NEA President, Parkland Survivor Inspire at National RA
NEA President Lily Eskelsen Garcìa’s passionate opening remarks brought forth waves of cheers and tears at the NEA Representative Assembly, which continues throughout the week in Minneapolis.
Higher Ed Members Encourage Informed Decisions about College Choices
MEA and MEA-Higher Education Board member Eva Menefee has been advising college students for more than three decades. She and others want union members and their families interested in signing up for MEA’s new free college program to be fully informed about their choices.
State Teacher Leaders form advocacy group to bring educators to policy conversations
Michigan’s Teachers of the Year will gather together in Lansing on July 5 to celebrate their formation of a new statewide organization dedicated to cultivating teacher leadership.
NEWS RELEASE: Educators applaud Whitmer education plan
Joint MEA / AFT Michigan News Release
Since 2011, too many lawmakers have sided with Betsy DeVos to push an education agenda that included slashing school funding and attacking our frontline educators. This approach has left Michigan near the bottom of almost every metric, from literacy to college preparedness.
Gretchen Whitmer’s “Get It Done: Better Schools Now for Michigan Students” plan will counter that damaging agenda by working with educators who know best what students need to succeed.
MEA President calls on Legislature to pass evaluation reform bill
EAST LANSING – Michigan Education Association President Paula Herbart today urged the Legislature to pass HB 5707, keeping the current “student growth” as a percentage of educator evaluations at 25 percent. Current law is set to move that benchmark to 40 percent next school year and exacerbate the over-emphasis on standardized tests in Michigan schools.
CALL TO ACTION: Evaluation Bills Stalled
Standardized test scores and other student growth measures are poised to take on even greater significance in Michigan classrooms next fall – if state lawmakers fail to act on proposed legislation before adjourning for the summer.
The percentage of a Michigan teacher’s evaluation that is tied to student test scores will jump to 40 percent from 25 percent currently, unless lawmakers pass House Bill 5707 to stop the mandated increase from going into effect next school year.
Say No to Policy Change in State Budget
State lawmakers have nearly worked out a budget deal that includes modest funding increases for K-12 schools, community colleges and higher education, but several policy changes – including one to punish so-called “partnership” schools in struggling communities – may be holding up the process and should not be included in the spending plan. Contact your…
Regarding Friday’s shooting at CMU
FROM MEA PRESIDENT PAULA HERBART MEA members, Throughout the day, MEA has been monitoring the situation around the shooting at Central Michigan University that locked down that campus and the surrounding K-12 school systems. While the shooter has not been apprehended as of this writing, we know that law enforcement has been helping to ensure…