By Chanda Madafferi, President and CEO, Michigan Education Association In neighborhood schools across our state, educators and students are starting another school year full of excitement, optimism and possibilities. Teachers and school support staff have been hard at work for weeks, finalizing lesson plans, setting up classrooms, stocking supplies, shelving library books, and putting little […]
By Chandra Madafferi, President & CEO, Michigan Education Association As America turns 250, we should acknowledge the critical role public education has played in making our nation the global leader it is today, and why we as a country must recommit ourselves to strengthening every single school — so that every single student has a […]
By Erik Edoff, Senior Executive Director, Michigan Education Association Alert: Please take 90 seconds to contact your lawmakers today and urge them to focus on passing a budget that protects Michigan students and schools by the end of June. Follow this link. State leaders must set aside election-year politics and bring much-needed stability to our […]
By Chandra Madafferi, President & CEO of the Michigan Education Association Close your eyes and imagine an elementary school teacher. The chances are good that you pictured a woman. You can’t be blamed for that assumption, as preK-12 education is one of the least gender-diverse professions around. Men make up less than 24% of total […]
By Chandra Madafferi, President and CEO, Michigan Education Association There is a lot of conflicting information out there about our state’s level of support for public schools, with the phrase “record funding” often being used. The truth is that in inflation-adjusted dollars, Michigan actually spends less per pupil than we did in 2002, and that […]
By Chandra Madafferi, President and CEO, Michigan Education Association Improving student literacy here in Michigan promises to be a major topic throughout 2026, with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer committing to it as a top issue for her final year in office, as noted in her final State of the State address last week. Whether a student […]
By Chandra Madafferi, Michigan Education Association President Uncertainty and fear. In recent conversations with educators across Michigan, I keep hearing those words that lead to a common refrain: “I’m trying to keep it together for my students.” What’s happening with immigration enforcement in Michigan and across the country is causing trauma for many of our […]
By Chandra Madafferi, President and CEO of the Michigan Education Association From public school educators and police officers to firefighters and those serving in our military, it’s important that we honor these hardworking public servants and their dedication to improving the lives of others. Public school teachers, school support staff and other educators devote their […]
By Erik Edoff, Senior Executive Director, Michigan Education Association Too many students across Michigan are missing too much time at school and falling further behind their peers. We must come together as a state to address this problem head-on so we can fulfill our promise to provide every student with the opportunity to succeed. Chronic […]
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 […]
