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Public education was supposed to teach reading, math, and how to be a decent citizen. Instead, too many parents are watching their local schools double as political street teams. The biggest teachers’ union in America, the National Education Association, is deeply involved in political spending and activist work. That matters because union money and union energy steer what happens inside classrooms and at school events like the now‑infamous May Day protests.
NEA political spending: how big is it?
The NEA has set up several legal vehicles to influence elections and politics. Its super PAC and affiliated committees raised and spent tens of millions in the most recent federal cycle — roughly $27.8 million in 2023–24 just from the NEA Advocacy Fund alone, by OpenSecrets’ count. Other union channels and local affiliates also move money to outside groups and campaigns. Some watchdogs compile all of that together and arrive at headline totals that are much larger — even claims of over $1 billion since 2015 — though independent analysts warn those big figures sometimes mix different legal categories and can be misleading if you don’t read the fine print.
What the money funds
So where does the money go? Reports from watchdog groups show donations and grants flowing to a long list of left‑of‑center outfits and activist organizations. Names that come up repeatedly include Planned Parenthood, GLSEN, the Southern Poverty Law Center (which has faced scrutiny), and grassroots training groups like Midwest Academy. The NEA says its political funds come from voluntary contributions and that separate charitable arms fund classroom work. Fine. But the optics are bad when public school teachers are handing out “May Day” toolkits and schools cancel classes so staff and students can join political demonstrations.
May Day, classrooms, and parent frustration
Parents are right to be upset. When schools shut down or students are steered into political rallies, families lose instructional time and end up cobbling together childcare. Even more troubling: the union’s public posture and large political war chest make it obvious what priorities the leaders have. Becky Pringle, the NEA president, has pushed organizing and electoral engagement loudly. If political advocacy becomes the top job of our education leadership, then the classroom loses. That’s a problem Democrats, Republicans, and most parents should agree on.
Fix it: transparency, choice, and accountability
There are simple steps to push back. First, demand clear accounting: voters and members should be able to see exactly where dues and affiliate money go. Second, protect parents’ rights to opt children out of political activities and insist schools stay neutral during instructional hours. Third, let teachers opt out of political contributions if they wish — voluntary PACs should stay voluntary in practice, not just on paper. Finally, local school boards should reclaim control and focus on teaching kids to read and think, not to march. If education leaders want to double as political activists, they should do it on their own time — not on ours.
