The State Legislature returns to Lansing this week after Spring Break to a long “to do” list of important topics for public education. Federal COVID Relief and 2021-22 Education Budgets With COVID-19 cases on the rise, ensuring safety and student learning assistance are critical. The Legislature still has $841 million in federal COVID relief funding […]
Republican lawmakers’ politically motivated withholding of federal funds for safe reopening of schools is an immoral – and legally questionable – stance amid a COVID-19 surge in Michigan that is among the highest in the nation, four State School Board members said this week. The situation is especially stark in traditionally marginalized communities of color, […]
By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor MEA member Ryan Ridenour has never known a teacher evaluation system other than the one used in Michigan since 2015. Still the world history and psychology teacher, in his sixth year at West Bloomfield, has found key problems with the state’s method for scoring, rating, and ranking educators. “I […]
Update 3/9 – On Tuesday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed HB 4048 releasing federal COVID relief funding for schools as laid out below, but announced she was vetoing HB 4049 – the bill limiting gubernatorial epidemic powers around school closure and athletics which the Republican Legislature tied to the release of $840 million in those federal funds. The administration has asked […]
MEA members are currently receiving checks from the state for the MI Classroom Heroes grants of up to $500 for teachers or $250 for ancillary and support staff. Otherwise known as ‘hazard pay’ checks, this is the first round of payments based on legislation passed last year. MEA advocated with the Legislature for equity in […]
Some long-awaited proposed changes to the state’s educator evaluation system have been introduced in the Michigan Legislature. Now action is needed to push lawmakers to move the bills. One pressing issue for educators – the percentage of student growth included in teacher evaluations – has two GOP-sponsored measures awaiting action. That student growth requirement is […]
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer called out GOP leaders in the state House and Senate today for withholding federal COVID relief money approved by Congress last December, which included $1.7 billion for the state’s schools to address safety concerns amid the pandemic. More than 95% of schools in the state have announced plans for some level of […]
Lawmakers in both the State House and State Senate are delaying release of bipartisan federal education funding meant to help schools address the COVID-19 pandemic, continuing political maneuvering instead of distributing taxpayer dollars the way Congress intended. Michigan House Republicans passed a proposal that made distribution of these critical funds to schools contingent on the […]
MEA President Paula Herbart and Small Business Association of Michigan CEO Rob Fowler – who both serve as co-chairs for Launch Michigan – teamed up for an op-ed in Bridge Magazine calling on the state to boost funding for students with special needs: The COVID-19 pandemic has taught our state many things. The biggest lesson is this: Michigan’s most […]
EAST LANSING — The following statement can be attributed to MEA President Paula Herbart regarding the state budget recommendations announced today by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer: “Gov. Whitmer has once again shown her commitment to public education by proposing the largest investment in public schools in Michigan history. Increased per-pupil support is badly needed after decades […]
