The American Rescue Plan (ARP), touted by President Biden as “gamechanger,” delivered vital funding to Michigan’s public schools in the wake of the pandemic. Prior to the pandemic in 2019, the federal government provided $1.7 billion in support to Michigan’s education budget. By 2021, that number swelled to $7.9 billion with the support of Democrats […]
Michigan schools are facing significant challenges that require all of us to come together and work as a team for the betterment of our children — yet some political extremists are dead set on fanning the flames of their culture war and using our kids as their political pawns. This small-but-vocal minority’s latest target in […]
MEA is recommending members vote in support of a pair of good-government proposals on the Nov. 8 ballot. Proposal 1 would require elected officials serving in state government to file annual reports disclosing their personal finances, including their assets, liabilities, gifts from lobbyists, promises of future employment and more. This will help let citizens know […]
EAST LANSING — The ongoing educator shortage and student mental health are the top challenges facing Michigan teachers and education support professionals, according to a new survey of educators released Wednesday by the Michigan Education Association. “These last few years have been extremely challenging for our students, educators and parents, and this survey makes it […]
Parents, education advocates and several candidates for office came together during a break in the monthly State Board of Education meeting on Tuesday to speak out against organized right-wing attacks that are attempting to divide parents and educators. The State Board’s vice president, Pamela Pugh, said ongoing disruptions and divisive rhetoric at school board meetings […]
The dawn of a new school year should be a time of joy and optimism for our children. There are new things to learn, new friends to make, and new challenges to overcome. But beneath the surface, there’s a feeling of dread among many educators, students and parents. After all, it’s only a matter of […]
EAST LANSING – Earl Wiman, Ed.D, has been named interim executive director of the Michigan Education Association. Most recently having served as executive director of the New Mexico Education Association, Wiman has a decades-long history of service and advocacy within public education in his home state of Tennessee. He worked in Tennessee’s public schools for […]
MEA member William Renner has always relied on community support to help equip his technology classroom at Hastings Middle School, but even he was surprised by the generosity of donations from area business and civic leaders to support a summer trades camp he operated this year. “It was money, it was time, it was talent,” […]
Michigan kids deserve the best and brightest educators. That seems like an uncontroversial statement, yet in the face of an educator shortage, some lawmakers have proposed significantly lowering our state’s teacher certification standards and making it easier for unqualified people to lead a classroom of young students. The last thing our state’s leaders should be […]
Pontiac paraeducator Gabby Price attended her first MEA conference last week, caught a front-row seat to a well-attended motivational talk by former NBA player Tim McCormick, responded with a smile to the speaker’s light-hearted banter and left with an autographed basketball. More importantly, she said in an interview after the conference session, she learned so […]
