General Discussion

NEA is committed to ensuring all students can learn in a safe, welcoming environment by combating antisemitism, discrimination, and hate.

At the recent NEA 2025 Representative Assembly, a recommendation was sent to the Executive Committee that NEA not partner with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). As the NEA does not currently have a partnership with the ADL, this would have constituted a forward-looking declaration.

Today, following the culmination of a thorough review process as governed by NEA rules, including a vote by NEA’s Executive Committee earlier this week, NEA's Board of Directors—representing the broad and diverse membership of the NEA including representatives from every state—voted not to implement this proposal.

In our review, NEA considered multiple factors, including the rationale and concerns behind the proposal, its relationship to our policies and values, and how this would affect students, our members, our work, and our mission to champion excellence and justice in public education. We consulted with NEA state affiliates and civil rights leaders, including Jewish American and Arab American community leaders, and we also met with ADL leadership.

After consideration, it was determined that this proposal would not further NEA’s commitment to academic freedom, our membership, or our goals. Today’s vote by the NEA Board of Directors to not adopt this proposal completes NEA’s process.