STUDENT Act

This bill would change the federal charter for the National Education Association (NEA). It sets strict limits on politics and strikes, changes how dues are collected from public employees, and adds new transparency and accountability rules for the NEA and its state and local affiliates.

Key points

• Who is affected: The NEA and all of its state and local affiliates; public school employees who are members or pay dues; and the NEA’s property in Washington, DC .
• Politics: The NEA and its officers would be barred from giving to, supporting, or taking part in any political activity or trying to influence laws.
• Strikes: The NEA and affiliates could not call or take part in strikes, work stoppages, or slowdowns that affect state or local governments; they must also follow labor-organization rules under federal law.
• Dues and membership: Public employees could only pay dues directly (no payroll deduction). They must be told they can choose not to join or pay, must clearly agree before paying, and the union must process cancellation requests promptly.
• Classroom-related beliefs: The NEA and affiliates could not require or encourage staff, members, or schools to adopt certain beliefs about race, sex, or identity, including any antisemitic ideas, and could not push schools to require students to adopt those beliefs.
• Transparency and oversight: The NEA must avoid discrimination, keep complete records, have U.S. citizen officers, file an annual report to Congress, and can be taken to court by the U.S. Attorney General if it breaks these rules. If it ever shuts down, remaining assets go to the U.S. Treasury or are split among employed members at that time.
• Taxes: It would end a special DC property tax break for the NEA.