Blog
Key evaluation reforms passed by Legislature
Following passage Wednesday night in the State House, the State Senate concurred with changes to Senate Bills 395 and 396 – the amended bills that address key changes to teacher evaluation now head to Gov. Whitmer for her approval. Under the bills, the following changes will take effect for the 2024-25 school year: Make teacher […]
Essay: Teachers should be eligible for overtime pay
Federal leaders must fix an antiquated exemption that prevents teachers from receiving overtime pay, writes MEA member Audra DeRidder, a special education and fifth-grade teacher in Iron Mountain Public Schools, in a recent essay for the National Employment Law Project. The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1935 (FLSA) is a landmark law that provides critical […]
‘Just amazing’ MEA contract wins continue through summer
Soon after teachers in Flint’s Beecher Community School District settled a strong contract, staff at the combined middle/high school enjoyed a visit by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on her back-to-school tour – joined by NEA President Becky Pringle and MEA President Chandra Madafferi. After a decade of financial struggle and stagnation, the Beecher Education Association’s new […]
Great things happening with federal school rescue funds, but deadline looms
By Chandra Madafferi Michigan educators and communities are doing amazing things with the billions of dollars our state has received in federal school rescue funds. While there’s still plenty of great work to be done, time is running out for school districts to put this one-time funding to good use. Our state received $5.6 billion […]
Educators boost Slotkin in campaign event for U.S. Senate bid
By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin said she received her proudest endorsement when MEA announced its recommendation of the third-term 7th District congresswoman in her bid for the U.S. Senate in 2024. Educators are mission-oriented people, and she feels kinship, she said during a meet-and-greet event with MEA members on Saturday […]