By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor Gov. Gretchen Whitmer listed education funding along with fixing roads and other infrastructure as the top two priorities facing Michigan policymakers during her first State of the State address on Tuesday night. Everyone can see the terrible condition of the state’s roads, and the average motorist spends $562 per…
DetailsThe 2018 Lame Duck session is in the books and while some negative legislation passed, many of the significant attacks on public education, labor unions and the incoming Democratic administration were either stopped in the Legislature or vetoed by outgoing Gov. Rick Snyder. Of note: – HB 5707, which would have kept the percentage of…
DetailsLame Duck 2018 OVER We are pleased to report that, just after 8a on Friday, Dec. 21, the Legislature adjourned, ending the 2018 Lame Duck session. While we certainly had some losses, including the School Aid Fund raid executed overnight (see below), of note the Legislature took no final action on union release time, union…
DetailsLame Duck Waddles to Last Day Act now on latest funding raid and union release time Both the House and Senate adjourned early on Wednesday (by Lame Duck standards) without any action on issues MEA is monitoring. Thursday, the last scheduled day of session for the year, promises to be a long day/evening. Your contacts…
DetailsThe fourth (and hopefully final) week of Lame Duck is underway, with legislation mandating letter grading for schools narrowly winning passage in the Senate, a new drain on School Aid Fund dollars being promoted, and rekindled consideration of new education savings accounts that again try to move public money to private entities. Senate Passes A-F…
DetailsWeek 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…
Details
