Unions

People in privacy booths vote in the midterm election at an early voting polling site at Frank McCourt High School on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City on Nov. 1, 2022.
People in privacy booths vote in the midterm election at an early voting polling site at Frank McCourt High School on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City on Nov. 1, 2022.
Ted Shaffrey/AP
School & District Management Running for a School Board Seat? This Is the Most Powerful Endorsement You Can Get
New research shows that this endorsement in school board races is more influential than any other, with virtually no downside.
Caitlynn Peetz, September 22, 2023
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5 min read
Republican presidential candidates, from left, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former Vice President Mike Pence, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum stand on stage before a Republican presidential primary debate hosted by FOX News Channel on Aug. 23, 2023, in Milwaukee.
Republican presidential candidates, from left, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former Vice President Mike Pence, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum stand on stage before a Republican presidential primary debate hosted by FOX News Channel on Aug. 23, 2023, in Milwaukee.
Morry Gash/AP
Federal WATCH: 5 Key Takeaways on Education From the 1st GOP Presidential Debate
Among the highlights: take on the teachers' unions, scrap the Education Department, and boost reading.
Libby Stanford, August 24, 2023
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8 min read
Republican presidential candidates, from left, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former Vice President Mike Pence, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum stand at their podiums during a Republican presidential primary debate hosted by FOX News Channel on Aug. 23, 2023, in Milwaukee.
Republican presidential candidates, from left, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former Vice President Mike Pence, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum stand at their podiums during a Republican presidential primary debate hosted by FOX News Channel on Aug. 23, 2023, in Milwaukee.
Morry Gash/AP
Federal Broad Calls to Ax Education Department and Take On Teachers' Unions at 1st GOP Debate
Republican presidential candidates also used the first primary election debate to call for expanded school choice.
Libby Stanford, August 24, 2023
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4 min read
American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten gives an address during the AFT Together Educating America’s Children conference, in Washington, D.C., on Friday, July 21, 2023.
American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten speaks during the union's Together Educating America’s Children conference, in Washington on Friday, July 21, 2023. The nation's second largest teachers' union held the conference, attempting to propose solutions in response to criticism the union and its leaders have sustained from conservative politicians and activists.
Graeme Sloan for Education Week
Teaching Profession AFT Head Wants to Show She's Focused on Solutions to K-12's Challenges
Randi Weingarten attacked conservatives in a speech while responding to criticism by saying teachers are responsible for finding solutions.
Libby Stanford, July 21, 2023
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6 min read
Students hang their backpacks before the start of the first day of school at Morris Jeff Community School in New Orleans, La., on Aug. 5, 2019.
Students hang their backpacks before the start of the first day of school at Morris Jeff Community School in New Orleans, La., on Aug. 5, 2019.
David Grunfeld/The Advocate via AP
School & District Management Q&A Teachers’ Unions Want Every School to Be a Community School. Here’s Why
The president of the Los Angeles teachers' union on why teachers like community schools—and why some administrators don't.
Madeline Will, July 11, 2023
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6 min read
National Education Association President Becky Pringle presides over the union’s representative assembly in Orlando, Fla., on July 3, 2023.
National Education Association President Becky Pringle presides over the union’s representative assembly in Orlando, Fla., on July 3, 2023.
NEA
Teaching Profession Here's How the Nation's Largest Teachers' Union Is Spending Its Money
Membership is down but the National Education Association's budget is steady, and the union has outlined spending for the coming year.
Madeline Will, July 10, 2023
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7 min read
National Education Association President Becky Pringle speaks to the union’s representative assembly on July 4, 2023.
National Education Association President Becky Pringle speaks to the union’s representative assembly on July 4, 2023, in Orlando, Fla.
NEA
Teaching Profession Q&A NEA President Sympathizes With Teachers Who Want to Quit. Here's Her Advice
Becky Pringle talks about the volatile political climate teachers are in.
Madeline Will, July 7, 2023
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8 min read
A crowd gathers at the outside of the Indiana House chamber as the House Education Committee discuss House Bill 1608 at the Statehouse, Monday, Feb. 20, 2023, in Indianapolis. Indiana House Republicans advanced a bill Thursday, Feb. 23, that would require public school teachers to tell parents about students' social transitions and pronoun changes — a bill some worry will erode student-teacher trust and force children to come out to their parents before they are ready.
A crowd gathers at the outside of the Indiana House chamber on Feb. 20, 2023, as its education committee took up a bill to require teachers to disclose students' social transitions. The National Education Association recently approved new funding to counter such measures and provide guidance to its affiliates.
Darron Cummings/AP
Teaching Profession 'We Say Gay': Largest Teachers' Union Pledges to Fight Anti-LGBTQ+ Policies
The National Education Association will spend more than $500,000 countering new legislation and developing resources for its members.
Madeline Will, July 6, 2023
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6 min read
Miguel Cardona
Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona is pictured in downtown Washington, D.C., on April 27, 2023.
Courtesy of U.S. Department of Education
Teaching Profession Teachers Are Facing an 'Intentional Toxic Disrespect,' Secretary Cardona Says
Teachers deserve support, not to be cast as villains for political purposes, the education secretary told the largest teachers' union.
Madeline Will, July 4, 2023
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5 min read
A new billboard welcoming visitors to "Florida: The Sunshine 'Don't Say Gay or Trans' State" is seen on April 21, 2022, in Orlando, Fla., part of an advertising campaign launched by the Human Rights Campaign. Florida’s so-called “Don't Say Gay" law has prohibited discussion of various LGBTQ issues in many of the state’s classrooms.
A billboard in Orlando, Fla., that's part of an advertising campaign launched by the Human Rights Campaign welcomes visitors to "Florida: The 'Don't Say Gay or Trans' State." As the nation's largest teachers' union prepares to host its annual assembly in Florida, it's receiving pushback from some members about the conference's location.
John Raoux/AP
Teaching Profession Solidarity or a Safety Risk? Tensions Flare as the NEA Prepares to Convene in Florida
As the nation's largest teachers' union prepares to convene in Florida, some members are objecting to the annual gathering's location.
Madeline Will, June 28, 2023
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7 min read
Actress Sheryl Lee Ralph, star of Abbott Elementary, speaks during a special education town hall event for Teacher Appreciation week, at Walt Whitman High School, in Bethesda, Md., on May 7, 2023.
Actress Sheryl Lee Ralph, star of "Abbott Elementary," speaks during an event for Teacher Appreciation Week, at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, Md., on May 7, 2023.
Graeme Sloan for Education Week
Teaching Profession 'Abbott Elementary' Star Sheryl Lee Ralph: 'Get Your Teachers the Money They Deserve'
The actress spoke at an NEA- and PTA-sponsored event kicking off Teacher Appreciation Week.
Madeline Will, May 8, 2023
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4 min read
Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, is sworn in to testify during a House Oversight and Accountability subcommittee hearing on COVID-19 school closures, Wednesday, April 26, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, is sworn in to testify during a House Oversight and Accountability subcommittee hearing on COVID-19 school closures, Wednesday, April 26, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Mariam Zuhaib/AP
Federal AFT Head Weingarten Says Her Union Didn’t Conspire With CDC on School Reopening Guidance
Some Republicans allege the union exercised its influence to keep schools closed longer than necessary.
Caitlynn Peetz, April 26, 2023
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7 min read
Image shows a multi-tailed arrow hitting the bullseye of a target.
DigitalVision Vectors/Getty
Policy & Politics Opinion Teachers' Unions Are the Rorschach Test for School Reform
Critics see special interest groups opposing common-sense reforms, but advocates see champions of workplace democracy and the common good.
Rick Hess, April 13, 2023
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7 min read
Close up shot of some money overlapping a partial paystub revealing some blurred numbers and the words Total Pay, Taxes, and Deductions.
iStock/Getty
Teaching Profession Lawmakers Target How Teachers’ Unions Collect Dues
Teachers often opt to have union dues deducted from their paychecks. Republicans in some states are fighting to change that.
Madeline Will, April 6, 2023
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8 min read
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