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April 25, 2024
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While some may think it’s not much of an incentive to serve at the blackboard, the National Education Assn., America’s largest teachers union, will offer a free $150,000 death benefit for teachers and other school employees murdered at work.

The new "unlawful homicide" benefit is expected to be announced to NEA’s 2.6 million members in a September newsletter.

Impetus for the new benefit was the fallout over increased school shootings. "It was just the knowledge that (the shootings) were occurring" that spurred approval of the plan, said Rudy Martin, risk manager for NEA Member services.

"I think it’s very good that we’re doing this," AP quoted Wayne Johnson, president of the California Teachers Assn. "I think that it’s sad that we need to do it."

School violence has become sort of a "sign of the times," Johnson added. "It’s a sad reality that there is this random violence in the public schools. I’m glad NEA is doing it. I hope it won’t be used very often, but I’m glad it’s there for the families of teachers who will be attacked and killed."

According to the wire service, American Federation of Teachers spokesman Jamie Horwitz said its members have not requested the benefit, but AFT’s benefits historically have mirrored those offered by the NEA and that his union would likely consider such a plan.

AP also noted that the National School Safety Center reported 29 school staff members—including teachers, administrators, custodians, nurses and school police officers—have been killed violently at work since 1992.

NEA presently has an accidental death on-the-job payout of $50,000.