NEA Degrees Not Debt Toolkit

Transcription

1 NEA Degrees Not Debt Toolkit

2 The National Education Association (NEA) is the nation s largest professional employee organization, representing 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, and students preparing to become teachers. NEA Executive Committee Members Lily Eskelsen García, President Becky Pringle, Vice President Princess R. Moss, Secretary-Treasurer Eric Brown Kevin F. Gilbert Maury Koffman Shelly Moore Krajacic George Sheridan Earl Wiman John C. Stocks, Executive Director

3 Table of Contents NEA Degrees Not Debt Toolkit Introduction: Why NEA Degrees Not Debt? 1 Purpose of NEA Degrees Not Debt 2 Preparing for your NEA Degrees Not Debt Workshop 4 Sample Agenda 6 Following Up 7 Resources for Trainers 8 Attachment List 9

4 Introduction: Why NEA Degrees Not Debt? Student Debt Facts $50,000 $30,000 average debt for educator with a graduate degree average debt for educator with a bachelor s degree Debt & Educators $1.3 Trillion $36,141 total student debt 42 Million average incoming teacher salary student loan borrowers The NEA Degrees Not Debt campaign seeks to educate association members on federal student loan repayment programs, and works with NEA members and student chapters across the country to promote equitable access to affordable higher education. The NEA Degrees Not Debt campaign is an important organizing tool for state and local affiliate leaders and staff to apply in the field. 58% of surveyed NEA members responded that they wanted more information on federal student loan repayment programs. Student debt is at a crisis point, and we re beginning to see a major impact on early career educators who are concerned about managing their student loan debt. The NEA Degrees Not Debt campaign and toolkit provides UniServ Directors and local affiliate staff the necessary materials to conduct their own NEA Degrees Not Debt workshops for members. After participating in the NEA Degrees Not Debt training and by using the NEA Degrees Not Debt toolkit, local staff should feel comfortable: Presenting a NEA Degrees Not Debt workshop. Answering technical questions on federal student loan repayment and forgiveness programs. NEA Degrees Not Debt Toolkit 1

5 Purpose of NEA Degrees Not Debt DND Goals Grow membership Save members money Organize members to support local campaigns and communities Engage early career educators Advocate Advocate for student debt crisis and college affordability solutions The NEA Degrees Not Debt (DnD) campaign s purpose is to grow membership, develop member activists, and recruit leaders for our Local and State Associations through NEA-branded promotion and support of federal student loan repayment programs. Successful DnD implementation may increase Association membership by making dues affordable for early career educators burdened by student debt, and demonstrating the value of union membership to incoming educators. We can also use the DnD campaign to advance policies through member-driven advocacy at the local, state and federal levels that increases Income-Driven Repayment and Public Service Loan Forgiveness program enrollment, establishes accountability mechanisms for the private sector loan industry, and promotes college affordability. Grow Membership Recruit non-members into the Association. Convert agency fee payers into full share members. Save Members Money The Association can save its members money by educating them on federal student loan repayment programs that can reduce monthly debt payments. Organize Members Membership support for local association priorities is critical, but obtaining that support can be challenging. Attract membership support by using NEA Degrees Not Debt as an organizing tool, particularly as 58% of NEA members surveyed indicated an interest in learning more about student debt repayment programs. The thought of my student debt was always on the back of my mind during undergraduate and graduate school. When I found out about NEA s Degrees Not Debt, I did not hesitate to jump on board. Through the campaign, I learned about the many options that are available to me, particularly as an educator. NEA Degrees Not Debt didn t erase my debt, but at least I know now that there is help. I am extremely confident that NEA we will continue to push for college affordability so future generations will not be forced to acquire burdensome student debt to obtain a higher education, and ultimately, have a chance to achieve the American Dream. Jess A. Sanchez, CTA Member & former Student CTA Chapter officer NEA Degrees Not Debt Toolkit 2

6 Purpose of NEA Degrees Not Debt (continued) Use DnD to not only educate members on cost saving measurements, but to increase interest in their local union and to support its goals. State locals and Affiliates can use NEA Degrees Not Debt in response to anticipated unfavorable Supreme Court ruling in Friedrichs v. CTA that may overturn agency fee payer laws. Organize Communities We often overlook the need to organize our communities and external stakeholders that influence and shape schools and education policy. Locals and affiliates can use DnD to demonstrate leadership on student debt issues and to build progressive coalitions to support educators, public schools and other goals. Engage Early Career Educators Early career educators face a litany of firsts when they enter the classroom: first class, first job, and oftentimes, first student loan bill. We can use NEA Degrees Not Debt to ensure that their first interaction with the union is positive and motivates early career educators to join their local, rather than become agency fee payers. Advocate for Student Debt Crisis and College Affordability Solutions Facing declining student enrollment in teacher credentialing programs may weaken the union in the future. DnD can be used to not only inform students about repayment programs in colleges of education, but can be used to introduce dialogue on college affordability on campuses and reposition the NEA as a leading voice on supporting students equitable access to affordable higher education. Organizing Members and Communities in Howard County, MD Howard County Education Association (HCEA) integrates NEA Degrees Not Debt (DnD) into its ongoing organizing efforts. HCEA was already active in affordable housing, and in organizing parents and educators around their shared concerns. Student debt concerns fit right into that work. For example, nearly 50% of HCEA members cannot afford to live within Howard County. Those are also the same members struggling with their student debt obligations. Rather than exclusively using DnD to educate members on student debt reduction programs, HCEA also identifies DnD attendees interested in becoming involved in its community organizing campaign. Following the DnD workshop, HCEA follows up with these individuals. HCEA also intends to host an open enrollment DnD workshop to strengthen its relationships with affordable housing coalition partners and the community. By hosting this workshop, HCEA can demonstrate its value to coalition partners and promote its affordable housing campaign to the broader community. NEA Degrees Not Debt Toolkit 3

7 4 Steps for Preparing for Your NEA Degrees Not Debt Workshop Did You Know? 70% of borrowers in default are eligible to enroll in an income-driven repayment programs. Hosting workshops can be a lot of work! This section provides a step-by-step guide for preparing to host your own NEA Degrees Not Debt workshop. We advise that you complete the Train the Trainer NEA Degrees Not Debt session before presenting your NEA Degrees Not Debt workshop. The Train the Trainer session offers participants an opportunity to learn the technical aspects of federal student loan repayment programs and to ask questions from NEA Degrees Not Debt staff. 1 Use Action Network to create and promote Degrees Not Debt workshop Toolkit includes step-by-step instructions. 2 Send instruction & reminder to individuals that register Toolkit includes sample to send to members. 3 Recruit and advertise for your Degrees Not Debt workshop Potential recruitment sites include but are not limited to the following: Back to School events for K-12 educators Local union voter registration drives Community forums Local membership drive Education Career fairs at local Colleges and Universities School District sponsored hiring fairs Teacher Induction Programs NEA Degrees Not Debt Toolkit 4

8 4 Steps for Preparing for Your NEA Degrees Not Debt Workshop (continued) 4 Make sure to have all the Degrees Not Debt workshop materials Workshop Materials Checklist: Sign-In Sheet: Collect workshop attendees names and contact information. You may want this information when locating member support for ongoing or future organizing campaigns. Degrees Not Debt Pledge: Ask members to sign the pledge to demonstrate member support for continued existence of federal student loan repayment programs. 5 Step Brochure: Provides members a step-by-step overview of how to enroll in Income-Driven Repayment and Public Service Loan Forgiveness programs. NEA Degrees Not Debt Handouts Teacher Loan Forgiveness and Cancellation Factsheets Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) Factsheet Public Service Loan Forgiveness Factsheet Public Service Employment Certification Form Higher Education Act Postcard: This can be used to generate member driven advocacy for solutions to the student debt crisis and college affordability. 5 Degrees Not Debt Power Point This will be the Power Point that you use to conduct the workshop. It comes with a script/talking points. Saving Members Money in Missouri As a single mother of two I was feeling hopeless, like I would never be able to pay off my student loan debt. Thankfully, through my involvement with NEA, I learned about Degrees Not Debt and was able to get over $9,000 of my loans forgiven! Dana Alvarez North Kansas City School District NEA Degrees Not Debt Toolkit 5

9 Did You Know? HI MT* ND OK* IA* LA TN GA NJ MA Sample Workshop Agenda The sample workshop agenda provides users with a guide for structuring their Degrees Not Debt presentations. Users should feel free to modify the agenda based upon their local s DnD campaign goals. Welcome Ask the question: Is this your first union meeting? Confirm that everyone has NEA Degrees Not Debt factsheets. Confirm that everyone has their Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID. Explain that participants use their FSA ID to access personalized Repayment Estimator calculator results. Reassure those that do not have their FSA IDs. Attendees without their FSA ID can participate by manually entering their student loan data into the Repayment Estimator. 10 states have laws that prohibit K-12 teachers from working if they have failed to begin student loan repayment. States with the asterisks can revoke drivers licenses of individuals who fail to repay their student loans. The Problem: Student Debt & Educators Introduce and summarize the student debt crisis problem. Connect student debt problem to educators (high cost associated with becoming an educator exacerbated by low pay). Connect student debt problem to any local organizing/political campaign. The Solution: NEA s Degrees Not Debt Campaign What is NEA Degrees Not Debt? Connect NEA Degrees Not Debt to Association Membership The NEA Degrees Not Debt campaign is one benefit of your union membership: As a union, we start by supporting our educators by educating them on NEA Degrees Not Debt, and federal repayment programs to save money, and continue to support them in our advocacy for teacher tax credits (reimbursements for school supplies). What will this workshop cover? Teacher Loan Forgiveness Teacher Loan Cancellation Income-Driven Repayment Programs Public Service Loan Forgiveness Resources & Questions If necessary, provide participants with additional information. Provide participants with opportunity to ask questions. Conclusion: What s Next? If local is running an organizing campaign, highlight it at conclusion of presentation. Ask participants to respond to DnD follow up survey. Ask attendees to sign postcard or petition supporting local, state, and national NEA issues, e.g., Higher Education Act or Elementary and Secondary Education Act Reauthorizations. NEA Degrees Not Debt Toolkit 6

10 NEA Degrees Not Debt Workshop Completed! Follow Up Steps 1 Survey members for the following reasons: Capture data on whether workshop was useful. Capture data on whether the NEA Degrees Not Debt workshop was a member s first union meeting. Determine whether attendees were union members. Determine members savings through NEA Degrees Not Debt. Identify potential leaders that may support your Degrees Not Debt work, and other local goals. 2 VAN Data Check & Entry Match your NEA Degrees Not Debt workshop attendance list in NGP VAN. Were some of your attendees non-members or agency fee payers? Reach out to them about joining the union by using sample Basic Organizing Conversation. NEA Degrees Not Debt Toolkit 7

11 Resources for Trainers Websites NEA Degrees Not Debt: Federal Student Loan General Information: Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID: National Student Loan Data System: Income-Driven Repayment Programs: income-driven Repayment Estimator Calculator: repaymentestimator.action Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program: Public Service Loan Forgiveness Employment Certification Form: Public Service Loan Forgiveness: Federal Student Aid Information: NEA Degrees Not Debt Toolkit 8

12 Attachments Index 1. Creating NEA Degrees Not Debt Online Action Event 2. NEA Degrees Not Debt Flyers/Advertisements 3. NEA Degrees Not Debt Sample 4. NEA Degrees Not Debt Sample Reminder 5. Sign In Sheet 6. Sample Agenda 7. NEA Degrees Not Debt Pledge 8. 5 Step Brochure 9. NEA Degrees Not Debt Packet for Attendees Teacher Loan Forgiveness Factsheet Teacher Loan Cancellation Factsheet Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) Factsheet Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program Factsheet Public Service Employment Certification Form 10. Sample Follow Up Survey (Members) 11. Sample Follow Up Survey (Non-Members) 12. Sample Basic Organizing Conversation 13. Follow Up NEA Degrees Not Debt Activities NEA Degrees Not Debt Toolkit 9