Non-Union Teacher Associations Offer Educators Double Protection

Minnesota teachers want protection against allegations that could threaten their entire career. And in the wake of the Janus decision, non-union teacher associations want educators to know they have options for excellent liability insurance.

The Association of American Educators (AAE)—the largest national, non-union, professional educator organization—recently announced it is doubling job protection benefits for members without increasing coverage costs. Members of AAE pay $198 per year for a $2 million liability insurance policy, including job protection benefits, legal support, and legal fee coverage.

Throughout their career, educators can experience workplace issues that threaten their job as well as their professional reputation. Along with liability insurance and protection against lawsuits, AAE professional membership includes employment rights coverage for members experiencing termination, demotion, involuntary transfer, suspension, or other disciplinary actions. By including job protection benefits in each member’s liability insurance policy, AAE is able to provide legal support at the onset of workplace issues while still charging only $198 per year to members. The doubling of each of the three levels of job protection now covers up to $10,400 in legal fees paid by the insurance policy to defend each member’s due process rights for covered incidents.

Each AAE professional member receives an individual $2,000,000 educator liability insurance policy to cover damages as well defend against claims. Unlike many association policies, AAE’s policy has no group aggregate, each policy is individual and each member is covered for $2,000,000 per claim. In addition, AAE’s policy includes up to $35,000 to protect a member’s teaching license and up to $50,000 to defend a member against criminal sexual misconduct charges, as long as they are found not guilty.

Teachers’ union members pay between $700-$1,000 a year in dues to their local and state unions and national affiliates. The national dues portion, roughly $250 a year, includes $1 million in liability insurance (half of what AAE offers).

Here is a helpful comparison of the AAE and NEA policies.

Another non-union professional educator organization that offers protection is the Christian Educators Association International (CEAI). Members are insured for $2 million of professional liability coverage for $239 a year. CEAI offers husband/wife educators coverage as a couple for $369 per year. Members also receive legal representation and job protection benefits if they are threatened with a job action such as termination, demotion, involuntary transfer or suspension.

Here is a break-down of CEAI’s coverage plan.

Both AAE and CEAI offer health, disability, and auto insurance plans, and access to professional development opportunities, as well.

Educators in the classroom today have tremendous responsibility, and due to the unpredictability of the school environment, it is important they are protected. It is also important for teachers to know they have options for this coverage; it is not something only provided through union membership.

Join us at EducatedTeachersMN to find out about other ways teachers can use their voice and choice to decide what is best for themselves, their families, and their teaching profession.