Bill Overview
Title: National Education Association Charter Repeal Act
Description: This bill repeals the federal charter granted to the National Education Association of the United States.
Sponsors: Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals associated with the National Education Association
Estimated Size: 2290000
- The National Education Association (NEA) is one of the largest labor unions in the United States, representing public school teachers and other support personnel.
- The NEA has over 2.29 million members, indicating a very large group directly impacted.
- The organization's charter affects its ability to advocate and operate at a national level effectively, impacting its members' ability to receive support, representation, and advocacy on educational issues.
- The bill affects teachers, administrators, and support staff nationwide, potentially altering the influence and operational efficiency of their largest union.
- Indirectly, the change could impact students and parents if there are changes to support and advocacy affecting school funding and educational policies.
Reasoning
- The population directly affected includes members of the National Education Association (NEA), primarily consisting of teachers, administrators, and other educational staff. There are over 2.29 million members, making this a large target population for the policy.
- The budget is relatively small compared to the size of the population affected. It might not directly translate to specific individual benefits without significant scaling, but could affect the overall operations and reach of the NEA.
- Impact on people's wellbeing will vary depending on their direct involvement with and reliance on the NEA for professional support and advocacy. Some may see significant effects on their professional life and job security, while others may witness minor changes.
- It's important to include perspectives from different roles within the education sector, as well as those potentially indirectly affected, such as students and parents.
Simulated Interviews
High School Teacher (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The NEA has been a backbone for us teachers, providing necessary support.
- Repealing its charter could mean less influence in advocating for our salaries and working conditions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 3 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 3 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 2 | 7 |
School Administrator (Houston, TX)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Without the NEA's federal charter, our ability to influence policy and garner resources could diminish.
- This is a setback at a crucial time for education.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 6 |
Elementary School Teacher (New York, NY)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I joined the NEA to feel more secure as a teacher.
- The repeal of the charter leaves our future in question.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 8 |
Union Representative (Seattle, WA)
Age: 42 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This change reduces our power to advocate effectively.
- I'm concerned about the broader impact on teacher retention.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 7 |
Retired Teacher (Chicago, IL)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While I'm retired, I fear this move undermines what we've built over decades.
- Future teachers may lack the support we had.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 8 |
Parent and School Volunteer (Miami, FL)
Age: 25 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm not directly impacted, but concerned about potential reductions in school support.
- The NEA has often been a voice for necessary school improvements.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 6 |
Public Policy Analyst (Denver, CO)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm interested in seeing how this affects educational outcomes.
- It could open doors for alternative advocacy, but with mixed initial results.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 7 |
Public School Counselor (Austin, TX)
Age: 31 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The NEA's role in advocating for mental health resources can't be understated.
- I'm worried the repeal will slow progress in student mental health support.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 7 |
District Superintendent (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The repeal of the NEA's charter may destabilize ongoing educational reforms.
- Our district often partners with NEA for teacher training and support.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 6 |
Early Childhood Educator (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The NEA helps educators like me gain resources for effective teaching.
- I'm concerned repeal will mean less support, especially for early education.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 3 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $7000000)
Year 2: $2000000 (Low: $1000000, High: $3000000)
Year 3: $1000000 (Low: $500000, High: $1500000)
Year 5: $1000000 (Low: $500000, High: $1500000)
Year 10: $1000000 (Low: $500000, High: $1500000)
Year 100: $1000000 (Low: $500000, High: $1500000)
Key Considerations
- The NEA provides significant advocacy for educational issues, and its loss of a federal charter could impact its lobbying capabilities.
- Given the NEA's effective membership size, the bill could politically activate groups either in support of or against the policy, influencing broader educational policies.
- Potential legal challenges could arise from stakeholders against the revocation of the charter.