Several MEA members, including Michigan Teacher of the Year Leah Porter, testified last week at a hearing on the varied causes behind growing educator shortages before the Appropriations Subcommittee on School Aid and Department of Education. The subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Brad Paquette (R-Niles), heard wide-ranging explanations for why educators are leaving the profession and […]
There is a mental health crisis enveloping our schools across Michigan, and it’s going to take state leaders working together with parents and educators to secure a brighter future for our students — before it’s too late. According to a 2019 study from the National Institutes of Health, 16.5% of children 17 or under have […]
Our state’s elected leaders should invest in children, seniors and working families in need — and that’s why we’re calling on MEA members to contact the governor’s office and urge her to veto Senate Bill 768, which would provide tax breaks for Michigan’s wealthiest individuals and corporations and cause drastic budget shortfalls for students and […]
The Michigan Legislative Labor Caucus has introduced legislation that would empower educators and other working Michiganders and restore many of the rights stripped from them over the years. Among other critical reforms, the 34-bill package would give school employees a voice in important decisions impacting their classrooms and jobs — including making teacher evaluations an […]
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is proposing the largest funding increase for public education in 20 years, with proposals to recruit and retain educators, increase per-student spending, rebuild mental health supports, expand preschool access, and fund school construction and renovations. In contrast, initial Republican proposals focus on massive tax breaks, especially for corporations and the wealthy. Such plans are […]
Results of 2,600-educator survey show need for Whitmer budget proposals addressing educator shortage and student mental health EAST LANSING – The Michigan Education Association today released a statewide survey of nearly 2,600 educators, with the vast majority of those surveyed saying the state’s acute educator shortage and its impact on students is the most pressing […]
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is proposing the largest funding increase for public education in 20 years, with proposals to recruit and retain educators, increase per-student spending, rebuild mental health supports, expand preschool access, and fund school construction and renovations. In addition, the governor’s budget, presented to lawmakers Wednesday, proposes 5% ongoing increases for the state’s colleges […]
Educators and parents are an essential team for helping students achieve their full potential. But some politicians want to drive a wedge between parents and their children’s teachers in hopes of securing short-term political gain. If left unchecked, these dangerous ploys — in which political extremists create artificial controversies — can cause long-term harm to […]
A third of surveyed districts have had multiple days this school year where student attendance fell beneath the required 75% requirement, forcing some schools to close and others to risk losing state funding– despite staying open for in-person learning. In a Monday press release, MEA and other education organizations explained why lawmakers must take urgent action to […]
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will unveil an ambitious budget plan this week that addresses Michigan’s educator shortage as well as mental health and learning needs for students. Whitmer is proposing to provide the biggest increase in education spending in 20 years. The governor’s budget director is set to present the spending recommendations to lawmakers Wednesday. Whitmer’s […]
