JCPA, Jewish Educators Welcome Safer, More Inclusive NEA Representative Assembly After New Rules Implemented

The Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) and NEA’s Jewish Affairs Caucus (JAC) welcomed the implementation of new rules and policies that better protected the safety and First Amendment rights of Jewish and all members during the National Education Association’s annual meeting, which concluded Tuesday. This work was part of JCPA’s broader partnership with NEA.

NEA’s Representative Assembly (RA) convened 6,000 educators in Denver. Participants observed notable improvements in the experience and safety of Jewish and all delegates this year as a result of the new rules. Following last year’s assembly, JAC had raised serious concerns with NEA leadership related to the experience and safety of Jewish educators.

“The Jewish Affairs Caucus is grateful to have partnered with NEA and JCPA to advance these new rules, which helped contribute to a more successful RA for all delegates, said JAC Chair Alyson Brauning. “While there is so much more work to do to address antisemitism in our union and our schools, these rules helped ensure a safer and more inclusive RA for Jewish and all educators — and that is a hugely important step forward. Thanks to our increased membership, engagement with NEA leadership, and new partnerships across NEA, the JAC was able to secure a number of significant wins this year: not only the new rules, but also the Constitutional Amendments and Jewish American Education Resolution.”

Brauning added: “I am proud of our members’ work to roll out a strategy that builds relationships and strengthens both the JAC and our union. We are committed to continuing the work with NEA leadership in advancing broader policies and programs to protect Jewish educators and students. We also reiterate that the only way to improve our safety is through engagement, and continue to call for constructive work to improve, not undermine, the NEA’s capacity to protect its members.”

Over the past months, JCPA and JAC worked in coordination with NEA leadership to advance new policies for this year’s Representative Assembly that included:

• Electronic voting to help reduce shouting on the floor during contentious resolutions;
• Stronger conduct enforcement, including prominently displayed QR codes to immediately report offenses; immediate removal for harassment, doxxing or violence; and single-strike warnings for any other offenses;
• Enhanced security, including photo ID requirements and improved magnetometers, was in place for the duration of the conference;
• De-escalation training to help delegation liaisons and NEA staff better respond to conflicts; and
• Repeated public reminders of the rules.

“We were grateful to partner with the Jewish Affairs Caucus and NEA to advance these new rules – and encouraged to hear that they made a tangible difference in Jewish educators’ experience at this year’s Representative Assembly,” said JCPA CEO Amy Spitalnick. “A safer, more inclusive NEA is good for Jewish and all educators, students, and our democracy. Educators should not have to choose between their safety and their participation in teachers’ unions, which have played an essential role in American Jewish life.”

Spitalnick added: “We look forward to continuing to build on our partnership with the Jewish Affairs Caucus and with NEA.”

JCPA has partnered with both major national teachers’ unions to counter antisemitism and hate and protect public education and democratic norms and values. On July 18, Spitalnick will appear at the American Federation of Teachers national convention in Washington, D.C.

At the Denver NEA event, JCPA’s Spitalnick and Ben Suarato led a presentation, “How Educators Can Confront Antisemitism & Hate and Defend Democracy.”