Coronavirus crisis threatens education funding An economic downturn that could rival the Great Depression is upon us—and threatening the ability of state and local governments to fund public education and other essential services. Costs are up as the nation struggles to contain COVID-19 and cope with dramatically rising unemployment—in the last five weeks, 26.5 million…
Another COVID bill is in the works NEA continues to work with Congress to highlight priorities for students, educators, public schools, and communities in additional COVID legislation now taking shape. Those priorities include immediate needs like funding as well as long-festering problems ranging from the homework gap to student loan debt. We are also urging…
For next COVID bill, NEA urges Congress to think big As a fourth coronavirus legislative package begins to take shape, NEA is urging Congress to address immediate needs like funding as well as long-festering problems ranging from the homework gap to student loan debt. On April 9, NEA sent every member of Congress a detailed…
DeVos revives failed push to privatize education Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is using the coronavirus crisis to revive her failed push to privatize education. This time, she’s calling for “microgrants” instead of vouchers. But the impact would be the same: robbing the public schools that educate 9 out of 10 students of funding, robbing the…
Congress heeds educators’ pleas to put people first, but still needs to do more The $2 trillion CARES Act was passed by the U.S. Congress this weekend. It is the third legislative package to address coronavirus crisis and addresses many—but not all—of the urgent needs of our students, educators, schools, and communities. Key provisions include:…