Our most frequently asked question is what does the association do for it's members? Hope this little history lesson helps to answer that question. Please email any specific question you may have and we'll get you an answer.

TEA - A LONG HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE SUCCESS

The Tennessee Education Association has a proven record of prosposing and lobbying for legislation to promote and protect public education and school employees. TEA's many legislative achievements include:

* First teacher retirement law enacted - 1945
* Sick leave for teachers - 1947
* Teacher Tenure Law - 1951
* Social Security available for teachers - 1957
* First state-supported kindergarten program - 1965
* First state funded guidance counselor program - 1967
* Personal/progessional leave days mandated by law - 1971
* Comprehensive vocational education program - 1973
* Professional Negotiations Law passed - 1978
* K-3 maximum class size of 25 students - 1979
* Sick Leave Bank authorized - 1981
* State health insurance plan for teachers - 1985
* Duty-free lunch mandated - 1985
* Planning time for teachers - 1986
* Tuition reduction for children of teachers - 1990
* Education Improvement Act/major class size reduction - 1992
* Mandatory kindergarten - 1992
* Major funding for education technology - 1993
* Protection for teachers when victim of assault - 1994
* Teacher protected from performing medical procedures - 1996
* Zero tolerance for drugs, weapons, and assaults on teachers - 1996
* Compounded COLA - A major retirement benefit improvement - 1997
* Health insurance for retired educators - 1998
* Teacher identity theft protection - 1999
* Special education class size reduced - 2001
* "Working conditions" negotiations protected - 2002
* State Board of Education required to have K-12 teacher member - 2003