Legislation

L-R Holland teacher Carl Van Faasen, Jenison para Diana Madden, MEA UD Clint Waller, Rep. Nancy DeBoer, and Hudsonville teacher Michael Anderson at a leg council dinner. As a 27-year paraeducator at Jenison Public Schools, MEA member Diana Madden never imagined she would sit down to dinner with the chairwoman of the state House Education and Workforce Committee to discuss…

By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor Support over blame Danielle Cover MEA member Danielle Cover has seen the difference it makes for students when state leaders listen to educators and deliver resources that schools need, rather than issuing unfunded mandates and setting up systems of punishment based on standardized test scores. A 19-year educator, Cover teaches first grade in Ferndale…

By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor Vanessa Wentzloff Last school year, MEA member Vanessa Wentzloff felt genuine appreciation at seeing her students pass paper notes to each other in class. The high school science teacher first saw the behavior after her Oakland County school district — Avondale — instituted a strict new technology policy banning students’ use of cell phones…

By Chandra Madafferi, President and CEO, Michigan Education Association There is a lot of conflicting information out there about our state’s level of support for public schools, with the phrase “record funding” often being used. The truth is that in inflation-adjusted dollars, Michigan actually spends less per pupil than we did in 2002, and that has — unsurprisingly — contributed…

Michelle Richard To help members better understand Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s “Every Child Reads” proposals to address student literacy – and the essential role educators play at every grade level in that work – MEA gathered answers to some key questions from Michelle Richard, the governor’s senior literacy advisor. Part of the governor’s team since 2019, Richard has worked on some…

By Chandra Madafferi, President and CEO, Michigan Education Association Improving student literacy here in Michigan promises to be a major topic throughout 2026, with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer committing to it as a top issue for her final year in office, as noted in her final State of the State address last week. Whether a student is a struggling or an…

By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor Michigan voters are likely to see the phrase “record school funding” in campaign mailers from both political parties this election year. The difference will be in perspective. One side will use the term to tout recent gains in school funding as a point of pride in better supporting educators and students. The other side…

Josh Cowen Two decades ago, MEA member Josh Cowen began his career as an education researcher without strong opinions on school vouchers and full of idealism about the potential for scientific data to help make public schools the best they can be. Over time, working alongside voucher advocates to evaluate programs, he watched as evidence mounted showing vouchers harm students…

The 2026-27 budget season officially started on Wednesday, Feb. 11, with the presentation of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s eighth and final budget recommendation to the Legislature. MEA’s initial analysis follows—be aware that there’s more review to come, and that this is only the first step in the process. Both the Senate and House will make their own recommendations and negotiate a…

By Erik Edoff, MEA Senior Executive Director Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is signing bipartisan legislation this morning that limits smartphone use among K-12 students during instructional time. This has been a top priority for Michigan Education Association members working in schools across the state, and it’s proof that lawmakers can make good things happen when they set aside partisanship and work…