Teacher union membership has been experiencing a multi-year decline, particularly following the 2018 Janus Supreme Court ruling, with data through early 2025 showing continued drops in active working members for major organizations like the National Education Association (NEA). While the NEA projects potential growth in 2026 based on recent organizing, membership has faced consistent downward pressure.
Key details regarding teacher union membership trends:
Declining Membership: The NEA, the nation's largest teachers union, has reported a steady decline in working members since 2018, with reports in early 2025 showing continued drops, including a loss of over 12,000 working members between the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years.
State-Level Declines: State-level affiliates, such as Education Minnesota, have also reported declines in teacher membership, with total membership in some areas dropping 10% since 2018.
Impact of Janus Ruling: The 2018 Supreme Court Janus v. AFSCME ruling, which prohibited public-sector unions from collecting fees from non-members, has significantly contributed to the decline.
Contradictory Outlooks: While some analyses point to continued declines in 2025 and 2026, the NEA predicts growth in 2026 based on new organizing efforts, such as the affiliation of faculty at private colleges.
Support for Unions: Despite membership drops, overall public approval for labor unions remains high, in the 67-71% range, particularly among younger people.
Reasons for Decline: Teachers are choosing to opt out of union membership, with some expressing a desire to avoid financing political or ideological causes.
Yes, teacher union membership in the U.S. continues to face a multi-year decline as of 2026, though the trend varies by organization and region.
National Membership Trends
National Education Association (NEA): The nation’s largest union has seen consecutive annual losses since 2018. Federal filings for the 2023–24 school year showed a drop to roughly 2.84 million members, a loss of nearly 18,000 from the previous year. This downward slide is projected to continue through 2026, even as the union attempts to organize new sectors like private colleges.
American Federation of Teachers (AFT): In contrast to the NEA, the American Federation of Teachers has reported membership growth, reaching 1.8 million members by 2025. This growth is partially attributed to aggressive organizing in healthcare and higher education, as well as the 2023 affiliation of the 44,000-member American Association of University Professors.
State-Level
Declines
State-specific data highlights sharper declines in areas with recent legislative changes:
Florida: The Florida Education Association lost over 20,000 members (a 15% drop) since 2023 following a law that ended automatic dues deductions.
Minnesota: Education Minnesota reported a decline in both active and student-teacher members in its 2025 federal reports, with total membership down 10% since 2018.
Arkansas: The state's teacher union reportedly saw a 36% drop in dues revenue in a single year due to similar legislative shifts.
Key Drivers of the Trend
Janus v. AFSCME (2018): This Supreme Court ruling continues to impact membership by allowing public sector employees to opt out of paying "fair share" fees while still receiving union representation.
Legislative Attacks: At least half a dozen states have enacted or proposed ending payroll deductions for union dues, which NEA leadership identifies as a "real threat" to retention.
Teacher Shortages: Declines are often tied to fewer people entering the profession and higher turnover; every U.S. state reported teacher shortages for the 2024–25 school year.
https://www.google.com/search?q=is+teacher+union+membership+declining+in+the+us+2026+google
Comments
Frustration over teaching an inadequate curriculum is sufficient evidence to explain the short tenure.
Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader
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