EAST LANSING — With absentee ballots for November’s general election going out this week, MEA is proud to announce candidates who have earned the recommendation of MEA members through the union’s Screening & Recommendation process. The process, which looks at candidates’ positions on education and labor issues, is decided by MEA members who serve on S&R committees, based on policies…

The Michigan Education Association has released its final list of recommended candidates for local school boards across the state. With the stakes so high in this year’s election, MEA is recommending a record 330 candidates for preK-12 school boards, as well as 11 candidates for community college boards of trustees and six candidates for library boards. MEA’s candidate-recommendation process is…

EAST LANSING — The following statement can be attributed to MEA President Paula Herbart on Tuesday’s election victories by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and other friends of public education: “Today is a great day for educators, students and parents across Michigan. Our fellow Michiganders turned out in huge numbers for a midterm to re-elect Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Lt. Gov. Garlin…

After nearly three years of a pandemic, school closures, virtual learning, severe educator shortages and a student mental health crisis, it should surprise no one that test scores are down. The National Assessment of Education Progress scores, released last week, show a decline in math and reading scores across almost every demographic. While standardized test scores are an inadequate measure…

MEA President Paula Herbart used a column in Bridge Michigan to further urge educators to take advantage of temporary rule changes to the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program before the waiver expires on Oct. 31. “Michigan educators are often saddled with tens of thousands or more in student debt, leaving many of them financially hamstrung due to inadequate…

Michigan schools are facing significant challenges that require all of us to come together and work as a team for the betterment of our children — yet some political extremists are dead set on fanning the flames of their culture war and using our kids as their political pawns. This small-but-vocal minority’s latest target in their ongoing efforts to sow…

EAST LANSING — The ongoing educator shortage and student mental health are the top challenges facing Michigan teachers and education support professionals, according to a new survey of educators released Wednesday by the Michigan Education Association. “These last few years have been extremely challenging for our students, educators and parents, and this survey makes it clear what the real issues…

EAST LANSING — Michigan Education Association President Paula Herbart issued the following statement Wednesday in response to the Eastern Michigan University Chapter of the American Association of University Professors (EMU-AAUP) strike action: “At a time when Michigan families and students are struggling with a crippling educator shortage, it’s unconscionable that EMU administrators would want to jack up health care costs…

The dawn of a new school year should be a time of joy and optimism for our children. There are new things to learn, new friends to make, and new challenges to overcome. But beneath the surface, there’s a feeling of dread among many educators, students and parents. After all, it’s only a matter of time before another deadly school…

EAST LANSING – Earl Wiman, Ed.D, has been named interim executive director of the Michigan Education Association. Most recently having served as executive director of the New Mexico Education Association, Wiman has a decades-long history of service and advocacy within public education in his home state of Tennessee. He worked in Tennessee’s public schools for 35 years, serving as a…