My GHEA Rocks!

Good Afternoon Folks - I hope you are all staying cool this week-end - it's hot out there!  However, it will not be this hot next Saturday, July 25, when you join me for the Coast Guard Kids Parade!  Please be at the county parking lot behind the post office at 10:15 with your walking shoes on.  If you bring your children please have them bring along a small sand pail so they can have their own bucket of SMARTIES to throw out.  See you then!!!!!!  (I'm heading north next week so this is the last reminder I'll be able so send out.)

Have a great week!

Hi Folks - 15000 Smarties were delivered to my house yesterday so I know it's time to recruit folks to walk in the Coast Guard Festival Kids Parade.  PLEASE join us on Saturday, July 25 at 10:15 in the parking lot behind the Court House.  It's LOTS of fun - hope to see you there.

Happy Summer,

Rose Reed

Senate passes its version of an ESEA rewrite; Peters wins two amendments

Posted on 07/20/15 at 12:59pm

The action by the U.S. Senate last week to pass the Every Child Achieves Act (ECAA), its rewrite of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), is being called "a step closer to the end of the No Child Left Behind era (NCLB)." The Act passed on an 81-17 bipartisan vote and significantly reduces the role of the federal government in public education while giving states more flexibility.

U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) won approval of two amendments he proposed. The first supports funding of financial literacy programs for students so that they can make better decisions about saving for college, getting credit cards, and managing their personal  finances. The second amendment makes it easier for federal funds to be used for dual enrollment programs. 

By passing other amendments, the Senate took a strong stand on standardized testing-something that ESEA never fully addressed. Under ECAA, school districts would be required to inform parents of state or local policies regarding opting out of standardized tests, set a cap on the time spent on testing, and protect student data privacy. The current testing schedule will remain, but a pilot program will allow states and school districts to develop new assessments.

Another key aspect of ECAA, sponsored by Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), includes the elimination of NCLB's "adequate yearly progress." States would have the flexibility to use multiple measures to evaluate student success and create their own accountability systems. Access to school nurses and the availability of fine arts and physical education are to be part of any new, state-designed accountability systems according to ECAA.

     

• Read moreabout Senate passes its version of an ESEA rewrite; Peters wins two amendments

MDE to make its website more accessible under federal directive

Posted on 07/20/15 at 1:12pm

The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) is making its website more accessible to people with disabilities in order to comply with a federal directive. The changes are expected to make it especially easier for people with visual or hearing impairments to access videos and documents on the site.

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Get ready for back-to-school with Jo-Ann's teacher discount card

Posted on 07/20/15 at 1:15pm

Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Store is offering teacher rewards to help you prepare for back-to-school. You can apply for a Jo-Ann Teacher Rewards Discount Card and save 15 percent on every purchase.

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You can stop the Mackinac Center harassment!

Posted on 07/13/15 at 1:14pm

For weeks, the Mackinac Center has been gearing up its campaign to convince members to drop their MEA membership. Last year, they used full-page newspaper ads and mailings in their strategy. But this year—they’ve gone too far. The Mackinac Center is hijacking public school employees’ emails and spamming their mobile phones with messages encouraging members to opt out of MEA.

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NEA RA took on standardized testing, teacher evaluations

Posted on 07/13/15 at 1:17pm

The NEA Representative Assembly is over and delegates tackled issues such as standardized testing and teacher evaluation which could impact Michigan and all states across the country.

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Report lays out plan for education reform in Michigan

Posted on 07/06/15 at 2:57pm

Public Sector Consultants, a non-partisan public policy research firm in Lansing, has released a report offering financial recommendations and policy proposals to move Michigan forward. This comes on the heels of new State Superintendent Brian Whiston's goal of making Michigan one of the top 10 states in the next 10 years.

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U.S. House passes its own rewrite of NCLB

Posted on 07/13/15 at 1:18pm

Debate on the U.S. Senate’s rewrite of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) began last week, and faced stiff opposition from the House that narrowly passed its own rewrite of the law. The Republican-written bill is much more conservative than the bi-partisan Senate Every Child Achieves Act (ECAA) co-sponsored by Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA)

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- See more at: http://www.mea.org/#sthash.k3JxW8TN.dpuf

Dear Friend, TODAY, the Senate passed the Every Child Achieves Act. I am so immensely proud of what we achieved together in this legislation. The reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act has been over a decade coming. So I simply wanted to say, "thank you." I recorded a video message in gratitude for the hard work you just put in for our students: Watch it now. Thanks again brothers and sisters for getting us one step closer to a final law. We will be in touch in the fall to get this on the President's desk, but until then, have a restful summer. See you on Twitter! - Lily Lily Eskelsen García President, National Education Association

Issue #216--July 16, 2015 ESEA bills pass House and Senate In a dramatic two weeks of fast-paced legislative action, the House and then the Senate passed bills reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.  The bill passed the Senate this afternoon by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 81 to 17.   NEA had opposed the House bill for going too far in reducing the federal role in education, while acknowledging many positive elements. On the Senate side, NEA President Lily Eskelsen García urgedpassage of the bill in a letter, noting that, while the bill could still be made better, it is a significant improvement over No Child Left Behind.  In both chambers, NEA, its affiliates, and members fought hard for amendments that would provide more opportunity for students, close gaps, reduce the focus on standardized tests, and empower educators. The bill now will now go to a conference committee.  For the latest legislative updates going forward, visit NEA's Legislative Action Center. Five more states and Puerto Rico granted NCLB waiver renewals The Department of Education (ED) awarded three-year NCLB waiver renewals to Rhode Island, South Carolina and Puerto Rico and one-year renewals to Delaware, Massachusetts and Oklahoma.  Twelve states and the District of Columbia have already received renewals. The new one-year renewals, through the end of the 2015-2016 school year, contain conditions for future renewals.  Delaware must provide ED with the final version of its new system for identifying priority, focus, and reward schools for review and approval and make other changes.  Massachusetts must provide evidence that it has selected a single achievement assessment for next year and is on track to implement teacher and principal evaluation based on student growth as a significant factor.  Oklahoma must show that its plans for new standards and assessments are on track, along with its teacher evaluation system. State teacher equity plans published Last November, the Department of Education wrote to chief state school officers announcing that they had to submit a state plan to ensure equitable access to excellent educators, due June 1, 2015.  The deadline arrived last month, and ED has now posted all the state plans on its Title I, Part A resources page.  The plans cover the following areas:  consultation with stakeholders; existing equity gaps; root causes of equity gaps; planned SEA steps to eliminate gaps; and plans to measure and report progress.  Only five states submit state-determined SIG plans After Congress told the Department of Education to allow for state-determined School Improvement Grants (SIG) plans, only five states submitted plans in the short time-frame available to do so.  Colorado submitted a Secondary School Success Model.  Minnesota submitted a model with 13 specified strategies, including possible retention of the principal.  New York submitted an Innovation Framework with three pathways (College Design, the Community-Oriented Design, and the Career and Technical Education Design).  Rhode Island submitted an Empowered Leadership Turnaround Model.  And Texas submitted an Early College High School Model.  Lau v. Nichols revisited 41 years later in modified consent decree The historic 1974 Supreme Court case of Lau v. Nichols is back in the news as the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD), the Justice Department, and the private plaintiffs in that case recently agreed to amodified consent decree (MCD) to advance the education of English learners (EL).  In the original Lau case, the Supreme Court found that SFUSD's failure to provide a group of Chinese American students with English language instruction and other adequate instructional procedures was a violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  This led to a consent decree in 1976 and a court approved Master Plan for Multilingual Education in 1978.  NEA filed an amicus brief on behalf of the students in the Supreme Court case.   The new MCD seeks to correct problems identified by the Justice Department and the private plaintiffs, who have been monitoring compliance with the 1978 plan.  According to a Justice Department summary, the new MCD requires SFUSD to:       •  ensure that EL students are appropriately identified and placed when they begin school       •  provide families with a suite of service options for their EL students' education       •  ensure that EL students with disabilities receive language programs and services       •  require employees who serve EL students to have training appropriate to their roles       •  protect the educational rights of the district's most at-risk and vulnerable EL students who are          learning in alternative education or juvenile justice settings       •  communicate with Limited English Proficient families in a language they understand       •  conduct robust monitoring. The Justice Department statement adds that enforcement of Title VI and the Equal Educational Opportunities Act of 1974 "are top priorities of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division." Take Action ESEA bills have passed both the House and the Senate.  For information on how you can ensure a final bill passes and truly serves students, stay tuned to NEA's Get ESEA Right page.  Questions or comments? Contact the Education Policy and Practice Department at ESEAinfo@nea.org.

Activist, TODAY, the Senate passed the Every Child Achieves Act. I am so immensely proud of what we achieved together in this legislation. The reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act has been over a decade coming. So I simply wanted to say, "thank you." I recorded a video message in gratitude for the hard work you just put in for our students: Watch it now. Thanks again brothers and sisters for getting us one step closer to a final law. We will be in touch in the fall to get this on the President's desk, but until then, have a restful summer. See you on Twitter! - Lily Lily Eskelsen García President, National Education Association

About Us      Leadership       Chapters       Calendar        FAQ    Contact Your Legislator                                         Dear David,  We hope you are enjoying summer!  We have some items below of interest for our members. Thank you for taking the time to look over this important information.Cast your vote in our VERY EARLY presidential primary poll. See information below or CLICK HERE. MEA-Retired Leadership Team Mid-July 2015 News from MEA-Retired 7/15/15 Blue Cross / Blue Shield to Offer Free Identify Protection to Eligible BCBSM We have been informed that Blue Cross / Blue Shield will be offering free Identity Protection to all eligible BCBSM members in the near future. Blue Cross / Blue Shield has placed an add in the Wall Street Journal announcing the program. This offer ONLY applies to Blue Cross/Blue Shield members, and some of those members may not be eligible: Medicare Advantage members may not be included due to Federal guidelines. What will they be offering? Credit monitoring Fraud detection Credit/identity repair MPSERS PROPOSES 2015-2017 HEALTH CARE CHANGES  In case you did not see this information in a prior email, the MPSERS (Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System) Board met May 28, 2015. A report was presented about the health care proposed changes for 2016 - 2017. At this point, these are only PROPOSED changes. CLICK HERE to see more info at our website. Colorado court rules public dollars should be used for public school students   The Colorado Supreme Court has struck a decisive blow against a voucher program in Douglas County that siphoned away critical funding from public schools. In a 4-3 decision, the high court ruled that Douglas County's Choice Scholarship Program (CSP), a voucher program that used taxpayer dollars to pay the cost of tuition at private and religious schools, violated Article IX Section 7 of the Colorado Constitution, which prohibits public money going to schools under the control of a "church or sectarian denomination." CLICK HERE TO READ MORE from NEA's Education Votes. GPO-WEP fix, the Social Security Fairness Act, fights unfair offsets that slash retirement benefits Imagine this. You've spent the last 30 years dedicating your life to teaching students Algebra at a local high school. And during those decades in the classroom, to help make ends meet, you've worked several part-time jobs-including a 15-year stint as a night auditor at a local hotel. But now, you're looking forward to retirement-that is, until you learn about a government offset called the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), which is going to reduce your Social Security check by almost half. While it sounds like a retirement nightmare, for hundreds of thousands of educators, police officers, fire fighters and other public service employees, it's a reality. The Government Pension Offset (GPO) reduces public employees' Social Security spousal or survivor benefits by two-thirds of their public pension. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE from NEA EdVotes.org Senate rejects plan to allow parents to opt out of standardized tests   Parents across the country are revolting against standardized testing and our members have shared some strong opinions about this issue on our Facebook page. The US Senate on Tuesday defeated an amendment to the Every Child Achieves Act that would have allowed parents nationwide to opt out of federally-mandated state standardized tests without putting school districts at risk of federal sanctions. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE from the Washington Post. Hillary Clinton Picks Up AFT Endorsement   The American Federation of Teachers last Saturday voted to make an early endorsement of Hillary Rodham Clinton, a lift to her presidential campaign as she tries to fend off a stronger-than-expected challenge from the left. The endorsement from the AFT was not a surprise. The group is led by Randi Weingarten, a longtime ally of Mrs. Clinton, and it backed her in her losing primary battle against Barack Obama in 2008.  CLICK HERE TO READ MORE from the NYTimes.  NOTE: The NEA will not endorse a presidential candidate until next year. There is plenty of time to make your feelings known to your MEA/NEA leadership. TAKE OUR INFORMAL POLL - CLICK HERE TO VOTE AND SEE RESULTS IMMEDIATELY!   If the primary election were today and you were voting in the Democratic primary, which candidate would you support?  (Lincoln Chaffee, Hillary Clinton, Martin O'Malley, Bernie Sanders, Jim Webb)  Note: We will include a poll about the Republican candidates in an upcoming email.

Thanks to educator's unprecedented activism, I can say this with a smile on my face: The Senate is expected to vote on the main education law that governs our schools as early as TODAY. We have about one day left to make our mark on the next decade of student learning. Please email your senator now about the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). This vote has been a long time coming. It's been over 13 years since the Senate voted on a major education law. Your colleagues have already sent over 216,000 messages to their representatives, but we need your voice. Let's finish strong today. Please contact your senator to tell them to pass this bill. (Or, if you prefer, you can make a phone call: 1-866-331-7233.) In its current form, this new ESEA will go a long way towards holding states accountable for closing resource and opportunity gaps. This new law will also reduce high-stakes testing so we can emphasize critical thinking, one-on-one instruction and let educators do what they love - inspire a lifelong love of learning in our students. This is your last chance. If you believe a student's ZIP code shouldn't be their destiny, please take action: www.getesearight.com Thank you for everything you've done to help our senators get this education law right. Lily Lily Eskelsen García President, National Education Association P.S. Do you have a friend or colleague who needs to hear about this historic occasion?Please share using email, Facebook, or Twitter.

Join Rep. Debbie Dingell for a Facebook Chat to discuss "Aging in America" July 15, 2015  3:30 pm  Email Voice of MEA-Retired  Tuesday, July 14, 2015    MEA-Retired Website: www.mea-retired.org   MEA-Retired members, we've been invited to share our ideas and concerns! In celebration of the 15th Anniversary of the Older Americans Act and this week's White House Conference on Aging, we have been invited to join Rep. Debbie Dingell for a Facebook Q&A to discuss "Aging in America," TOMORROW, Wednesday, July 15th at 3:30pm. Debbie will be online to answer all of your questions. Send your questions to Debbie at www.Facebook.com/RepDebbieDingell, and join us at 3:30pm tomorrow on her Facebook page to see and participate in the discussion!

Let's Not Be the Last Generation to Retire

July 14, 2015 NEA MEMBER BENEFITS NEA MARKETPLACE MEMBERS AND EDUCATORS HOME CSUN's online Master of Arts in Educational Administration gives teachers the knowledge and skills to advance their careers and thrive as leaders of educational institutions. This award-winning program prepares K-12 educators for a variety of leadership positions, including Principals, Superintendents, Department Heads, Program Managers, Directors, and Site Administrators and more. Designed to help teachers transform education. 2 year program, 100% online Flexible schedule for working professionals Exceptional support services Offered in collaboration with CSUN's Michael D. Eisner College of Education

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You're Invited to a Tweet Chat Help us spread the word to the Twitter-verse about the Meet Up and Eat Up Summer Food Service Program in Michigan. How to join? At 11am EST on Wednesday, July 15, log into Twitter and use the hashtag #SummerMealsMW and begin tweeting your thoughts, photos, and quotes about what the Summer Food Service Program looks like in your community. Share this with Friends!

David, Thanks to educator's unprecedented activism, I can say this with a smile on my face: The Senate is expected to vote on the main education law that governs our schools as early as TODAY. We have about one day left to make our mark on the next decade of student learning. Please email your senator now about the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). This vote has been a long time coming. It's been over 13 years since the Senate voted on a major education law Your colleagues have already sent over 216,000 messages to their representatives, but we need your voice. Let's finish strong today. Please contact your senator to tell them to pass this bill. (Or, if you prefer, you can make a phone call: 1-866-331-7233. In its current form, this new ESEA will go a long way towards holding states accountable for closing resource and opportunity gaps. This new law will also reduce high-stakes testing so we can emphasize critical thinking, one-on-one instruction and let educators do what they love - inspire a lifelong love of learning in our students. This is your last chance. If you believe a student's ZIP code shouldn't be their destiny, please take action: www.getesearight.com Thank you for everything you've done to help our senators get this education law right. - Lily Lily Eskelsen García President, National Education Association P.S. Do you have a friend or colleague who needs to hear about this historic occasion? Please share using email, Facebook, or Twitter.

'3 percent case' sent back to MI Court of Appeals for reconsideration

Posted on 07/06/15 at 3:00pm

The Michigan Supreme Court is sending the "3 percent case" back to the Michigan Court of Appeals for reconsideration. The case involves the constitutionality of PA 75 of 2010 to require all school employees to pay an extra 3 percent into a fund for retiree health insurance. The Court vacated the prior ruling of the Michigan Court of Appeals which agreed with the Court of Claims that the practice is unconstitutional. The state Supreme Court is sending the case back there for reconsideration.  

The Court of Appeals must also consider what issues in PA 75 have been superseded by the Supreme Court's decision in the PA 300 case. And they are to deal with any outstanding issues that may emerge regarding PA 75 that were not affected by PA 300.

     

• Read moreabout '3 percent case' sent back to MI Court of Appeals for reconsideration

Register now for SLC to become a force for the future

Posted on 07/06/15 at 2:58pm

You only have until July 14-next Tuesday-- to register for MEA's 2015 Summer Leadership Conference, "Power from the Past-A Force for the Future." The Conference is scheduled for July 28-30 at Lake Superior State College in Sault Ste. Marie.

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Report lays out plan for education reform in Michigan

Posted on 07/06/15 at 2:57pm

Public Sector Consultants, a non-partisan public policy research firm in Lansing, has released a report offering financial recommendations and policy proposals to move Michigan forward. This comes on the heels of new State Superintendent Brian Whiston's goal of making Michigan one of the top 10 states in the next 10 years.

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ESEA rewrite will finally get a hearing on U.S. Senate floor

Posted on 07/06/15 at 2:56pm

The Senate's version of the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Act (ESEA) will finally get a hearing on the full U.S. Senate floor starting tomorrow on July 7. In mid-April, the Senate Education Committee approved the Every Child Achieves Act (ECAA) a week after it was introduced by co-sponsors Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA). 

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Snyder would support changes to SB 103

Posted on 06/29/15 at 12:25pm

Two weeks ago, Gov. Snyder's education advisor led House Education Committee members to believe that the Governor opposed SB 103, the teacher evaluation bill sponsored by Sen. Phil Pavlov (R-St. Clair), chair of the Senate Education Committee. Under direct questioning, Karen McPhee replied that Snyder did not support the bill in its present form. 

However, last week his media spokesperson said that Gov. Snyder has taken no position on SB 103, but would support some changes to the bill. So far, the bill has had four hearings in Committee that still has not voted to discharge the bill.

Pavlov's bill emphasizes local control with districts allowed to choose whatever evaluation tool they wish. There are no provisions for training and no standards by which to judge those evaluation tools. MEA lobbyist Christina Canfield spoke in opposition to the bill, saying the bill is not in the best interest of teachers or children.

Last year, the House plan for teacher evaluations was very different from SB 103. That set of evaluation bills never made it through lame duck last year. Those bills set standards for the evaluation tools districts use; emphasized training for evaluators; and created a much fairer evaluation system for teachers. The MEA remains hopeful this year's House Education Committee will introduce similar amendments to SB 103.

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New state superintendent begins his term July 1

Posted on 06/29/15 at 12:26pm

This Wednesday, Brian Whiston takes over as the new State Superintendent. In an interview with the Detroit Free Press, he talks about standardized testing, school funding, charter and cyber schools, deficit schools and teacher evaluations.

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MEA membership means better contracts together

Posted on 06/30/15 at 9:19am

With the passage of Michigan’s Public Employment Relations Act in 1965, teachers finally went from begging to bargaining. Thanks to PERA, all public school employees have the right to negotiate for fair wages, quality health care benefits and decent working conditions.

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- See more at: http://www.mea.org/#sthash.BcaYwVSz.dpuf

CO court rules public dollars should be used for public school students Douglas County voucher program that siphoned away critical funding for public schools is ruled unconstitutional by the Colorado Supreme Court. Education activists: Keep up the pressure to get ESEA right for kids Your activism around the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which is currently being debated on Capitol Hill, is paying off in big ways. Because of your calls, emails, and letters to lawmakers-students, parents, educators, and public schools are winning! What educators want the Presidential hopefuls to know about public education The 2016 presidential election is more than a year away. But now is the time to tell presidential hopefuls what they SHOULD be talking about when it comes to public schools. Four tips for staying engaged as a public education activist this summer Those who would attack and dismantle public education never seem to take a vacation. That's why it's essential for public education activists like you to stay informed and engaged during the summer months. Action of the Week Tell your lawmakers it's time to get ESEA right for students! Stay up to date through social media! Get real-time updates on all the latest political and education news by following us on Facebook,Twitter and Tumblr.      Featured Media 2016 presidential candidate recorded remarks to the National Education Association Representative Assembly All major 2016 presidential candidates were offered the opportunity to record a video message to the delegates at this year's NEA Representative Assembly. Hillary Clinton, Martin O'Malley and Bernie Sanders each provided a two minute video that was shown on the big screen last weekend. Click through below to watch the videos on Youtube, Facebook or Twitter and share with your fellow educators, parents or students who want to put a champion for strong public schools in the White House! Watch the Hillary Clinton video on Youtube Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Watch the Martin O'Malley video on Youtube Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Watch the Bernie Sanders video on Youtube Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

	TIPS: July 9, 2015 Featured Post: Introduce Students With Snapshots From: Phil Nast, retired middle school teacher and freelance writer During the first days of school, getting to know students is critical for educators and having a photograph with a name goes a long way in speeding the process. Find out how to use photo-taking to engage the whole class in the getting-to-know-you process. Question of the Week: Getting To Know You... Students work best when they feel their teachers and classmates recognize them as individuals. What are your favorite activities and assignments for getting to know your students at the beginning of the school year? Classroom Mailing Center From: Deborah A. Myers, a sixth grade teacher at Ford Road Elementary in Memphis, Tennessee Ms. Myers uses a classroom mailbox system to respond individually to student concerns, streamline paper distribution, and cut down on student chatter. Boosting Parent Attendance at Student Conferences From: Jean Torgeson White, Brooklyn, New York Sometimes a harmless threat can go a long way in encouraging parents to attend student conferences. Carpet Squares From: a first-grade teacher at Providence Elementary School in Virginia Beach, Virginia The humble carpet square has many uses in the classroom and can usually be obtained for free from willing carpet and furniture stores. We couldn't do it without you! Submit your tip online or reply to this email. Please contribute your own brief, practical, broadly applicable classroom tip to Works4Me. When submitting a tip, please include your full name, school, specific assignment (grade/subject), city and state. This newsletter is only as good as the tips we receive, so send your ideas today. Advertisement Enjoy the low rates, exclusive benefits and superior level of service you deserve. The NEA® Auto & Home Insurance Program provided by California Casualty offers NEA members and their families' access to custom tailored insurance coverage not available to the general public. Through this exclusive program, members can take advantage of discounted rates and enjoy benefits like the option to skip-payments during the summer months, reduced or waived deductibles for school related incidents, free ID Defense, and much more. Plus a 99.8% customer satisfaction rating means members get the first-class service they deserve. Visit http://marketing.mycalcas.com/surprisesavings for a quote today.  Disclaimer  Works4Me is a vehicle for instructional staff to share their ideas with other instructional staff. As such, it does not constitute an endorsement of any particular curriculum or teaching method by the National Education Association or any of its affiliates.		Browse All Tips Academic Subjects (307) Class Management (1,739) Equipment & Supplies (1,736) Activity Type (1,739) Student Skill Set (412) Teaching Method (87) Advertisement Works4Me Lounge The latest tips and tricks that lead to classroom success. Send Us Your Tips Get published in this newsletter!

Friend - Nearly half a million educators like you have weighed in on what teaching and learning will look like in America over the next decade. Why? The Senate is making incredibly important decisions about your students right now. We are pushing them to get the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) right - it's the first time in over 13 years they are renewing this law. It's a huge deal. Will you tell your representatives about what your students need?  Tell them about the teaching and learning conditions in your classroom. If we're serious about securing a quality education for every student, we must push the Senate to do what works. This means giving students the one-on-one attention, modern classrooms, and school libraries that they need to learn. It also means letting educators do the job they love. Stand with your colleagues to speak up about what you and your students need in this bill. It's probably the most important action you can take this decade. We have made major progress, and we can't let up. Educators are pushing hard for an amendment that would change the way we assess our schools and students. This amendment expands the federal "opportunity dashboard" that would identify resource gaps and hold states accountable for providing meaningful opportunity for all students to learn. Three million educator leaders are stepping up to improve the lives of the children of America. Parents are with us. Researchers are with us. Enlightened business leaders are with us. But we must lead...as we have led for 158 years. Please ask your senators to support this critical amendment. This is our moment. Thank you for everything you do for our students. - LilyLily Eskelsen García President National Education Association P.S. If you've already taken action, click here to invite others using Facebook, Twitter or email.

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. Want to view as a web page? Click here to view in browser. Summer Meals Now Available We're excited to announce the availability of the Summer Food Service Program and Meet Up and Eat Up events for children and teens across the state. Meet Up and Eat Up is a way to help parents and caregivers identify places where kids 18 and younger can gather for healthy, free summer meals at thousands of sites across Michigan.    This program is crucial for the hundreds of thousands of Michigan students who rely on the federal school meals program during the school year. Last year, less than 1/5 of Michigan kids who depend on getting free meals during the school year ate a summer meal at approved sites in their neighborhoods.  Show your support for Meet Up and Eat Up by sharing the meal site map on Facebook. You can include text in your update such as: "Friends in Michigan: help spread the word about Meet Up and Eat Up and help a kid get a free summer meal today:www.michigan.gov/meetupeatup." Check Out these Upcoming Meet Up and Eat Up Events: Maranda Park Parties. All parties are held from noon until 2 p.m. Everyone is invited and everything is free!  July 9 – Berlin Raceway, Marne July 16 – Kollen Park, Holland July 23 – Smith Ryerson Park, Muskegon July 30 – Northwestern Middle School, Battle Creek Southeastern Michigan Block Parties: July 9 - District 2/Palmer Park Time: 3:00pm - 6:00pm Where: 910 Merrill Plaisance, Detroit, MI 48203 (Woodward & 7 Mile) July 14 - District 4/Corrigan Park Time: 11:00am - 2:00pm Where: 14723 E. Warren, Detroit, MI 48215 July 16 - District 5/Joseph Walker Williams Center Time: 3:00pm- 6:00pm Where: 8431 Rosa Parks, Detroit, MI 48206 July 21 - District 6/Patton Community Center Time: 3:00pm - 6:00pm Where: 2301 Woodmere, Detroit, MI 48209

July 6, 2015 Dear David, As someone who's been a valued contributor to the MEA/NEA PAC over the years, I wanted to let you know that there's still time to give to PAC this year - and watch the Tigers from a suite in the process! Again this year, I've purchased a suite for a Tigers game - and will be honoring members who make generous contributions to MEA-PAC and the NEA Fund.  Two lucky MEA members who've given to PAC this past year will be drawn at random to win pairs of suite tickets for the game against the Minnesota Twins on Saturday, Sept. 26. If you'd rather not leave your attendance to chance, there's another way to get a pair of tickets.  We'll be giving pairs of tickets to the top two members in each of the following categories who have contributed the most in MEA and NEA PAC dollars between Aug. 1, 2014 and July 31, 2015.  The categories - and current winning totals - are as follows: EA members - $1,090 ESP members - $1,025 MEA-Retired members - $720 Contributions made through the end of this month count toward your total - and put you in the running to win tickets in the drawing.  You can give to PAC online today at www.meavotes.org.                                                                                                 From your local school board to the State Capitol to the White House, education decisions are political decisions made by elected officials. Ensuring friends of public education are elected at every level of politics is a key mission of the MEA-and that's why raising MEA/NEA PAC funds is so critical. I know that despite the attacks on our public education profession and the challenging times being faced by our members, many of you go above and beyond in giving to MEA/NEA PAC.  It's time to say thank you! Please, continue to give generously to MEA/NEA PAC - make a contribution today! Oh...and GO TIGERS! In solidarity, Steven Cook MEA President

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Activist - Tomorrow marks a historic moment. It's been over 13 years since the Senate voted on the main education law that governs our students and schools -- the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Together, we have pushed this bill in the right direction - and now, we can feel good about supporting it in the Senate. This is it. Take action now. I can't state this enough: our voice has already made a difference. If we're serious about securing a quality education for every child, we must push the Senate to do what works. This means giving students the one-on-one attention, modern classrooms, and healthy school lunches that they need to learn. It also means letting teachers do the job they love. So today, it's all hands on deck. Your senators need to hear from you today. Send them a message about what you and your students need in this bill. Together, we can push Congress to go even further in helping every single student succeed, no matter his or her ZIP code. Send a message here: www.GetESEARight.com Thanks again, Mary Mary Kusler Director of Government Relations National Education Association P.S. Do you have a friend or colleague who needs to hear about this? Please share with them here.

GPO-WEP fix, the Social Security Fairness Act, fights unfair offsets that slash retirement benefits A newly introduced bill, the Social Security Fairness Act of 2015, will help public servants such as teachers, firefighters and police officers retain the retirement benefits they earned through a lifetime of public service. Take action now: Help the U.S. Senate get ESEA right for students! The U.S. Senate has announced that following the July 4th recess, it will begin debate on ESEA reauthorization, more specifically new legislation called the Every Child Achieves Act of 2015 (ECAA). This new bill, which has strong bipartisan support, represents lawmakers' best chance to redo ESEA and, this time, get it right. New Oregon law recognizes students and parents are key in developing better assessments Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has taken a bold step on behalf of students and signed into law the Student Assessment Bill of Rights! More than 7,000 education leaders set to gather in Florida, raise their voice More than 7,000 primary, secondary and postsecondary educators and education support professionals from every state will gather July 3-6 in Orlando, Florida, to set the course over the next year for the National Education Association, the nation's largest union of public education professionals. Action of the Week Tell your lawmakers in the U.S. Senate that it's time to get ESEA right for students! Stay up to date through social media! Get real-time updates on all the latest political and education news by following us on Facebook,Twitter and Tumblr.      Featured Media Share the President John F. Kennedy graphic on Facebook Share on Twitter

MEA-Retired Tribune  July 2015 Judy Foster, MEA-Ret.Pres., editor     Email Voice of MEA-Retired  Friday, July 3, 2015  Join a local chapter of MEA-Retired!  FACEBOOK USERS: Please "LIKE" our page to receive our posts in your newsfeed - and share with your friends and family. OUR NEWSLETTERS AND MUCH MORE CAN ALSO BE FOUND AT OUR WEBSITE: MEA-Retired.org.  On the left side of the page, click on the Publications button, then Tribunes, to download the pdf document.  You may wish to print and share a copy of the newsletter. The Michigan Retirement Report, our quarterly newsletter, comes to you via U.S. mail and is available along with back issues at our website.   Click on an issue to download it.       Do you receive MEA Voice and Capitol Comments online? Sign up here: CLICK HERE Verification of Coverage (VOC) forms were mailed to all BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD contract holders in June.  The form asks if you have any additional insurance. Blue Cross Blue Shield members must respond to avoid an interruption (cancellation) of coverage.  You may respond by phone, return the form by mail, or register on the internet. Court rules that educators aren't police officers when reporting abuse The U.S. Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that teachers and educators should not be put in law enforcement roles when they carry out their duty of reporting suspected child abuse or neglect. The National Education Association (NEA) filed an amicus brief in the case, Ohio v. Clark, stating that "educators' valuable role as mandatory reporters and caregivers should not be compromised. "The case stems from a March 2010 incident in which a Head Start teacher in Cleveland, Ohio noticed that one of her students had what appeared to be a bloodshot and bloodstained left eye. The child identified his abuser and, as mandated by the state, the teacher and another colleague reported the information to law enforcement. The abuser was arrested, charged and eventually convicted on several assault charges. The abuser's attorneys argued that the teachers were acting as law enforcement agents, not just mandatory reporters, and the child's statements were "testimony" and subject to cross examination. In 2013, the Ohio Supreme Court agreed and overturned the conviction, sending the case to the U.S. Supreme Court. NEA President Lily Eskelsen Garcia said, "We are pleased the Court recognized what educators have long understood-namely, that mandatory reporting laws aren't about prosecuting crimes, but are there to protect abused or neglected children. This case could have had a chilling effect on teacher-student interactions. Teachers aren't cops. These brave Ohio educators did what was necessary to protect the safety of one of their students, just as educators across the country do in similar circumstances every day."  CLICK HERE to read more. Three reasons to choose a patient-centered medical home Nearly 10,000 Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System members are working with a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan patient-centered medical home to protect their greatest asset - their health. Here are three reasons to consider choosing a PCMH to protect yours. Your PCMH health care team revolves around you. Do you need support to quit smoking or manage a condition such as diabetes? When you choose a PCMH doctor, your doctor leads a team of health care professionals committed to improving your health. Your team may consist of your regular doctor, specialists or a nutritionist depending on your health needs. Your PCMH doctor will put the right team together for you. Your care team works together to help you manage your health. Your PCMH doctor tracks and coordinates your care with the other health care providers. If you need to see a specialist, your PCMH doctor will help you find the right one and schedule your visit. Any test results and treatments managed by other doctors are sent to your PCMH, so you don't have to re-explain each test or symptom. Your doctor also uses e-prescribing to alert your pharmacist of any possible drug interactions and reduce errors. You'll have more access to your medical team. PCMH practices offer extended office hours, making it easier to get same-day appointments when you have a health issue. Your PCMH also provides 24-hour access to your care team. If you have a medical question in the middle of the night or on a weekend, you can call your PCMH and possibly avoid a trip to the emergency room. Find a PCMH. To find a patient-centered medical home doctor,use the Find a Doctor tool at bcbsm.com. Check the "Patient-centered Medical Home" box when selecting options to narrow your search. NEA-Retired Annual Meeting and NEA Representative Assembly Thirty-four elected MEA-retired delegates just completed attending the NEA-Retired Annual Meeting in Orlando. They are representing our 35,000 members. On July 3, they will join the Michigan delegation of active members to attend the NEA RA. Michigan delegates to NEA's Representative Assembly will join more than 7,000 educators to help set education policy and talk about what's best for students. The annual meeting starts July 3 and runs through July 6. You can follow RA events atwww.Nea.org/RA, at #NEARA15, on Flickr atflickr.com/photos/neapr, and on Facebook at NEA Today.CLICK HERE to see more. UNIONS UNDER ATTACK AGAIN by Randi Weingarten, AFT Pres. The anti-worker forces that are trying to break our union just got a big break from the United States Supreme Court. On June 30, the court agreed to hear the case Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association during its next term. Make no mistake: This case is not about individual liberty or the First Amendment. It is an outright attack against unions to prevent us from representing our members and using our voices to fight for our families, our schools, our colleges, our healthcare facilities and our communities. We're preparing a national campaign to mobilize our members and communities across the country to fight for an America where everyone's voice matters. Sign up to join when we launch later this summer. This case would undermine our unions and challenge nearly 40 years of precedent-and the court agreed to hear it barely a year after it dealt a blow to workers with its decision in Harris v. Quinn. In fact, the conservative justices on the court used the Harris v.Quinn ruling to invite cases like this one, showing just how political they really are. Friedrichs is being argued by the same law firm that tried to destroy the Affordable Care Act, and it is fueled by the same ideological forces whose lobbyists talk about driving a "fatal spear through the heart" of our unions. In the end, this case comes down to a fundamental question: Do unions have a right to collect a fair share from the people we represent, to ensure that we're able to speak for all workers? The attack on labor by those who don't want working families to have a voice has intensified. It has moved from the statehouse to the courthouse. But our affiliates understand that engaging our communities and our members, and organizing new members, are the key to repelling those attacks and growing a strong middle class. NEWS ON THE 3% by Mike Shoudy, MEA General Counsel Recently, the Michigan Supreme Court issued an order in the case challenging the constitutionality of 2010 PA 75 (3% case). The Michigan Supreme Court vacated the prior ruling of the Michigan Court of Appeals and remanded the case to the Michigan Court of Appeals for reconsideration of its prior ruling in light of the Michigan Supreme Court's April 8, 2015 decision inAFT MI, et al v. State of Michigan. That case dealt with the constitutionality of 2012 PA 300. On remand, the Court of Appeals is to consider what issues in the PA 75 case have been superseded by the Supreme Court's decision in the PA 300 case. The Court of Appeals is to also address any outstanding issues that the parties may raise regarding PA 75 that were not superseded or rendered moot by the PA 300 ruling. In summary, no ruling has been issued by the Michigan Supreme Court in the 3% case. The Supreme Court is sending the 3% case back to the Michigan Court of Appeals for reconsideration. For background on these cases and more information regarding the litigation, you can review the FAQ regarding the retirement litigation in the Members Only section of the MEA website. We will continue to monitor this important case and keep you informed of any developments. DID YOU KNOW: At the NEA-Retired Convention in Orlando, Dan Rudd was elected to a second three year term to the NEA Board of Directors representing retirees. Congratulations Dan. Congratulations are also in order for Sid Kardon who was elected to the Resolutions Committee. NEA-Retired members have donated $33,588 to the NEA Fund for Children and Public Education. This would include money that MEA-Retired members have contributed. Off-label drug use means that a prescription drug is prescribed for a reason other than the use that is approved by the  U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Medicare does not cover drugs that are prescribed for reasons other than the FDA-approved use. You can appeal this decision, but these appeal requests are not always granted. Judy Foster, Editor, MEA-Retired President

Moving Forward State Superintendent Mike Flanagan is collecting his things and his thoughts in the last day before retirement in this short podcast. http://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,4615,7-140-37818_45256-357995--,00.html Mike Flanagan State Superintendent Michigan Department of Education Follow me on Twitter: www.twitter.com/SuptFlanagan

Issue #215--July 2, 2015 ESEA hits Senate floor next week, House action possible After calls for action from NEA and other key education stakeholders, full Senate deliberation of the bipartisan reauthorization bill, the Every Child Achieves Act (S. 1177) is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, July 7.  NEA and its affiliates have been working to make sure that the final bill will ensure equity and opportunity for all students and emphasize learning over testing.  In a new development, the House Rules Committee announced yesterday that it would meet July 7 to discuss the House reauthorization bill, the Student Success Act (H.R. 5), which was approved by a party-line vote in committee, but was pulled off the House floor in late February after debate but before a final vote.  The Rules meeting means the House bill could be on the floor soon, with additional amendments under consideration.  If the bill passes both chambers, it would go to a conference committee.  For ongoing updates on legislative developments, see NEA's Legislative Action Center page. Eight NCLB waiver renewals approved The Department of Education (ED) granted NCLB waiver renewals to seven states and the District of Columbia.  The states are:  Georgia, Hawaii, Kansas, Missouri, Nevada, New York, and West Virginia.  Copies of the renewal letters can be found by clicking on ED's flexibility state map. The renewals are the first since March when ED granted five expedited renewals to Kentucky, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Carolina, and Virginia.  More renewals are likely in the coming weeks. Sequestration blocks critically needed education funds in Senate bill The Senate Appropriations Committee that funds ED's budget approved a bill (S. 1695) that would reduce funding in fiscal year 2016 to $1.4 billion below the current level.  Under the  committee bill, federal funding for education in 2016 would be at about the same level as in 2013 after sequestration and would remain below the 2011 level. The spending caps in place for 2016 as a result of sequestration reduced the allocation the committee had to work with for several agencies for the coming fiscal year (which begins October 1 of this year) by $3.6 billion compared to the current year.  Starting with less money means that to fund any program even at the same level as the current year would mean taking money from another program.  NEA's letter to members of the committee urged a "no" vote on the bill and emphasized that "continuation of sequester-level funding is entirely inadequate."   "With Congress moving forward on ESEA reauthorization, it is crucial that adequate resources are invested in education to help close opportunity and resource gaps and ensure all students have access to a high-quality education." Here is a summary of how Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) programs fared under the committee's bill. Programs eliminated: Striving Readers, Preschool Development Grants, Carol M. White Physical Education Program, Investing in Innovation, and Full Service Community Schools, among others. Programs cut: School Improvement State Grants by $56 million (-11 percent), Improving Teacher Quality State Grants by $103 million (-4 percent), 21st Century Community Learning Centers by $117 million (-10 percent), English Language Acquisition State Grants by $25 million (-3 percent), Elementary and Secondary School Counseling by $26 million (-53 percent), and Promise Neighborhoods by $20 million (-35 percent), among others. Programs flat-funded: Impact Aid, Rural Education, and Education for Homeless Children and Youths, among others. Programs increased: Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) by $150 million (+1 percent), and Charter Schools Grants by $20 million (+8 percent), among others. The committee bill also includes policy riders, such as one that prevents any funds from being used to mandate or incentivize states, LEAs, or schools to adopt any specific set of standards or assessments. The passage of the spending bill by the Senate committee follows similar committee action cutting much needed funds in the House.  The Senate bill must now go to the floor and be reconciled with whatever bill comes out of the House before going to the president for either his signature or veto.  ED asserts three family educational rights Speaking at the National PTA convention, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced a set of three foundational family education rights: Free, quality preschool High, challenging standards and engaging teaching and leadership in a safe, supportive, well-resourced school An affordable, quality college degree "I want to describe educational rights that I firmly believe must belong to every family in America-and I hope you'll demand that your leaders in elected or appointed offices deliver on them," Duncan told the PTA.  "They come together as a set of rights that students must have at three pivotal stages of their life, to prepare them for success in college and careers and as engaged, productive citizens."  ED elaborates on these three rightshere. Oregon governor signs opt-out bill Oregon Governor Kate Brown signed assessment reform legislation containing a standardized testing opt-out provision (HB 2655).  The legislature recently passed the amendment with Oregon Education Associationsupport.  (ESEA/NCLB Update #214).  NEA background information on state and local opt-out laws can be found here.  Take Action: ESEA action imminent The reauthorization of ESEA is scheduled to be on the Senate floor next week, and there is new momentum in the House.  Now is the time to let your voice be heard by contacting your senators and insisting that Congress get ESEA right.