Update 12/12: The House of Representatives and House Speaker Matt Hall have appealed this ruling to the Michigan Supreme Court. Stay tuned to MEA.org and subscribe to MEA’s e-newsletters to remain up to date on the latest developments. The Michigan Education Association on Monday congratulated the Michigan Senate on its court victory against the House of […]
It seemed fitting that Eva Menefee was texting a student when she was named this year’s winner of MEA’s James A. Davenport Award of Merit, which recognizes a member for significant service to higher education statewide and nationally. An academic advisor at Lansing Community College (LCC) for 31 years, Menefee is passionate about guiding young […]
Lawmakers came together last week to pass an education budget that provides needed investments for students and educators. After months of delays and missed deadlines, the budget provides positive improvements for our schools in some areas while falling short in others. Hopefully, lawmakers can build on this bipartisan solution and move forward to tackle […]
The 2026 Michigan state budget that resulted from last-minute negotiations spilling into the new fiscal year works out to be a net positive for public education, according to an initial MEA analysis. Educators from across the state held steady pressure on lawmakers to help break the months-long budget stalemate, including several dozen who descended on […]
UPDATE 9/26: On Thursday night, word came in Lansing that a budget deal was reached for the state’s new fiscal year that starts this Wednesday, Oct. 1. Related to that deal, the House passed several revenue enhancing bills for road funding. Details about what is in the education budget for preK-12 and higher education are [...]
Clear majority of faculty unite to support historic unionization The Union of Tenure System Faculty (UTSF) won recognition from Michigan State University (MSU) yesterday after years of organizing and hard-fought legal battles. A recognition agreement was signed by both parties following a neutral party verification confirming that a clear majority of eligible faculty submitted authorization […]
By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor UPDATE 9/16: Join us on Wednesday, Sept. 24 in Lansing for an Education Budget Lobby Day — RSVP now! A deep dive into the state budget passed by Michigan House Republicans shows their aim is to cut $1.4 billion from schools and $1.6 billion from other state programs to boost […]
By Chandra Madafferi, MEA President & CEO School buildings throughout our Michigan communities are once again becoming hubs of activity, as students and educators begin another school year. However, with the buzz of activity and excitement also comes a sobering reality: Health care costs are skyrocketing for school employees in particular, and this hurts our […]
Survey results highlight need for House Bill 6058 to be signed into law without further delay In a statewide MEA survey, 80% of Michigan public school educators who responded said they have been paying more out-of-pocket health care costs since January, with the average increase at $2,400 more per year. The survey results highlight the […]
By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor Despite uncertainty from lack of a state budget, educators in a number of Michigan school districts spent their spring and summer securing solid wins in contracts that underscore the importance of union expertise, cohesion and leadership. Latest from Lansing The state House and Senate still have failed to agree […]
