The MEA Advantage
35 reasons why membership matters
Reasons 11-20
Professional development and human rights.
The MEA Professional Development/Human Rights Department is a resource for members on issues ranging from special education to No Child Left Behind to cultural competency. Consultants provide presentations at no charge to members or help you identify other experts on a specific topic to meet your local needs. Consultant Linda Keway, pictured here at the Student MEA Professional Development Conference in March, can help you make sense of special education laws and rules.
Conferences.
MEA sponsors several excellent conferences each year, including the Instruction and Professional Development Conference. This year’s event is Nov. 29-Dec. 1. Check out conference offerings at www.mea.org/ipd
The Michigan ESP Center for Professional Learning.
The first comprehensive statewide program designed to deliver training
for school support staff in a structured program, MEA’s center is a partnership
with Lansing Community College, Mott Community College,
Genesee Intermediate School District and the Michigan Department
of Education. Participants earn a Certificate of Achievement upon
completion of the program, and courses may count toward job qualifications.
KEYS 2.0.
KEYS 2.0 is a comprehensive school-based assessment and improvement system
designed to provide information useful for improving teaching and learning. This valuable
school-improvement tool is FREE for schools where members work.
National Board Certification.
MEA sponsors a support group for candidates pursuing National Board Certification, a certificate awarded to teachers who meet high and rigorous professional standards. Members can access affordable loans designed to help cover the $2,500 assessment fee, too.
Pro public education agenda.
Decisions about nearly every aspect of your
work life are made by elected officials—from
your local school board all the way to the White
House. MEA helps you lobby—or professional
lobbyists work on your behalf—to ensure 
that
your interests are represented. Members contribute
to MEA’s Quality Education Agenda,
which guides lobbying efforts at the state and
federal levels. The agenda includes MEA positions
on dozens of education issues—funding,
early childhood, gifted and talented, reading
initiatives, transportation, at-risk programs,
privatization and more.
Tenure.
MEA won tenure rights for teachers in 1964, a major legislative victory. Tenure provides
employees, following a probationary period, a degree of job security by prohibiting
discharge without just cause.
No vouchers.
MEA led the successful 2000 fight against vouchers that would have funneled millions of public school dollars to private schools. MEA continues to oppose voucher schemes.
You have the right to collectively bargain.
With passage of Michigan’s Public Employment Relations Act (PERA) in 1965, teachers went from begging to bargaining. MEA opposes efforts to reduce your bargaining rights.
MEA's got your back.
When the Grand Rapids school district decided to fire
its transportation workers and hire a private company,
MEA didn’t back down. Over the past two years, MEA
has won several legal victories on behalf of the former
members, including a settlement with the private company
that resulted in a $600,000 payment to members to
end a dispute over the company’s interference with the
members’ contract. Grand Rapids Educational Support
Personnel Association president Steve Spica is shown
here with Charisse Patterson, a bus driver whose job
was privatized.
