Legislation
Educators deserve to have their voice heard in policy decisions about public education. That’s why MEA works hard to keep members informed about what’s happening in Lansing and Washington, and help raise the voices of school employees on these critical issues.
Legislative News
School food service professionals deliver on state’s popular free school meals program
By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor Delee Bruining says hard work and consistent team effort make it possible to feed 600 kids a day at Wyoming Junior High School. The professionals entrusted with delivering healthy, delicious food to hundreds of thousands of students in school cafeterias across Michigan say they’re serving more kids than ever as part of the state’s…
Clawson teachers light the way: contract settles all newly restored topics
By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor In her nearly 14 years as president of the Clawson Education Association, Kelly Pearson has not bargained a better contract than the one she recently signed. Overwhelmingly approved by membership, the deal struck different responses between early-career and longer-term educators. “Overall, people were happy,” Pearson said of reactions during a meeting to review the…
Whitmer’s new budget proposal includes universal preK-14 and free school meals
Free universal preschool and community college, along with continued record funding for Michigan’s public schools, are at the heart of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s proposed 2024-25 education budget, which she announced Wednesday. Whitmer said her latest budget recommendation “builds on the historic investments we’ve made since I took office and delivers on the issues that make a real difference in people’s…
Sen. Camilleri urging school districts to increase educator pay via state funds
Senator Darrin Camilleri State Sen. Darrin Camilleri (D-Trenton), a former teacher and the chairman of the Senate Pre-K-12 Education Budget, is urging school districts to increase educator compensation by leveraging state funding in the current year’s school aid budget. “We fought hard to get funding for teacher student loan forgiveness and at-risk money that can be used to bolster educator pay in…
Whitmer’s preK-14 education plan a game-changer for students
By Chandra Madafferi More than ever, our kids need a running start at a high-quality public education and a boost as they graduate from high school to prepare for the competitive modern workforce. It starts in preschool, which provides the building blocks for student learning and development of essential social skills to last a lifetime. It continues in our K-12…
Benson, MEA advocate for driver’s ed to return to public schools
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson speaks to reporters at a Jan. 29 press conference about driver’s education programming in public schools at Kearsley High School. Improved equity, safer roads, lower costs and higher quality. For these reasons and more, the push to return driver’s education to public schools took center stage at a press conference with Secretary of State Jocelyn…
Whitmer’s universal preK-14 plan is a ‘game changer,’ MEA president says
Governor Gretchen Whitmer EAST LANSING — Michigan Education Association President Chandra Madafferi, a teacher from Oakland County, issued the following statement Wednesday in response to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s State of the State address: “Gov. Gretchen Whitmer again showed tonight why she’s the most pro public education governor Michigan has ever seen. The governor’s plan to provide every student with universal…
Whitmer, lawmakers and MEA retirees celebrate rollback of pension tax
Retired middle school science teacher Isabell Nazar of Homer, a board member of MEA-Retired, testified before the Legislature in support of eliminating the retirement tax. Retired educator Isabell Nazar could not mathematically pinpoint the positive effects of a new law that will save her pension from being taxed; instead the former 38-year middle school science teacher from rural Homer in…
Reforming retirement system will attract and retain quality educators
By Chandra Madafferi I feel optimistic when meeting first-year educators, who tell me they are excited and ready to face the future. Many say they still chose to go into the profession despite others trying to talk them out of it. These are educators we desperately need to keep – for the sake of our students. Thankfully, we are seeing…
Educators have reasons for gratitude this holiday season
By Chandra Madafferi One of the most important things we can do during the holidays is take time to practice gratitude and remind ourselves of all that we are grateful for. This holiday season, Michigan educators, parents and supporters of public education have a lot to celebrate. Thanks to the hard work of Michigan Education Association members working together as…
Resources
MEA Legislative Priorities – As adopted by the MEA Legislation Commission and Board of Directors.
Capitol Comments – Get plugged in by subscribing to MEA’s political and legislative e-newsletter.