, American Federation of Teachers, Federal Election Commission, and Secretary of the U.S. Senate

Events

Student Well-Being Webinar After-School Learning Top Priority: Academics or Fun?
Join our expert panel to discuss how after-school programs and schools can work together to help students recover from pandemic-related learning loss.
Budget & Finance Webinar Leverage New Funding Sources with Data-Informed Practices
Address the whole child using data-informed practices, gain valuable insights, and learn strategies that can benefit your district.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Classroom Technology Webinar
ChatGPT & Education: 8 Ways AI Improves Student Outcomes
Revolutionize student success! Don't miss our expert-led webinar demonstrating practical ways AI tools will elevate learning experiences.
Content provided by Inzata

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Education Briefly Stated: May 17, 2023
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
8 min read
Education Briefly Stated: May 3, 2023
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
8 min read
Education Briefly Stated: April 26, 2023
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
8 min read
Education Briefly Stated: March 29, 2023
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
8 min read