Our Member Organizations

The Learning First Alliance is a self-initiated partnership of 13 of the nation’s leading education organizations. Member organizations represent educators, parents, and policymakers. The members are:

AASA, The School Superintendents Association

Founded in 1865, AASA, The School Superintendents Association is one of the longest-standing professional education leadership organizations in the nation. Its more than 15,000 national and international members include superintendents, central office administrators, principals, and board members, as well as professors and others who prepare educators for leadership positions. AASA’s focuses on four major areas of work. These areas include:

  1. Improving the condition of children and youth;
  2. Preparing schools and school systems for the 21st century;
  3. Connecting schools and communities; and
  4. Enhancing the quality and effectiveness of school leaders.

Website: www.aasa.org

American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education

The American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE) is the leading voice on educator preparation. AACTE represents more than 800 postsecondary institutions with educator preparation programs dedicated to high-quality, evidence-based preparation that assures educators are ready to teach all learners.

Website: www.aacte.org

American Federation of Teachers

The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) represents 1.5 million pre-K through 12th-grade teachers; paraprofessionals and other school-related personnel; higher education faculty and professional staff; federal, state and local government employees; nurses and healthcare workers; and early childhood educators. The AFT strives to represent its members, strengthen public education, and address issues that affect all children and working Americans.

Website: www.aft.org

American School Counselor Association

The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) supports school counselors’ efforts to help students focus on academic, career and social/emotional development so they achieve success in school and are prepared to lead fulfilling lives as responsible members of society. ASCA provides professional development, publications and other resources, research and advocacy to approximately 43,000 school counselors around the globe.

Website: www.schoolcounselor.org

Consortium for School Networking

CoSN (the Consortium for School Networking) is the premier professional association for district technology leaders. For over two decades, CoSN has provided leaders with the management, community building, and advocacy tools they need to succeed. Today, CoSN represents over 10 million students in school districts nationwide and continues to grow as a powerful and influential voice in K-12 education.

Website: http://www.cosn.org/

Learning Forward

Learning Forward’s purpose is ensuring that every educator engages in effective professional learning every day so every student achieves. Learning Forward is an international association of learning educators focused on increasing student achievement through more effective professional development.

Website: www.learningforward.org

National Association of Elementary School Principals

Established in 1921, the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) serves 27,000 elementary and middle school principals nationwide. Dedicated to educational excellence and high professional standards among K-8 educators, NAESP works at the national, state and local levels to help school leaders provide the best possible education to the children and youth. Headquartered in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, NAESP has an affiliate in every state and the District of Columbia.

Website: www.naesp.org

National Association of Secondary School Principals

In existence since 1916, the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is the preeminent organization of and national voice for middle level and high school principals, assitant principals, and aspiring school leaders from across the United States and more than 45 countries around the world. The mission of NASSP is to promote excellence in school leadership. NASSP provides its members with the professional research-base and peer-tested resources, and practical tools and materials they need to serve as visionary school leaders. NASSP also promotes the intellectual growth, academic achivevement, character and leadership development, and physical well-being of youth. NASSP is proud to have founded and to administer the National Honor Society®, the National Junior Honor Society®, and the National Association of Student Counsils®.

Website: www.principals.org

National Education Association

The National Education Association (NEA) is America’s oldest and largest organization committed to advancing the cause of public education. Founded in 1857 in Philadelphia and now headquartered in Washington, D.C., NEA has 2.5 million members who work at every level of education, from pre-school to university graduate programs. NEA has affiliates in every state as well as in over 13,000 local communities across the United States.

Website: www.nea.org

National PTA

The National PTA is the oldest and largest volunteer association in the United States, working exclusively on behalf of children and youth for over 100 years. The National PTA consists of more than 6.5 million members, over 26,000 local units in 50 states, the District of Columbia, Pacific Congress, and European Congress (serving Department of Defense schools overseas). Members include parents, teachers, students, and other child advocates.

Website: www.pta.org

National School Boards Association

Founded in 1940, the National School Boards Association (NSBA) is a not-for-profit organization representing state associations of school boards and their more than 90,000 local school board members throughout the U.S. Working with and through our state associations, NSBA advocates for equity and excellence in public education through school board leadership.

Website: www.nsba.org

National School Public Relations Association

Since 1935, the National School Public Relations Association has been providing school communication training and services to school leaders throughout the United States, Canada, and the U.S. Dependent Schools worldwide. NSPRA’s mission is to advance education through responsible communication leading to success for all students. They accomplish that mission by providing a variety of diverse products, services and professional development activities for their members and other education leaders and organizations interested in improving their communication efforts.

Website: www.nspra.org

PDK International

Established in 1906, PDK International supports P-20 educators, researchers, and policy makers by strengthening their commitment to the profession throughout the entire arc of their careers. We are committed to elevating the profession through the intersection of research and practice. Through our core values of social justice, engagement, excellence, and results, we encourage educators and stakeholders to elevate the discourse and change the narrative around teaching and learning to ensure that every student has a high-quality equitable education.

Website: https://pdkintl.org/