MEA President blasts “pensions for potholes” scheme during conference speech

EAST LANSING – MEA President Paula Herbart blasted the so-called “pensions for potholes” scheme today, and urged public school employees across the state to raise their voices to oppose the risky shell game. By many accounts, including by some conservative economists like Patrick Anderson, the reckless road funding scheme is irresponsible. Raiding pension funds for road […]

Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Parochiaid Case

The Michigan Supreme Court this week agreed to hear a case involving an appropriation of tax dollars for private schools by the Michigan Legislature in 2016. A coalition of education groups sued the state over a $2.5 million appropriation of tax dollars to reimburse private schools for certain expenses related to state health and safety […]

Backdoor Voucher Plan Reappears

A backdoor voucher plan that failed to pass in the wild Lame Duck legislative session in December has reappeared in a pair of House Bills that got a hearing in the House Education Committee this week. HB 4626 and 4627, first introduced by term-limited Rep. Tim Kelly (R-Saginaw) last year, would create a new type […]

The Budget Battle Begins

As spring heads into summer, state budget negotiations will heat up along with the weather—especially given big differences between the education priorities of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Republican leaders in the state House and Senate.

MEA calls on governor to sign “snow day” bill – and on schools to do right by hourly workers

EAST LANSING – With the Legislature’s passage today of HB 4206 – which will allow schools to forgo making up days from this winter’s record-cold emergency days – the Michigan Education Association is calling on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to quickly sign the legislation.  Doing so will allow school districts to finalize schedules for the end […]