Legislation

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 set to increase from 25…

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 in-person learning to resume by…

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 governor giving up important powers…

MEA President Paula Herbart and Rob Fowler, CEO of the Small Business Association of Michigan 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…

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 of inadequately funding public education…

Updated 2/11 On Thursday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer released a proposed state budget for next year which includes per-pupil funding increases for K-12 schools, a 2% bump in overall higher education spending, and one-time expenditures to address fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. “Gov. Whitmer has once again shown her commitment to public education by proposing the largest investment in public schools…

Last week the Republican-controlled state House passed a COVID response plan which is opposed by MEA because it holds much-needed federal COVID relief hostage in a political fight and, among other provisions, adds a voucher-style payment to parents to pay for summer programs outside of schools. An MEA analysis reveals that House Bill 4048, which passed in a party-line vote,…

Reflecting on the past year, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer told attendees at a virtual MEA-PAC event on Friday that we are “still in the tunnel,” but there is light at the end, and “the commitment I’ve made is centered around supporting you and the kids you help every single day.” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer “The teachers and the incredible support staff in…

EAST LANSING — The following statement can be attributed to MEA President Paula Herbart calling on the Legislature to distribute federal COVID relief funding immediately to Michigan schools: “Michigan’s public schools need funding immediately to support the dedicated, hardworking educators who are serving the unique needs of students and families during this pandemic and beyond. We must unleash all the…

On Wednesday, the Michigan House Republicans issued a proposal that made distributing bipartisan federal education funding contingent on the governor giving up important powers to protect public health, including closing schools and suspending activities like athletics if data about how the virus is spreading warrants it. “We need bipartisan action, not political gamesmanship,” said MEA President Paula Herbart. “Educators and students…