2015 NEA Representative Assembly Wrap-Up: Unite, Inspire, Lead!
More than 7,000 educators from all 50 states gathered in Orlando, Florida, from July 3-6 to attend the National Education Association’s 94th Representative Assembly (RA). The RA is the top decision-making body for the nearly 3 million-member NEA, and sets Association policy for the coming year. Embracing the meeting’s theme – “NEA: Unite. Inspire. Lead.” – delegates tackled complex issues with far-reaching implications for the profession, from the future of testing to equity in education.
Delegates passed two high-profile New Business Items (NBIs) supporting the recommendations of the NEA Task Force on Accountability, which recently released its report, “A New Vision for Student Success.” In the report, the 19-member Task Force addresses issues that the current narrow focus on testing overlooks, including equity and access, and explains how shared responsibility for our educational system will best serve students.
NEA President Lily Eskelsen García addresses the RA delegates in Orlando on July 3.
“By passing this NBI, the delegates recognized that we can’t do this important work alone,” said NEA Vice President Becky Pringle. “We must partner with other education, parent and community stakeholders; we must work shoulder to shoulder or we won’t be successful in realizing our vision.”
RA delegates also approved an NBI that addresses issues of institutional racism. The measure also calls for a coalition of 2015 NEA Representative Assembly Wrap-Up: Unite, Inspire, Lead! - NEA Today:
