From the federal level down to local districts, schools, and classrooms, more issues than ever are competing for educators’ attention and advocacy. The specific concerns facing early-career educators do not always make it to the top of the priorities list. This should change — and is changing — as veteran educators and union leaders leave […]
UPDATE – July 25: Nearly a month late, the Trump administration abruptly unfroze billions in education funding withheld from states by the U.S. Department of Education. Pushes for the funding, due to school districts by July 1, came from constituent calls to Congress and a lawsuit filed by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and 21 […]
The 6 Articles of the ESP Bill of Rights Education Support Professionals (ESPs) play a critical role in our local public schools. Employers and elected officials must recognize the vital contributions ESPs make to student success by ensuring we are treated with the respect and dignity we have earned. Michigan Education Support Professionals are calling [...]
The following statement can be attributed to MEA President & CEO Chandra Madafferi and AFT Michigan President Terrence Martin regarding ongoing education budget discussions in Lansing: Michigan students and the educators who serve them every day deserve a budget that invests in their success. Lawmakers shouldn’t settle for an education budget that doesn’t invest every […]
This week, the U.S. Senate narrowly passed (thanks to Vice President Vance’s tie-breaking vote) a dangerous budget reconciliation bill that provides tax breaks for billionaires at the expense of health care, food assistance and education programs for working families. The bill now returns to the U.S. House, where your representative’s vote will help determine the […]
By Erik Edoff, Senior Executive Director, Michigan Education Association Next year’s education budget has dominated recent headlines from the State Capitol, but zooming out to compare how Michigan schools are funded compared to other states is important to student success over time. Despite some progress over the past few years, Michigan still ranks in the […]
A new statewide Bill of Rights campaign aimed at improving the wages, benefits and working conditions of school support staff was rolled out on Friday at the annual MEA conference for Education Support Professionals (ESP). Modeled after similar campaigns launched in other states, including Maryland, Illinois and Massachusetts, the Michigan ESP Bill of Rights calls […]
Shoe Club Nation, a nonprofit organization founded by Michigan educator Matt Hamilton, is launching a search for “Educator All-Stars” to help expand the program to middleschools across Michigan. Hamilton, who was recently named the National Education Association Foundation’s 2025 Award for Teaching Excellence, created the Shoe Club 17 years ago in East Jordan, Michigan, following […]
A first-of-its-kind artists’ reception capped off the 61st MEA/MAEA Art Acquisitions Purchase Exhibition on Monday, attracting several dozen participants to MEA Headquarters in East Lansing to honor this year’s accepted and winning entries crafted by members from across the state. The reception concluded the three-week juried exhibition, featuring nearly 70 pieces of art in a [...]
