NEA-Funded Orgs

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In the April 2010 Labor Watch, RiShawn Biddle takes aim at the National Education Association. According to Biddle, the NEA has in recent years taken to not only flexing their election muscles but influencing the non-profit sector as well.

“In the four years between fiscal years 2005-2006 and 2008-2009, the NEA has increased its donations to non-profits by nearly a six-fold, from $4 million to $26 million,” writes Biddle for the Capital Research Center. He got the donation numbers from examining the Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) union reporting requirements, which can be seen at unionreports.gov, according to the article.

Some groups receiving NEA funding, as outlined by Biddle, include:

ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now):

$396,452 in 2006-7 and 2007-2008 for “…‘nonpartisan voter registration’ and ‘community education’ activities.”

American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE):

“The union donated $252,262 to the group in 2008-2009.”

Center for American Progress (CAP):

“…$110,000 in NEA funds in 2008-2009.”

Citizens Who Support Maine’s Public Schools:

“ Last year in Maine, the NEA supplied nearly the entire budget of $680,426.73 for Citizens Who Support Maine’s Public Schools, a political action committee that defeated a proposed taxpayer bill of rights and a proposal to reduce Maine’s state excise tax.”

Coloradans for Middle Class Relief:

“…$1.6 million…” in one fiscal year, 2008-2009.

Communities for a Quality Education:

“… collected $8.7 million between the 2003-2004 and 2008-2009 fiscal years.”

“[The NEA] also sponsored a new group called Communities for Quality Education (CQE), whose ‘educational advocacy’ was shaped by a board that included the heads of NEA affiliates,” writes Biddle.

The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation:

“The NEA gave it $65,800 in 2008-2009.”

Economic Policy Institute:

“Between 2004-2005 and 2008-2009, the union gave more than $1.3 million to the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), a Washington-based think tank.”

Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF):

“…received $30,000 from the NEA in 2008-2009.”

National Center for Fair & Open Testing (FairTest):

$150,00 in 2008-2009.

National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education:

“…$1.5 million from the NEA between 2005-2006 and 2008-2009.”

Schott Foundation for Public Education:

“…received $30,000 in NEA dollars in 2008-2009…”