Political Action

Education Decisions are Political Decisions

Central OEA/NEA employs five members as Political Action Coordinators (PAC). Their responsibility is to keep each local association informed concerning political issues being discussed in the General Assembly. The Political Action Coordinators' goals are to educate members concerning these issues, to work with local presidents and liaisons to increase the political activity of local members, to be available to attend local association, UniServ Council, and CORE meetings, and to develop relationships with legislators through attendance at legislative committee hearings, fund raisers, and sessions.

Important Political Action Resources

• OEA Legislative Site
• Legislative Hearings
• NEA Legislative Action Center
• Political Action Calendar
• OEA Hot Legislative Topics
• Supreme Court Ruling- DeRolph IV

OEA Legislative Watch Publications

Click here to download PDF versions of OEA Legislative Watch Publications

Local Political Action Liaisons

District presidents should identify a local Political Action Liaison. Central OEA/NEA will provide a $100 stipend to each area PAL. This stipend is being provided as an incentive to locals to become more involved in political action on a grassroots level.

A list of criteria for receiving the stipend follows.

Mandatory Criteria:

1. Communicate with the Political Action Coordinator (PAC), local president, and members.

2. Chair, or help coordinate, the local OEA Fund for Children and Public Education fund drive.

3. The Local must meet the OEA Fund for Children and Public Education participation goal set by the Central OEA/NEA Executive Board (currently 11%).

Strongly recommended:

1. The PAL should be a contributor to the OEA Fund for Children and Public Education.

PAL would need to show the he/she did at least 3 of the following:

1. Sign up through OEA to be an active ACE (Advocate for Children and Public Education), and be a cyber lobbyist.

2. Attend at least one training session per year sponsored by either OEA or Central OEA/NEA. Examples: Central Leadership if February 2009, OEA Leadership Conference in the summer, or local training developed by the political action coordinators.

3. Attend an OEA Lobby Day.

4. Play an active role in local election activities.

5. Attend an area meeting.

Documentation of PALs involvement will vary depending on the activity, i.e., Central registration records, copies of letters from cyber lobbying, copies of communications, etc. Each PAC will communicate with the political action liaisons and local presidents on other forms of documentation required. A specific date near the end of the school year will be set for all documentation to be sent to the PAC from the political action liaisons. All earned stipends will be paid out at the same time, date to be determined.

Once a PAL is identified he/she should contact the area PAC for further information.