In the April 2010 Labor Watch ^[1], RiShawn Biddle takes aim at the National Education Association ^[2]. 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 ^[3] (OLMS) union reporting requirements, which can be seen at unionreports.gov ^[4], according to the article.

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

ACORN ^[5] (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 ^[6] (AACTE):

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

Center for American Progress ^[7] (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 ^[8]:

“… 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 ^[9]:

“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 ^[10]):

$150,00 in 2008-2009.

National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education ^[11]:

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

Schott Foundation for Public Education ^[12]:

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

Bethany Stotts is a staff writer at Accuracy in Academia. ^[13]