My GHEA Rocks!

State panel issues long-awaited report with teacher evaluation recommendations

Posted on 07/26/13 at 4:52pm

The Michigan Council for Educator Effectiveness this week released its long-awaited recommendationsto create what it calls a “fair, transparent and feasible” system for evaluating teachers and school administrators.

If implemented by the state Legislature, the MCEE’s system would replace the more than 800 different evaluation systems employed in districts across Michigan.

Established by the Legislature in June 2011, the MCEE claims to base its system on “rigorous standards of professional practice and of measurement,” with the overall goal of enhancing instruction, improving student achievement and supporting ongoing professional development.

MEA issued the following public statement in response to the report’s release: “The MEA is currently reviewing the Michigan Council for Educator Effectiveness report. We will be giving it thoughtful examination and thorough study before the MEA is prepared to respond to it. The MEA supports a workable evaluation system that increases teacher effectiveness and which is supported by ongoing professional learning. The evaluation process needs to incorporate multiple measures when evaluating teacher effectiveness and it must include valid observations of professional practice. Enhancing instruction and improving student achievement is the goal of every educator.”

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Failure to pass state Medicaid expansion hurts Michigan students

Posted on 07/26/13 at 4:55pm

Michigan Senate Republicans are delaying a plan to expand health care access that received wide bipartisan support in the House. A diverse coalition of groups including small businesses, consumers and seniors groups, health care professionals and advocates, and many more have repeatedly called on the Senate to pass health care expansion.

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School supply and extracurricular costs dramatically outpace inflation

Posted on 07/23/13 at 5:14pm

The amount that school employees and parents spend out-of-pocket for school supplies and extracurricular activities has increased much faster than the inflation rate over the past year, according to Huntington Bank’s eighth annual Backpack Index, released Tuesday.

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Troy science teacher publishes report on effectiveness of various studying techniques

Posted on 07/26/13 at 4:59pm

Students have different techniques when it comes to studying for tests, and some are more effective than others. 

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MEA member Maury Koffman elected to NEA Executive Committee

Posted on 07/26/13 at 5:01pm

MEA member Maury Koffman was elected to NEA’s Executive Committee on Friday, giving Michigan educators a prominent voice on NEA’s top governing body.

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MEA helps members with state and national certification issues

Posted on 07/26/13 at 5:03pm

By law, Michigan public school districts can only employ teachers who have a valid teaching certificate for an instructional assignment.

It can be a complicated process, and thankfully, MEA is here to help.

MEA provides members with up-to-date information on state requirements for maintaining a teaching certificate in Michigan, and provides assistance to members when individual questions arise.