Given the unprecedented public health emergency unfolding across Michigan and the rest of the U.S., Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said during a radio interview this morning it is “very unlikely” that students in Michigan will return to classrooms before the end of the 2019-20 school year. MEA leaders and staff are part of ongoing conversations with […]
In addition to earlier Congressional action on paid leave time, last night the Senate passed a bi-partisan $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which includes economic support for households and additional funding for public education. The House is set to vote as soon as possible on the bill. Read NEA’s summary […]
Advocacy continues to ensure all school employees are paid, all students are educated “MEA wants to thank the many school districts that have done the right thing and continued paying all school employees during this closure,” said MEA President Paula Herbart today, as the COVID-19 school closures approach the two-week mark. “From teachers to hourly […]
The Michigan Education Association is here to our assist the students, parents, and educators of Michigan during this unique time. The following is a list of resources that has been compiled by our members for you to utilize at home; however we are not endorsing any particular website or program. Please check back next week […]
There was a flurry of news activity on Friday surrounding the online learning districts are pushing to deliver for students and how the state was going to count that toward requirements for student contact time this school year. The short version: There’s a lot that the state doesn’t know yet that we need to figure […]
By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor Ask MEA Economist Ruth Beier about her youth, and you might get a wry joke with a deadpan delivery: “I describe my childhood as Lord of the Flies in the suburbs. It was a pack of kids and some Cap’n Crunch.” Truth is – she’s not kidding. On the […]
Nothing can replace the face-to-face education that our public schools provide, but parents and educators who are looking for ways to keep school-age children engaged and learning during this unexpected break from school can find ideas and resources online. Of course, one problem with online learning is the digital divide that exists across the country […]
March 14, 2020 Dear MEA members, As your MEA President, I wanted to reach out and update you regarding how MEA is engaging around the coronavirus outbreak and its impact on our students and our members. Commitment to Safety Obviously, we’re committed first and foremost to everyone’s safety. As I said in a statement released Thursday night […]
How “Enhancement Millages” are helping students and educators By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor Tov Pauling Longtime school custodian Tov Pauling has a unique perspective on what’s happening in Wayne-Westland schools. To sum it up, he quotes Carl Reed—the custodian character from the 1980s “Brat Pack” movie, The Breakfast Club—“I am the eyes and ears [...]
By Jennifer Dooley M.Ed., MAED. Sixth-grade teacher Pontiac City School District I am ecstatic when organizations and policy makers recommend funding schools with a weighted formula based on student needs. It is an important first step to acknowledge that not all children are the same nor are they afforded the same economic advantages. However, even […]
