Interested in belonging to CEA-NEA?

Click on the link that best describes your Membership Category. Membership is open to public school employees and retirees and to anyone preparing to be a teacher. Private school employees are not eligible to belong.

Membership is unified; members belong to their Local Association, CEA, and NEA and pay dues to three organizations through monthly dues deductions or payments. Some members also pay dues to their UniServ Unit, the regional level of our Association. Our membership year is September 1-August 31.

• Active K-12 Teacher (Full or Part-Time)

A professional employed by a public school district or BOCES with at least a B.A. degree and the appropriate teaching license including Initial (Provisional), Professional, and emergency authorizations; includes counselors, special educators, school psychologists, social workers, school nurses, vocational teachers and other professionals
• Active K-12 Substitute Teacher (Full or Part-Time)
• Active K-12 School Principal (Full or Part-Time)

A public school principal who works at the school level (membership is not open to principals in private schools or to public school superintendents or central administrators)
• Active K-12 Classified Employee (Full or Part-Time)

A public school classified or school support staff employee (Education Support Professional); includes paraeducators, bus drivers, food service workers, maintenance and operations employees, custodians, secretaries, administrative assistants
• Active K-12 Charter School Employee (Full or Part-Time)

A teacher or support staff employee in a charter school
• Active College/University Faculty (Full or Part-Time)

A teaching professional who is employed by a public college or university
• Active College/University Classified Employee (Full or Part-Time)

A classified or school support staff member at a public college or university
• Retired Education Employee

Anyone at least 45 years old, eligible to receive PERA or DPSRS retirement, and who was employed at least five years in a public school position that qualifies for Active membership
• College Student

A student enrolled in a teacher preparation course in a Colorado accredited public or private college or university and who does not have a teaching contract, including anyone in an alternative license program
• On leave from a job in public education?
  We have a special category for members who go on leave. Please fill out this form, or call Kallie Benjamin in the CEA Membership Department at 303-837-1500 or 800-332-5939, extension 121.

Association Dues and Your Income Tax

For Tax Year 2009: NEA helped Association members get continued tax relief in Congress by securing an extension of the deduction for instructional materials and classroom supplies which was set to expire. Teachers and paraeducators can deduct up to $250 for out-of-pocket classroom expenses as the "educator expense deduction" if you worked at least 900 hours in 2009. Your qualified expenses are subtracted when figuring your adjusted gross income. You must file IRS Form 1040 to take the deduction (claim the $250 on line 23); it cannot be claimed on Form 1040A. For more information, go to the IRS Tax Topic #458, Educator Expense Deduction.

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