The IEA was founded in 1853 to serve the interest of public education in Illinois. The IEA became an affiliate of the National Education Association in 1857, an organization currently totaling 3.2 million teachers and school employees working to make our good public schools even better for all students.

For more than 150 years, NEA members have advocated for equal working conditions for educators and learning opportunities for students.  In 1964, the Representative Assembly passed a resolution requiring racially segregated affiliates to merge. Two years later, NEA becomes fully integrated, when the NEA and ATA agree to merge at the 1966 Representative Assembly.

View the IEA Leadership, including, Officers, Board of Directors and Committees.

The bylaws are the rules by which the organization agrees to conduct itself. The document establishes rights and responsibilities for the members and states how the association will organize itself.

View a list of IEA Committees and Joint Governance/Staff Task Forces.

Donate to the IEA Crisis Fund using PayPal.

Donate to the IEA Foundation using PayPal.  Tax deductible contributions to the foundation support educators and programs that support the IEA mission.

Information on how to conduct elections at the local and regional level.

The IEA does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, age, ancestry, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, or other status protected by applicable federal, state or local law.  Download an employment application and view vacancies.

View a list of common question about the association and it’s members.

View a list of IEA local association and region websites maintained by the local affiliate or region.

The IEA Foundation is a charitable arm of the Illinois Education Association. Tax deductible contributions to the foundation support educators and programs that support the IEA mission.

View all news and press releases from the IEA.