Title: National Education Association (NEA) - InfluenceWatch
Headings: National Education Association (NEA)
National Education Association (NEA)
Contents
Organizational Overview
Creation
Early Issue Advocacy
Modern Advocacy
Political Activity
2016 General Election
2012 General Election
Other Political Spending
Teacher Strike Fund
Positions
School Vouchers and Charter Schools
Other Issues
Controversies
9/11 Terrorism
ACORN Donations
Overt Democratic Party Activism
Financial Information
Revenues
State Affiliate Grants
Affiliates
NEA Foundation
NEA Advocacy Fund
People
President
Vice President
Secretary-Treasurer
Executive Director
References
Directors, Employees & Supporters
Associated Organizations
Vendors
Nonprofit Information
Available Filings
Additional Filings (PDFs)

Content: [5]
Contents
Organizational Overview
Creation
Early Issue Advocacy
Modern Advocacy
Political Activity
2016 General Election
2012 General Election
Other Political Spending
Teacher Strike Fund
Positions
School Vouchers and Charter Schools
Other Issues
Controversies
9/11 Terrorism
ACORN Donations
Overt Democratic Party Activism
Financial Information
Revenues
State Affiliate Grants
Affiliates
NEA Foundation
NEA Advocacy Fund
People
President
Vice President
Secretary-Treasurer
Executive Director
References
Directors, Employees & Supporters
Associated Organizations
Child Organizations
Coalition Memberships
Donation Recipients
Vendors
Form 990 Information
Organizational Overview
Creation
NEA was founded in 1857 as the National Teachers Association (NTA) when 43 educators met in Philadelphia in order to advocate for public education. [6]
It changed its name to the National Education Association in 1870. [7]
Zalmond Richards—founder of Union Academy in Washington, D.C. and a faculty member at Columbian College, now known as George Washington University—became NEA’s first president. [8]
Since then, NEA has grown to represent close to 2.95 million as of 2015, a decline from the union’s peak membership in 2008-2010. [9]
Early Issue Advocacy
NEA has a long history of issue advocacy, beginning with support for the Morrill Act of 1862, which supported land-grant colleges and the creation of public state universities. [10]
In 1867, NEA successfully lobbied Congress to create the first Department of Education,
[11]
which was almost solely devoted to collecting information to help states create public school systems. [12]
In 1866, the NEA opened it’s membership to women. NEA continued to gain political victories in the 20 th century as it began to promote state pension plans in 1923. By 1950, every state had a pension plan. [13]
By the mid 20 th century, NEA was advocating for more controversial policies, such as advocating for the Bilingual Education Act, providing federal funding for the development and implementation of bilingual education programs, in 1968.