Support our Students Our kids’ future is at stake. We all want a future where our kids are given every opportunity to succeed. But right now, our public schools are facing: Teacher and school staff shortages Dishonest attacks in an effort to divide teachers and parents Lack of funding for the mental health support our [...]
Blog
MEA announces candidate recommendations ahead of August primary election
EAST LANSING — Prior to the August primary election, MEA is proud to announce candidates who have earned the recommendation of MEA members through the union’s Screening & Recommendation process. The process, which looks at candidates’ positions on education and labor issues, is decided by MEA members who serve on S&R committees, based on policies […]
Launch Michigan Framework connects school reinvention, resources and responsibility
Launch Michigan — a broad coalition of education, labor, business, philanthropic and civic organizations dedicated to improving Michigan’s education system for all students — has released its Framework for transforming Michigan’s educational system to equip students for a world economy. The Framework is unique in its scope, ambition, and density. No other education transformation effort […]
Michigan schools can spend federal funds on staff salaries through April 2026
School districts may have until April 2026 to spend federal school rescue dollars, the U.S. Department of Education recently announced. To qualify for this extension, school districts must have a signed contract for the expenditure and an extension request approved by the Michigan Department of Education prior to Sept. 30, 2024. This extension will provide […]
Aspiring educators connect with young students to explore ways to make a difference
Students share ideas for positive change through essay contest EAST LANSING — Michigan elementary school students recently shared their ideas to make positive change in their communities, with six winning a statewide essay contest spearheaded by the Michigan Education Association’s Aspiring Educators of Michigan program. With the award-winning children’s picture book “We Are Water Protectors” […]
MEA Members Support Rational Gun Safety Reform in the Wake of School Shootings
The firsthand accounts of survivors of school shootings are gut-wrenching, heartbreaking and becoming far too common. As preventable acts of violence continue to take the lives of students and educators across the country, recent polling shows MEA members stand firm in their support of common-sense laws to improve gun safety and prevent school shootings. A […]
Students Organize Marches Across U.S.: ‘Enough is enough – we demand change’
By Brenda Ortega, MEA Voice Editor Michigan Education Association MEA member Leah Ramirez is sick and tired. Sick of conducting practice lock downs to prepare against potential violence with her kindergarten students in Northview Public Schools in Grand Rapids. Tired of trying to reassure them they are safe despite the grim reason behind the drills. […]
Educators praise Whitmer’s signing of Oxford schools relief bill
EAST LANSING — The Michigan Education Association and local educators Friday praised Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for signing legislation that provides much-needed financial relief to Oxford Community Schools in the aftermath of last fall’s tragic shooting at Oxford High School. House Bill 6012 provides Oxford with $9.8 million to help the district recover from the Nov. […]
GOP legislators ignore real issues, waste time on divisive ‘red meat’ for base
Casting aside the actual challenges facing Michigan schools, Republican state legislators this week have focused on advancing divisive legislation meant to fire up their political base and drive a wedge between educators and parents. On Tuesday, the Senate Education and Career Readiness Committee passed House Bill 5097, which would restrict Michigan educators from teaching students […]
Defeated voucher-style grants reinforce need for Whitmer tutoring plan
On Tuesday, the Michigan House of Representatives voted down House Bill 5859, which would have created a pseudo-voucher system to provide private tutoring programs for students, diverting taxpayer money away from public schools and into the pockets of private, for-profit vendors with little oversight. The bill, which was strongly opposed by MEA and other education […]