When teachers pay union dues, most probably assume that money stays focused on schools, students, and working conditions.
A new federal filing shows that isn’t necessarily the case.
The disclosure involves the National Education Association, which represents more than 3 million educators nationwide, including thousands in Nevada.
It covers the union’s 2024 fiscal year and was reviewed by the North American Values Institute.
The filing shows millions of dollars going toward political advocacy, ballot initiatives, and organizations tied to progressive causes.
For example: $300,000 sent to the Sixteen Thirty Fund, a nonprofit known for backing left-leaning policy campaigns.
Tens of thousands more went to groups within the Tides Foundation network, which supports a wide range of progressive activism.
The largest single payment totaled more than $3.5 million. That money went to Education International, a global federation of teachers unions.
NEA President Becky Pringle also serves as a vice president of that organization.
That detail hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Importantly, the filing doesn’t accuse the union of breaking any laws; the spending looks like it was properly reported and legal.
But the question raised isn’t legality. It’s priorities.
Like why member dues are flowing to international groups at all – especially while schools back home are dealing with staff shortages, tight budgets, and aging facilities.
The filing also lays out heavy spending on ballot initiatives.
The union reported spending $500,000 to support a campaign to end standardized testing in Massachusetts.
Another $500,000 went toward an anti-gerrymandering amendment in Ohio.
Nearly $500,000 more was paid to a progressive political consulting firm that specializes in ballot initiative campaigns and canvassing.
But wait, there’s more.
The NEA paid more than $166,000 to Imagine Us LLC, a consulting firm that focuses on racial equity training.
Tens of thousands more went to groups promoting what they call “social justice education.”
Those groups produce classroom materials centered on race, gender identity, and activism in K-12 schools.
Another $350,000 went to the Schott Foundation. The foundation describes itself as a BIPOC-led public fund that supports racial and education justice movements.
Mika Hackner, director of research at the North American Values Institute, said this all points to a shift in priorities.
“Instead of focusing on member working conditions, unions are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on political projects,” Hackner told Fox News Digital.
Projects that, he says, are often disconnected from the real everyday concerns of teachers.
Supporters of the NEA see the spending as part of the job. After all, education policy is shaped by politics.
From their perspective, advocacy and ballot efforts are tools to protect public schools and students.
They say the union can’t ignore the political arena.
But critics insist the scope of the spending goes well beyond education policy – and that regular teachers aren’t getting much of a say in where it goes.
In Nevada, the filing lands as schools face ongoing challenges.
Reading and math scores remain low. Teacher shortages persist. Classrooms, especially in Clark County, are crowded.
That make questions about priorities harder to ignore. Budgets reveal focus.
The NEA is kind of like that one kid who sits all the way in the back, doing their best to distract everyone from the lesson without getting sent to the office.
They’re not technically breaking the rules – but they’re sure testing the patience of everyone in the classroom.
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