Legislation

By Tanner Delpier, MEA Labor Economist This opinion piece appeared in Bridge Michigan on Aug. 24. Tanner Delpier holds a Ph.D. in education policy from Michigan State University and is the labor economist for the Michigan Education Association. I built my career studying public education in Michigan. Nothing scares me more for its future than vouchers. For 30 years, some Michigan…

MEA member Amanda Walker and state Senator Chedrick Greene MEA member Amanda Walker first got to know newly elected state Sen. Chedrick Greene (D-Saginaw) before he was a candidate for the 35th-District seat in a special election in May. A teacher in Bay City, Walker and Greene — a fire captain in Saginaw — both participated in a one-year, multi-partisan…

As part of the early July budget compromise, bills passed mandating K-5 educator science of reading training over the next five years (HB 5697), and a corresponding inclusion of those concepts in teacher preparation programs (HB 5646).  Importantly, several key changes to the training bill were made in the State Senate, including: Requiring at least two different training providers to…

Albeit a few days late, passage of the state education budget for the 2026-27 school year on Friday, July 3, allows educators and schools to focus on getting ready to help students succeed this fall.   The education budget includes modest increases — $250 (up to $10,300) per student for the foundation allowance and 1% for community colleges and higher…

From NEA.org: State governors have the power to reject the first national voucher program and prevent a tidal wave of funding to unaccountable private schools In 2025, Republicans created the first national voucher program when they passed the tax law known as H.R. 1. The legislation uses the tax code to create scholarship-granting organizations. It is a private school voucher program, championed…

The following statement can be attributed to Michigan Education Association President and CEO Chandra Madafferi, a teacher from Oakland County, in response to the legislative Democrats reintroducing previously passed legislation addressing rising public employee health care costs: “We are thankful that Michigan's Democratic legislators have reintroduced a bill to rein in skyrocketing health care costs for hardworking school employees. While…

By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor Update 7/29: Democratic legislators have reintroduced versions of this vetoed legislation to rein in skyrocketing health care costs for school employees. Whether it's now or in 2027 with newly elected lawmakers, addressing this crisis for educators is a top priority. Learn more and take action today! Retired MEA Lobbyist Christina Canfield used to get asked by…

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Michigan’s labor movement, including the Michigan AFL-CIO, UAW and the Michigan Education Association, issued the following joint statement on Governor Whitmer’s veto of the stalled bills:    “Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s veto of these nine bills, following a long legal battle waged by leaders in her own party, betrays democratic values and abandons the very people who have…

By Erik Edoff, Senior Executive Director, Michigan Education Association Alert: Please take 90 seconds to contact your lawmakers today and urge them to focus on passing a budget that protects Michigan students and schools by the end of June. Follow this link. State leaders must set aside election-year politics and bring much-needed stability to our local schools by passing a…

Kim Sandefur, a fifth-grade teacher in Comstock Public Schools, speaks Wednesday at a press conference outside of the Michigan Hall of Justice, where the Supreme Court was set to begin oral arguments in the “stalled bills” case. Before the state Supreme Court held oral arguments Wednesday morning in the “stalled bills” case, MEA members and other public employees gathered outside…