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MEA would like to congratulate the hundreds of friends of public education who won their elections on Nov. 8.   We look forward to working with lawmakers to ensure every Michigan student gets the great public education they deserve! The following MEA recommended candidates were successful in Election 2022 (* denotes MEA member): Statewide (15 wins out of 16 recommendations): Governor…

EAST LANSING — With absentee ballots for November’s general election going out this week, MEA is proud to announce candidates who have earned the recommendation of MEA members through the union’s Screening & Recommendation process. The process, which looks at candidates’ positions on education and labor issues, is decided by MEA members who serve on S&R committees, based on policies…

EAST LANSING — The following statement can be attributed to MEA President Paula Herbart on Tuesday’s election victories by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and other friends of public education: “Today is a great day for educators, students and parents across Michigan. Our fellow Michiganders turned out in huge numbers for a midterm to re-elect Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Lt. Gov. Garlin…

Member Voices By Jaime Churches, Grosse Ile EA member My name is Jaime Churches, and I’m a fifth-grade teacher on Gross Ile. I’m running for a state House seat representing Downriver Wayne County and hopeful for the privilege to continue serving my students and their families every day – but now from the Capitol instead of the classroom. My decision…

After nearly three years of a pandemic, school closures, virtual learning, severe educator shortages and a student mental health crisis, it should surprise no one that test scores are down. The National Assessment of Education Progress scores, released last week, show a decline in math and reading scores across almost every demographic. While standardized test scores are an inadequate measure…

By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor As a sign language interpreter, MEA member Heather Dew was taught to think of herself as the unseen part of a communication triangle: A speaks to B and B speaks to A, while she serves as “the invisible C” facilitating the exchange. Heather Dew and MEA President Paula Herbart after last week’s surprise ceremony.…

The stark contrast between Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and her opponent, Betsy DeVos-funded Tudor Dixon, took center stage at their final debate this week when Dixon pushed harder on banning books than weapons in schools. “Do you really think books are more dangerous than guns?” Whitmer retorted when Dixon tried to claim – in direct opposition to volumes of polling on…

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced today that applications for $10,000 scholarships for up to 2,500 future Michigan educators and $9,600 payments for student teachers will open on Monday, Oct. 31. The innovative programs, included in the state education budget signed by Whitmer in July, aim to lower the cost of higher education so the state can train and hire more qualified…

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Tuesday signed bipartisan legislation to deliver $250 million to ease the financial burden on young Michiganders pursuing higher education. The bill creates the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, which will lower tuition costs by up to $5,500 per year for college and occupational training students, reducing the need to take out excessive loans. This move, which was praised…

The MI Future Educator Fellowship — a groundbreaking new program to provide $10,000 scholarships to 2,500 future educators in Michigan every year — is not open for applications yet. But the state has put out a new FAQ and a sign-up form to be notified when the application opens. To be eligible, students must file a Free Application for Federal…