Week 3 of Lame Duck wrapped up with little action. After their late night/early morning session on Wednesday, the State House did not hold session during the day on Thursday. The Senate was in session, but took no action on any bills MEA has been monitoring, including union recertification, innovative schools or teacher prep. The…
DetailsMore than 100 MEA and AFT Michigan members and leaders held a candlelight vigil outside the Capitol on Wednesday evening and later went inside to lobby their representatives and watch from the gallery as a controversial A-F school grading bill narrowly passed the state House in amended form. In other action, the chamber approved HB…
DetailsEAST LANSING – The following can be attributed to MEA President Paula Herbart regarding the State House’s passage of HB 5526: “Early this morning, the House of Representatives passed another so-called ‘education reform’ bill that does nothing to support struggling schools or increase student achievement. HB 5526, mandating A-F letter grades for Michigan schools, would abandon…
DetailsA bill to keep standardized test scores from taking on even greater importance in the lives of teachers and students in Michigan passed the state House on Wednesday following a months-long push by MEA and other education groups. Hundreds of educators and parents have contacted legislators in support of House Bill 5707, a measure that would keep…
DetailsA late night session in the House (adjourned at 3:20a) saw two education bills head to the State Senate for consideration. A-F Rating System The A-F bill (HB 5526) passed by a narrow margin. Thanks to the lobbying outreach by educators (including more than 100 who attended last night’s vigil and lobbied representatives), the provision…
DetailsInnovative Schools and Teacher Prep Fail to make it out of Senate Education Committee Innovative Schools (HB 6314-6315) and the Teacher Prep Package (HB 5598-5605) failed to make it out of Senate Education Committee today – a victory in the fight to stop bills on education moving quickly through lame duck. Thank you to everyone…
DetailsOnce more in 2018, it’s time to show our solidarity as educators and wear #RedForEd on Wednesday. On Wednesday, Dec. 12, educators across the state will wear red to show our solidarity as the lame duck Legislature considers bills that will harm students and school employees alike. After school, educators will be gathering in Lansing…
DetailsInnovative Schools Passes House While A-F Waits In very close votes, the Innovative Schools Bills (HB 6314-6315) passed the House late on Thursday and head to the Senate for further consideration. These bills would create a new type of “innovative” school or district exempt from many existing requirements. Such a designation would allow a school…
DetailsUnion Recertification Passes though Committee One Day after being Introduced SB 1260, which would require public employee unions to recertify their membership every two years, passed through the Senate Michigan Competitiveness Committee 4-1. The bill includes a $500,000 appropriation which makes it referendum proof – even though unions would be forced to pay for these…
DetailsA new “shadow State Board” and a “cafeteria-style” school voucher program could be created if the House passes so-called “innovative schools” legislation. New intel is that the bills could come up for a vote on the House floor TODAY. Please call or email your lawmakers TODAY and urge them to oppose HBs 6314-6315. In concert with the proposed A-F…
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