My GHEA Rocks!

ACTION ALERT Attend Court of Appeal Hearing on Taxing our Pensions

Website         About Us          Leadership          Chapters        Calendar          FAQ Dear David,  Hello MEA Retirees and Future Retirees -   Okrie v State of Michigan Oral Argument,Tuesday June 7, 10 a.m. Hall of Justice, Second Floor, Lansing Please help us fill the courtroom next Tuesday, June 7 when the Michigan Court of Appeals will be hearing oral argument in theThomas Okrie v State of Michigan case.  Details about the case and the oral argument, parking, and other details are in the attached flyer.  To view the flyer click here   Here's some background: Recall that in 2011 newly elected Governor Rick Snyder proposed and the Legislature adopted a major overhaul of Michigan's income tax structure. The Small Business Tax was abolished for 95 percent of businesses in Michigan - 86,000 businesses - and a 6 percent flat Corporate Income Tax was established only for corporations, not LLCs, partnerships, C-corporations, and other entities that were taxed under the former SBT. There were no strings attached to these tax changes and it is impossible to know if even one new job was created because of the abolishment of the SBT. Since the new CIT did not generate enough revenue to replace the SBT, other sources of revenue were sought. The biggest tax expenditure on the books at the time was the exemption of pensions and some retirement income from Michigan's income tax. Under the new law, effective January 1, 2012, retirement income of those born after 1945 would be subject to the income tax.Other tax credits were abolished also. The total tax shift from business to individuals amounted to $1.8 billion, about $540 million of it straight from the pockets of seniors and younger retirees. Please make every effort to attend the hearing in the Michigan Court of Claims on Tuesday, June 7in Lansing.. Click here for details and directions. Thomas R. Okrie was a retired public school teacher who was personally outraged at the Governor and the Legislature for imposing the pension tax. He hired attorney Gary Supanich to bring a legal challenge. A class-action lawsuit was filed in July 2013 on behalf of Okrie and similarly situated retired state and public school employees (over 100,000 people), challenging the State of Michigan's action of taking away their deferred compensation in the form of tax exemptions without providing comparable financial benefits to them. The lawsuit principally alleged a breach of contract under state law, or an impairment of contract and "Takings" in violation of the state and federal constitutions. After the filing of the Okrie lawsuit, the Legislature and Governor also changed the court system to take the authority away from the liberal Ingham County Circuit Court judges to hear cases against the state and reassigned them to a newly established panel of Court of Appeals judges. The Okrie case was cited by court watchers as one of the reasons for this re-organization. Okrie challenged the constitutionality of the court re-organization and lost. He also lost his case-in-chief in front of the new panel and appealed to the Michigan Court of Appeals. Now, nearly three years later on June 7, the Michigan Court of Appeals will be hearing oral argument on the Okrie pension tax challenge.  We need to fill the courtroom with retirees - the grayer the hair and more wrinkled your skin the better - to show we have not forgotten our anger over the pension tax. Whether you were born before or after 1945, you are invited to show up at the Hall of Justice at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, June 7 to show your support for this class action lawsuit.   Thank you so much for your past support and interest!   Mary Pollock Legislative Representative Michigan State Employee Retirees Association www.mi-sera.org

ACTION ALERT Contact YOUR STATE SENATOR & REP TODAY

Website         About Us          Leadership          Chapters        Calendar          FAQ Dear David,  URGENT: Contact lawmakers NOW to oppose new DPS package MEA members need to make their voices heard immediatelyregarding a legislative compromise regarding Detroit Public Schools that removes accountability measures for charter schools, attacks the rights of educators who stand up for their students, and puts even more emphasis on standardized testing by tying it to teacher pay. The new compromise legislation: Eliminates the Detroit Education Commission proposed in the bipartisan Senate bills, which would provide accountability for charter schools by controlling the opening and closing of both traditional and charter schools in Detroit.   Increases penalties for school employees who are found to be engaged in an illegal strike activity-provisions that weren't included in the bi-partisan Senate bills. This is a move to punish the dedicated educators in Detroit who blew the whistle on the unsafe, unhealthy conditions in their schools.   Puts greater requirements on already mandatory merit pay requirements, continuing to increase the emphasis placed on standardized tests and tie teacher pay to test scores. Please contact your state representative and senator TODAY to urge them to vote against this compromise being pushed by Republican leaders in Lansing. Unlike the bi-partisan Senate bills passed in April, this new proposal is not a solution that will help the long term health of Detroit Public Schools-or the quality of education students in the city receive. The new strike penalties would apply statewide, and many lawmakers see this as a first step to expanding many of these bad ideas statewide, so we all have a stake in defeating this legislation.  MEA will continue to update members about the status of this legislation and distribute calls to action as things develop in Lansing.

Teen students talk racism and educators listen In 1966, 44 percent of American teens thought racial discrimination would be a problem for their generation. Today, nearly twice as many - 82 percent - say it will be a problem. The outlook is even more alarming among black teens: 91 percent think discrimination is here to stay, up from 33 percent in 1966. NC students, educator go to DC, speak out for arrested classmates "Students fear that they will be picked up on the way to school in the same way that Wildin was, and I see daily how Riverside (High School) is being torn apart by the terror that has been surfacing in our community." - Morgan Whithaus, Senior at Riverside HS, Wildin's classmate, and aspiring educator Thirty-seven percent of Ohio charters that received federal funds closed or never opened The federal government gave $30 million to charter schools in Ohio that closed or never opened...and there's no way for taxpayers to get their money back. AZ educators, parents and community groups score education funding win The hard-won adoption of Proposition 123, welcomed by educators, pumps $3.5 billion into AZ schools over the next 10 years but falls short of recovering school funding cuts that dropped the state to 49th in per pupil funding. Action of the Week Sign the pledge to create equity and opportunity for all students regardless of their zipcode.Stay up to date through social media! Get real-time updates on all the latest political and education news by following us onFacebook and Twitter.    Featured Media Watch and share the Standardized Testing video on Facebook Share on Twitter Share the Right to Work is Wrong graphic on Facebook Share on Twitter Share the Judging Teachers graphic on Facebook Share on Twitter Share the College Affordability graphic on Facebook Share on Twitter

"Students understand expectations, and they don't understand why senators aren't meeting theirs." A politician didn't say those words. Neither did a lobbyist or a DC lifer. Marisol García, a middle school teacher, did. Last week, Marisol was one of the nine NEA educators that visited Washington to give our Senators a civics lesson they desperately need. They met with high-ranking officials at the White House to talk about the absurdity of explaining to their students why there isn't a full slate of Supreme Court justices: Check out all the photos in our Facebook gallery! Our members' message was clear: This is ridiculous. For 71 days, Senators have refused to do their job and hold a hearing or a vote on Judge Garland's nomination, even though: Every nominee has received a Senate hearing or a vote since Ulysses S. Grant was president. The Constitution clearly states it's the Senate's job to "advise and consent" on the president's Supreme Court nominations. We expect our lawmakers to work together (or, at the very least, do their job) even when they have disagreements. Frankly, they're setting a horrendous example for our students, and NEA members just want senators to do their job. As Patrick Chambers, an AP History teacher from Indianapolis, put it: "Our Constitution is too sacred and too trusted to be dragged into partisan politics." I agree 100%, and I'm proud our NEA members took this fight to Washington. If you're proud, too, show it off. Check out our photo album, then share it with your friends and colleagues! Onward, Mary Kusler Director of Government Relations, NEA P.S. Over 17,000 educators have signed our petition asking the Senate to do its job and hold a hearing or a vote on Judge Garland's nomination. Join them - sign the petition today!

Issue #236 | May 20, 2016 Murray, Scott call for robust stakeholder participation in ESSA Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Representative Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA), ranking members of the Senate and House education committees, sent a letter to the Department of Education (ED) calling on the agency to ensure full  participation of education stakeholders in ESSA implementation.  The letter emphasizes ESSA's multiple provisions requiring collaborative consultation in developing state and local implementation plans. The letter also expresses concern about early reports of systemic barriers to participation, such as "the inability of teachers, paraprofessionals, and other school personnel to secure release time to enable full participation in plan development."  The letter requests guidance to ensure that all stakeholder groups are engaged at  multiple points and "allowed to nominate their own representatives in state and local processes." NEA calls for state education finance systems that serve all students NEA Vice President Becky Pringle spoke today at a briefing of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights held in advance of an upcoming commission report, "Public Education Funding Inequality in an Era of Increasing Concentration of Poverty and Resegregation."  Pringle provided powerful testimony on the impact of insufficient funding and blunted educational opportunity for low-income children of color.  In citing the need to rectify the persistent disparities in funding between public school districts that are highly segregated socioeconomically and racially, Pringle stated that "to undertake school improvement efforts without sufficient funding targeted to where the need is greatest is like 'hammering on cold iron.'  No matter how well-intentioned, those efforts will not achieve outcomes that are durable without a state education finance system zealously configured for one mission-meeting the needs of all of our students, regardless of the school district they attend." Pringle also pointed to NEA's work on confronting institutional racism.  "As educators, we must challenge ourselves to discuss and take on this systemic and insidious reality that manifests itself in our schools and in the conditions our students face in their communities."  As part of its commitment to opportunity, Pringle noted work that NEA is doing with affiliates, other advocacy organizations, and governmental entities to identify and remedy resource disparities that are illegal under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. FairTest: NAEP scores highlight failures of NCLB FairTest Executive Director Monty Neill, writing in the Washington Post, states that although today's 12th graders have spent almost all their school years under NCLB's testing regime, there has been no improvement in their 12th grade NAEP scores.  According to Neill, newly released 12th grade scores show that "reading results, a measure that has remained consistent over the years, were the same in 2015 as they were in 2002. NAEP math scores are flat compared with 2005, the earliest reported date for that exam.  That means that a decade of test-driven school 'reform' resulted in no academic progress."  Neill calls for an end to test-based sanctions in favor of multiple measures of student learning, diversified accountability metrics, and assistance to schools that need help. Debate over "supplement, not supplant" continues The debate over upcoming "supplement, not supplant" rules under ESSA continues.  As reported previously in this newsletter, consensus on a proposal put forward by ED during the regulatory negotiation could not be reached.  As a result, ED can now issue its regulation, subject to public comment, outside of the negotiated rulemaking process.  Many state and local administrators and members of Congress, including Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN), who chaired the Senate committee that authorized ESSA, are concerned that the approach ED signaled during the negotiated rulemaking goes beyond what Congress intended and would lead to unintended consequences if implemented.  The Congressional Research Service, a nonpartisan research arm of the Congress, recently issued a report that supported their contention. In testimony during a Senate hearing on ESSA implementation this week, NEA President Lily Eskelsen García expressed concern as well about ED's proposal: "Districts should have the flexibility to develop a methodology that shows federal dollars are supplemental to their efforts. At the same time, we want to ensure that students are getting access to the services and programs they need, regardless of their zip code." Teachers deserve apology Gene A. Budig, former head of three universities and baseball's American League, and Alan Heaps, former vice president of the College Board, called for thanks to our nation's teachers, who do "seemingly impossible work," and an apology for society's treatment of them.  Writing in a guest column in the Colorado Springs Gazette on the occasion of National Teacher Appreciation Day, the two leaders cited examples of past transgressions against teachers, quoting: We cut their budgets.  According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 31 states had lower per pupil expenditures in 2014 than they did in 2008. We don't pay them enough.  According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, salaries of American teachers rank 17th of 26 countries. We have too little respect for them.  According to the Varkey Foundation, America ranks ninth of 21 countries in respect for teachers. We regularly change the rules of their game.  According to the Gates Foundation, "constantly changing demands" are the most significant challenges teachers believe they face.  Budig and Heaps called for better treatment of teachers based on four principles:  a voice in the running of schools, professional development, and school reform; salaries and career paths that attract and retain the best students; classroom support; and an end to holding teachers accountable for the larger failures of society, such as poverty. Low graduation rates found at alternative, charter, virtual schools Achieving the current national 82.3 percent graduation rate is the culmination of years of work by families, educators, and communities.  The new "2016 Building a Grad Nation" report cites much progress, but signals that a recent lag in increasing graduation rates and a persistent low graduation rates among low income, minority, disabled, and English language learner students, are a challenge to reaching the goal of a 90 percent graduation rate by 2020.  The report findings highlight a concentration of low graduation rate high schools in urban areas and an alarmingly high representation of non-graduates among alternative, charter, and virtual schools.  According to the report:  "Though alternative, charter, and virtual schools collectively account for 14 percent of high schools and 8 percent of high school students, they make up 52 percent of low-graduation-rate high schools nationwide and produce 20 percent of non-graduates." Growth of virtual and blended schools should be slowed or stopped Concluding that "the rapid expansion of virtual schools and blended schools is remarkable given the consistently negative findings regarding student and school performance," the fourth annual National Education Policy Center report on virtual schools, "Virtual School Report 2016: Directory and Performance Review," urges a slowing or stopping of the growth of such schools until the reasons for their poor performance have been identified and addressed.  The report, coauthored by Gary Miron of Western Michigan University and Charisse Gulosino of the University of Memphis, provides a census of the 447 full-time virtual schools (those providing all instruction online) in 33 states and 87 blended schools (those serving all students with a combination of face-to-face and online practice, included for the first time in these annual reports) operating in 16 states, along with student demographics, state-specific school performance ratings, and a comparison of virtual school outcomes with statewide outcomes.   The report urges greater oversight of virtual and blended schools and cautions that new opportunities in this growing field "are being defined and developed largely by for-profit entities accountable to stockholders rather than to any public constituency." ED launches validation and scale-up competitions ED launched its two large-scale Investing in Innovation (i3) competitions, the validation grantscompetition (up to $12 million), and the scale-up grants competition (up to $20 million).  The innovation grants program, originally established under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, is now in its seventh year.  Applications are due July 15, with notices of intent to apply due June 6. Take Action Learn more about the Every Student Succeeds Act by visiting NEA's ESSA Begins page and ED's ESSA resources page. Questions or comments? Contact the Education Policy and Practice Department at ESEAinfo@nea.org.

News Release Contact:    Martin Ackley, Director of Public and Governmental Affairs, 517-241-4395                   Bill DiSessa, Spokesperson, 517-335-6649 Kenowa Hills Educator Named 2016-17 Michigan Teacher of the Year May 19, 2016 GRAND RAPIDS – Tracy Horodyski, described by her colleagues as passionate and excited about learning, was named 2016-17 Michigan Teacher of the Year (MTOY) today during a surprise visit from State Superintendent Brian Whiston. Horodyski is a reading interventionist and literacy coach at Zinser Elementary in Kenowa Hills Public Schools.  She has 16 years of classroom experience, and was selected from 178 nominees statewide. “Great teachers play such an important role in preparing our children not only for college and careers ahead, but for life,” said Governor Rick Snyder. “It’s my pleasure to honor Tracy as the tremendous teacher she is, and also to recognize the huge contribution that dedicated teachers are making in classrooms across our great state."  Whiston congratulated Horodyski on this recognition: “As a teachers’ teacher who educates students and other teachers, Tracy is an extraordinary representative of our Michigan teachers and the positive impact they make on our schoolchildren.  She is a living, breathing model of best practices, especially when it comes to child literacy, an area of intense focus by Governor Snyder, the State Board of Education, the Michigan Department of Education, state legislators and me. “We look forward to her continued contributions to teaching and learning over the next year."  Whiston noted that Horodyski, who already helps her peers as a literacy coach at Zinser Elementary, will carry on the valued tradition of MTOYs who have shared their teaching knowledge, expertise, and skills with educators across the state. Horodyski’s early career choices included dancing and physical therapy. But it was in her second year at Grand Valley State University, while writing a note of encouragement to a friend, that she found her calling. “As I sealed the envelope of the note, I realized that I was naturally drawn to teaching,” she recalls. “I was teaching routines to my dance team, swimming lessons at the YMCA, and aerobics classes on campus – all while taking my college classes. While I had this ‘a-ha’ moment, I also realized that this shouldn’t be surprising: I was born into a family of educators. They had always been my number one supporters.” Horodyski, the 2013-14 Certified Staff Member of the Year at Zinser Elementary, said her first year as a certified teacher was such a struggle and she mulled quitting until her uncle, a physician, shared advice that she took to heart: “Make it more about them and less about you!” This epiphany transformed her and became what she considers her biggest accomplishment in education. “Get ready. It’s called listening,” she said. “By truly listening to, and honoring, the thinking of students, they are learning more and learning it better.” She has taught all subjects in Kenowa Hills Public Schools since 2001, and she taught math and science while at Grand Rapids Public Schools in 1999-2000 – all at the elementary school level. But this year, her career blossomed into a new, dual role as reading interventionist and literacy coach. As a reading interventionist, she helps identify students with reading challenges and then provides targeted support for them. As a literacy coach, she shares Purposeful Talk, or learning through conversational techniques, with colleagues. Described by Zinser Elementary Principal Ross Willick as spreading an infectious excitement about learning “like wildfire,” Horodyski was instrumental in introducing Classroom Learning Labs as districtwide embedded learning opportunities for other educators. One of the four MTOY finalists with her is Kenowa Hills district colleague, Delia Bush, a fifth-grade teacher at Alpine Elementary; and the two other finalists hail from Utica Community Schools – Annette Christiansen, who teaches in grades 10-12 at Stevenson High School; and Cassandra Joss, a third-grade teacher at Burr Elementary. They were among this year’s 178 MTOY nominees, 10 of whom were selected as semifinalists. The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) uses this award annually to honor Michigan's exemplary educators. The State Board of Education honors the MTOY with a non-voting seat at the Board table during its regular monthly meetings, and to engage in the discussions on moving Michigan's system of education forward. Through the corporate support of the Meemic Insurance Company, celebrating its 10th year as a proud sponsor of the MTOY program, Kenowa Hills Public Schools will receive a monetary award of $1,000 in honor of Horodyski’s recognition as MTOY, to be used for the advancement of education. Also, Meemic will provide up to $10,000, through the MDE, for Horodyski’s MTOY-related travel during her year-long tenure, along with the opportunity to blog at www.meemic.com.  The corporate support agreement between the MDE and Meemic also includes a monetary award to be presented to the schools of each of the MTOY finalists. The MTOY is selected by a committee that reviews nominees from teachers throughout Michigan. Nominees submit biographies and written essays that describe educational history; professional development activities; philosophy of teaching; and thoughts on emerging education trends and issues. To learn more about the MTOY program, visit www.michigan.gov/mtoy.

About Us      Leadership       Chapters       Calendar        FAQ    Contact Your Legislator                                         Dear David,  Thank you for taking the time to look over our emails and for your continued support of our organization.  If you have suggestions or information you would like to be shared with our members, email staff@mea-retired.org. Be sure to VISIT OUR WEBSITE for information about your pension, health care options, and more, and if you are on Facebook, "like" our page to see us in your newsfeed. Finally, please forward this email to your friends using the button at the bottom of the page and encourage them to sign up to receive emails themselves. Thank you!  MEA-Retired Leadership Team Mid-May 2016 News from MEA-Retired 5/16/16   2016 Verification of Coverage Coming Soon The Office of Retirement Services reports that members who have Blue Cross Blue Shield will be receiving the Verification of Coverage form sometime in May. This form must be completed for yourself and anyone else covered by your retirement system health plan. You must respond to the survey even if you do not have other coverage. If you do not respond, your retirement system medical and prescription coverage will be canceled. The Verification of Coverage survey asks you to identify any other health coverage you or your dependents might have in addition to your retirement system coverage. The information you provide is used to coordinate your coverage with other plans. The coordination helps to insure that you are using all of your coverage in the right combination and that each of your health plans share the cost of your health care appropriately. Watch for your Verification of Coverage in the mail. This ONLY applies to members who have Cross/Blue Shield. House Passes Destructive DPS Funding and Restructuring Package from AFT-Michigan The Michigan Legislature is currently debating legislation to address public education in Detroit Public Schools. These bills will have a major impact on the city's students, parents, and our members for many years to come, as well as setting a state-wide precedent. Make no mistake, not only is the state on the hook for the debt accumulated under emergency management, but these bills will set a precedent for how financial crises in school districts across the state will be handled. Earlier this spring the Michigan Senate passed a package of bills (SB 710, 711, 819-822) developed over more than 15 months and involving all Detroit stakeholders that address the financial crisis facing DPS, which include many significant measures that AFT Michigan supports to give DPS students and our members the fresh start they need, including: Ensures job security for all school employees, including for their contracts and unions Returning control and selection of the district superintendent to a locally-elected school board in 2016; Providing enough funding to pay off the operating debt and for transition costs needed to allow schools to move forward; Ends the EAA (although not soon enough); Creates a Detroit Education Commission to provide coordination for the siting and opening of new schools. However, the Michigan House rammed through legislation written by corporate special interests trying to destroy the Detroit Public Schools and in favor of for-profit charter operators. CLICK HERE to read the bills. The House bills are downright destructive, they: Do not contain enough money to deal with the debt; Bust the unions and void employees' contracts requiring people to reapply for their jobs; Put in an appointed school board with a majority of people chosen by Lansing politicians with no requirements that members be residents of the city; Experiment on our children by allowing non-certified people to teach Detroit students regardless of their education or experience and instructional services to be privatized; and, Require teacher pay be tied to test scores. MEA Announces 34 Public School Scholarship Winners The Michigan Education Association today announced the recipients of the 2016 MEA Scholarships, honoring exemplary public school students from across the state who will be attending a Michigan public university next fall. Among the 438 applications submitted for scholarship awards this year, the MEA Scholarship Fund Trustees chose 19 new award recipients who will each receive $1,200. In addition, 15 repeat winners who are already enrolled in college will receive $500 each. The MEA Scholarship Fund is financed through voluntary contributions of members, staff and friends of the Michigan Education Association.  To view a list of scholarship winners click here. List of Critical Shortages in Schools Shows Opportunities for Retirees The Michigan Department of Education recently released its list of documented education-related employee shortages, clearing the path for retirees qualified in those disciplines to return to work in schools without jeopardizing their pensions. The law allowing retirees with in-demand skills to return to work in schools was signed by Gov. Rick Snyder last December. Go to our website to find out more: www..mea-retired.org.         CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE MICHIGAN ALLIANCE FOR RETIRED AMERICANS NEWSLETTER for May 13, 2016   POPULAR ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE THIS WEEK:

Dozens of Oklahoma educators running for state office amid school funding crisis "We're sending a clear message to legislators: If you aren't doing your job and supporting our schools, we want your seats." - Oklahoma Teacher of the Year Shawn Sheehan Meet a Delaware teen making her school safer for LGBT students and all students High school sophomore Lida Gannon has taken the first bold steps to foster a school environment where all student can be themselves. A Bill of Rights for Students of Color: Students, activists, teachers win Portland School Board approval "The ageless desire to excel within all children of color, has always been hounded by deeply embedded policies that scream, you can't. Finally, this Bill of Rights for Students of Color says, you can." TN lawmakers' call to suspend testing comes too late for educators "The call to cancel this year's test should have come more than two months ago when the first phase was such a disaster." - Barbara Gray, assistant principal in Shelby County Action of the Week Sign the petition to end high-stakes testing!Stay up to date through social media! Get real-time updates on all the latest political and education news by following us onFacebook and Twitter.    Featured Media Share the Teachers Deserve a Raise graphic on Facebook Share on Twitter Share the Supreme Court graphic on Facebook Share on Twitter Share the 81% graphic on Facebook Share on Twitter Share the Blaming Teachers graphic on Facebook Share on Twitter Share the Loretta Lynch graphic on Facebook Share on Twitter Share the #LessTesting graphic on Facebook Share on Twitter Share the Early Childhood Education graphic on Facebook Share on Twitter

May 2016 In this issue: Deep breath - How MESSA’s asthma program helps members and their families Taking control - Grand Rapids social workers launch worksite wellness program What does this mean? - Definitions to the most common insurance terms More info:  print version  facebook  twitter  youtube Making sense Explaining common insurance terms MESSA field representatives and member service specialists often receive questions from members about the differences between deductibles, copayments and premiums, among other insurance terms. Here’s a quick guide to help you learn the differences. Read More... 3 tips for managing your HSA Effectively managing your health savings account (HSA) is important. Here are a few tips for MESSA ABC members with a HealthEquity HSA: Read More... Breathe easy MESSA nurse helps members with asthma MESSA’s Asthma Member Education and Support Program provides personal and practical help for members and their dependents who wish to effectively manage their asthma symptoms and any related health issues. Read More... Finding balance GRPS social workers embrace worksite wellness As a school employee, it’s important for you to take time to take care of your physical and mental health. Doing so will help you and many others in your school community – just ask the social workers employed by Grand Rapids Public Schools. Read More... Double trouble Allergies and asthma often occur together You may wonder what allergies and asthma have in common besides making you miserable. A lot, as it turns out. Allergies and asthma often occur together. Read More... MESSA staff profile Robin Garn MESSA Member Service Specialist Robin Garn says assisting members is by far her favorite aspect of working at MESSA. “Member service means going above and beyond for the person you are assisting,” says Garn, who’s worked at MESSA for three years. “I try to treat every member I come in contact with as if they were the most important person in my day. Treating members the way I want to be treated is key.” Garn recalls helping a member whose son needed surgery. She worked closely with the member and the surgeon’s office to ensure the child’s surgery would be covered. “I felt a great sense of accomplishment when I was able to call the member to tell him the surgery had been approved,” Garn says. “The member even sent a thank you letter — the first one I’d received!” In her free time, Garn, who grew up in Portland and continues to live there, enjoys spending time with her family, attending her children’s sporting events, working out and reading. Tropical kale smoothie This sweet and refreshing smoothie is simple and quick to make, and it has far fewer calories than many other smoothie recipes. It’s also high in fiber, making it a great option for your digestive health. 1 ½ cups frozen pineapple chunks 1 banana, cut in chunks 1 cup kale, chopped 1 cup almond milk (substitute regular milk or other alternatives as desired) Place kale, pineapple and banana in blender. Top with milk and blend until smooth. Makes two servings. Per serving: 163 calories, 2 grams fat, 3 grams protein, 37 grams carbohydrates, 4.5 grams fiber. Recipe adopted from http://allrecipes.com.

Obama shines light on Flint as children, students live with fear from water President Obama reminded the countryon Wednesday that we have not forgotten the tragedy in Flint, MI, where an estimated 9,000 children 6 and younger were poisoned by lead. Where are Asian-American voices on the school-to-prison pipeline? "When I tried to start an API ethnic studies program at San Quentin, I was put in solitary confinement for 11 months. Because of our efforts, there is a ROOTS program about API culture and history at San Quentin today." - Eddy Zheng, school-to-prison activist and former juvenile lifer Best ways for measuring student growth involve educator input Monty Neill, the Executive Director of the National Center for Fair & Open Testing, or FairTest, believes it's time for communities to work with educators to create better, more authentic methods of measuring student learning and growth. Presidential candidates are divided on college affordability College affordability is a major motivator for many young voters. But not all of the presidential candidates have even addressed the issue. Action of the Week Pledge to stand with Flint's children and familiesStay up to date through social media! Get real-time updates on all the latest political and education news by following us onFacebook and Twitter.    Featured Media Share the Charter Management graphic on Facebook Share on Twitter Share the Julian Vasquez Heilig graphic on Facebook Share on Twitter Share the Clinton on Testing graphic on Facebook Share on Twitter Share the Charters and Taxpayer Money graphic on Facebook Share on Twitter Share the #LessTesting graphic on Facebook Share on Twitter Share the Clinton on Early Ed graphic on Facebook Share on Twitter Share the Charter Audits graphic on Facebook Share on Twitter

Issue #235 | May 6, 2016 Smoothing the ESSA transition The Department of Education (ED) published updated FAQs on the complicated transition school year, SY 2016-2017, that leads into the full implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) in SY 2017-2018. The guidance focuses primarily on ESEA Titles I, II, and III. The FAQ document invites additional questions at ESSA.Questions@ed.gov with the subject line "ESSA transition question." ED seeks advice on need for nonregulatory ESSA guidance ED is soliciting advice from education stakeholders regarding what nonregulatory guidance is needed to successfully implement ESSA. In a poston its ESSA resource page, ED distinguishes its request from its earlier "request for information" on regulations needed to implement Title I. ED's post provides examples of areas where input is now sought, such as ways to expand early learning. ED is asking the public to send comments toESSA.guidance@ed.gov by May 25 to have the most impact. On the regulatory front, ED recently shared the consensus assessment language reached by the negotiated rulemaking committee. ED will soon publish the proposed assessment rules in the Federal Register for public comment. Reports looks at multiple measure options under ESSA   As the era of ESSA begins to create opportunities for states to have more say in their accountability systems, two new reports from the Learning Policy Institute (LPI) and the Stanford Center for Opportunity Policy in Education (SCOPE), "Redesigning School Accountability and Support: Progress in Pioneering States" and "Pathways to New Accountability Through the Every Student Succeeds Act," draw on lessons from state innovations to look at new state accountability design options. For example, the Pathways report discusses including indicators of learning, opportunity to learn, and student engagement in a multiple measures accountability system. LPI, which is headed by Stanford education professor Linda Darling-Hammond, also released a companion brief, "Evidence-Based Interventions: A Guide for States." Choice policies worsening school segregation Refuting claims by some advocates of school choice that such policies will reduce segregation at the school level, a recently released policy brief by the National Education Policy Center concludes that the overall body of school choice research literature "documents an unsettling degree of segregation-particularly in charter schools-by race and ethnicity, poverty, special needs and English-learner status." Noting that U.S. schools would be highly segregated even in the absence of school choice policies due largely to housing policies and school district boundaries, authors William J. Mathis and Kevin G. Welner conclude that school choice policies that lack adequate safeguards against unconstrained segregative choices worsen the problem and threaten to widen further educational opportunity disparities. The brief, released in March 2016, concludes with several recommendations, including: "The expansion or renewal of charter schools and other forms of school choice should be contingent on law and policies that result in equal opportunities for all."  Office of Civil Rights report shows robust enforcement ED's Office of Civil Rights (OCR) issued its 2015 annual report summarizing its enforcement and technical assistance activities, nine new policy guidance documents in areas like educational resource equity, and extensive civil rights data collection work. OCR, which enforces provisions in six civil rights statutes, processed nearly 10,400 complaints and opened more than 3,000 investigations with the smallest staff in its history. Tight deadline set for i3 pre-applications ED announced the 2016 Investing in Innovation (i3) development grant competition on April 25 and asked for notices of intent to submit pre-applications by May 10. The deadline for completed pre-applications is May 25. This year's absolute priorities include a new priority on improving school climate, behavioral supports, and correctional education and a new priority on improving diversity. Applicants must choose among a total of five main priorities.As in previous i3 competitions, pre-applications will be peer reviewed, and high scorers will be invited to submit full applications for awards of up to $3 million each.  Take action Visit NEA's Education Votes site to get up-to-date information on ways that you can advance the fight for public education, higher education, and strengthening the middle class.

Website         About Us          Leadership          Chapters        Calendar          FAQ Dear David,   Thank you for reading your May 2016 MEA-Retired Tribune Newsletter, edited by President Judy Foster.  Find more information at our website, www.mea-retired.org, and on our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/mearetired.  As always, thank you for your membership and support. The MEA-Retired Leadership Team May 2016 MEA-Retired Tribune Newsletter  2016 Verification of Coverage Coming Soon The Office of Retirement Services reports that members who have Blue Cross Blue Shield will be receiving the Verification of Coverage form sometime in May. This form must be completed for yourself and anyone else covered by your retirement system health plan. You must respond to the survey even if you do not have other coverage. If you do not respond, your retirement system medical and prescription coverage will be canceled. The Verification of Coverage survey asks you to identify any other health coverage you or your dependents might have in addition to your retirement system coverage. The information you provide is used to coordinate your coverage with other plans. The coordination helps to insure that you are using all of your coverage in the right combination and that each of your health plans share the cost of your health care appropriately. Watch for your Verification of Coverage in the mail. RESOLUTION TO Eliminate State Board of Education On April 14, 2016, a joint resolution proposing an amendment to the state constitution of 1963, amending sections 3 and 7 of Article VIII, to eliminate the state board of education, superintendent of public instruction, and state board for policy community and junior colleges and referred to the Committee on Education.. Those introducing the resolution are Representatives Kelly, Yonker, Garcia, Cox, VanHeulen, Franz, Webber, Johnson, Bumstead, Aaron Miller, Vaupel, Lauwers, Leutheuser, Theis, Lyons, Farrington, Jacobsen, Glenn, Goike, Somerville, Victory, Poleski, Chatfield, Hooker, Afendoulis, Canfield, Cole, Nesbitt, Runestad, and Rendon. President Signs Reauthorization of Older Americans Act This week, President Obama signed into law the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act (OAA), which expired in 2011. The OAA was originally signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson in July 1965, and for more than 50 years, it has provided the nation with programs that allow millions of older Americans to continue living and thriving in the communities of their choice for as long as possible. Through a national network of aging services and funding, the OAA offers a wide range of support that help older adults maintain their independence and dignity, including home-delivered and congregate meals, caregiver support, preventive health services, transportation, job training, and elder abuse prevention Did You Know? This summer $6.9 million in Federal funding will help Michigan children receive healthy meals. MEA awarded 34 scholarships to Michigan public school students. Nineteen graduating seniors will each receive $1,200 and 15 repeat winners will receive $500. Protect your Medicare number the same way you would protect a credit card number. Only give your Medicare number, or your Social Security number, to your doctors and health care providers. Be careful about giving it to people who offer you a service for free and asks for your Medicare number. 17-year-old Jackie Mitchell, the second woman to play in the major leagues, struck out both Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig in an exhibition game in 1931; but she had her contract voided the next day because the baseball commissioner deemed the sport "too strenuous" for women. Since 1978, the cost of college tuition has increased by 1,120%. Thirty-seven MEA-Retired elected delegates will be attending the NEA-Retired Annual Meeting and the NEA convention in Washington, DC, June 29-July 7. ELECTION 2016  The 2016 election is drawing closer. You need to be aware of the offices that will be filled in this election and know the positions they have on issues, and then vote.             President/Vice President                                 U.S. Reps in Congress (all 14 Districts)             State Reps (all 110 Districts)                          State Board of Education (2 Seats)             University of Michigan Regents (2 Seats)      Michigan State University Trustee (2 Seats)             Wayne State University Governors (2 Seats)Justice of the Supreme Court             Judge of the Court of Appeals                       Judge of the Circuit Court                  Judge of the District Court                             Judge of Probate Court             County, City, Township, Village Offices             Specific School District Positions. There are many candidates running for election. It is important to know the candidates you can vote for and be sure they will represent you. As candidates go through the MEA screening and recommendation process, those recommended candidates will be shared with our members. Calendar May 3, 2016 - Voting in many counties for school elections May 6-7 - MEA Spring Representative Assembly May 14 - MEA PAC Annual Meeting June 29 -July 7 - NEA Retired Annual Meeting and NEA Representative Assembly July 5 - Last day to register for the Michigan August 2 Primary July 26-28 - Summer Leadership POPULAR ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGERECENTLY:                       Thank you for your continued support of MEA-Retired!  from MEA-Retired leadership  Judy Foster, David Schopp, Dan Rudd, & Lisa Andros Visit Our Website! sign up to get emails FORWARD this EMAIL

Celebrate National Teacher Appreciation Week !! State Superintendent Brian Whiston sends a special video message to teachers in Michigan. http://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,4615,7-140-37818_45256_45257-377817--,00.html

Florida teacher: Plan to limit poor students' access to school meals "unthinkable" A significant change proposed by the U.S. House to the federal child nutrition law would reduce student access to healthy school meals. And that is very concerning to educators. Reading, PA retains title as America's most poorly funded school district Unfortunately for students and educators in Reading, Pennsylvania, their school district is one of the most fiscally disadvantaged in the nation. Civic teachers to US Senate: 'Do your job' A group of history, civics and social studies teachers tells the Senate it has a duty to take action on President Obama's Supreme Court nomination.  MI senator, the state's youngest, puts students, schools first David Knezek, a millennial whose passion is public service, is making his mark by advocating for students. Action of the Week Tell Congress: Students need good nutrition to succeed.Stay up to date through social media! Get real-time updates on all the latest political and education news by following us onFacebook and Twitter.    Featured Media VIDEO: Hillary Clinton - An Advocate for Educators, Students and Public Education Watch the Hilary Clinton video on Youtube Share the video on Facebook Share on Twitter Share the Trump graphic on Facebook Share on Twitter Share the Pop Quiz! graphic on Facebook Share on Twitter

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Federal court strikes GA school district policy limiting freedom of speech A judge agreed that the Walker County School District violated the right of a teacher to speak publicly in opposition to changes in the district's grading procedures. TN educators use testing issue to take back local school board for students For some, two and a half years may seem like a long time to wait for change. But according to Lauren Hopson, a teacher from Knox County Tennessee, in the political world, that's actually pretty quick. Our unfair tax system is hurting schools - help us change it While a handful get richer through tax breaks and loopholes, millions of students and educators in our public schools are asked to go without. Supreme Court case draws educators fighting for immigrant students, families Thousands of educators, students, families, clerics and nuns rallied outside the Supreme Court as it heard arguments in a case that could upend the lives of millions of immigrant students, families and communities. Action of the Week Share your story. Tell us how high-stakes testing has negatively impacted your students.Stay up to date through social media! Get real-time updates on all the latest political and education news by following us onFacebook and Twitter.    Featured Media Share the Charter Schools graphic on Facebook Share on Twitter Share the DREAMers graphic on Facebook Share on Twitter Share the Resources They Need graphic on Facebook Share on Twitter Share the #FightForFamilies graphic on Facebook Share on Twitter Share the Ground Up graphic on Facebook Share on Twitter Share the Discrimination graphic on Facebook Share on Twitter Share the Treated With Respect graphic on Facebook Share on Twitter Share the Jackie Robinson graphic on Facebook Share on Twitter Share the Assessment System graphic on Facebook Share on Twitter

Issue #234 | April 22, 2016 King says use ESSA to promote well-rounded education Acknowledging concerns that NCLB led to an excessive focus on reading and math at the expense of subjects like social studies and science, Secretary of Education John King recently called for more emphasis on subjects beyond reading and math. Speaking at the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts, King saidthat the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) provides an opportunity to move beyond NCLB and advance a well-rounded education: The good news here is that the passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act makes the work to provide a well-rounded education to all students easier. Under the new law, states now have the opportunity to broaden their definition of educational excellence, to include providing students strong learning experiences in science, social studies, world languages, and the arts, as well as AP and International Baccalaureate classes - and even supporting students' socioemotional development. That's a huge and welcome change. King noted that ESSA also provides wider options for states in terms of interventions that can be put in place when students fall behind, and that the Department is putting in place new supports for social and emotional skills development, American history, STEM, and other programs.  Districts and states take action to promote fewer, better tests The Department of Education (ED) released a set of state and district profileshighlighting work it said was reducing testing time and producing better assessments.The profiles describe efforts in Delaware, Illinois, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Oklahoma. ED also announced proposed priorities for its upcoming $9 million Enhanced Assessment Instruments Grant competition. Among the priorities: inventorying state and local assessment systems to eliminate unnecessary tests. Negotiators reach consensus on ESSA assessment issues On Tuesday, the negotiated rulemaking committee participating in the first ESSA rulemaking process reached consensus on a package of proposed assessment regulations discussed during three multi-day sessions. The education stakeholders on the committee included two members nominated by NEA and several other current and former NEA members. No consensus was reached on the other issue area currently on the table, the supplement-not-supplant funding requirement, so ED can now develop its own proposal.  Both the negotiated assessment proposals and the Department's supplement-not-supplant proposal will be published soon for public comment.      Commenting on the committee's work, NEA President Lily Eskelsen Garcíaemphasized the importance of equitable school funding: "While we are glad that a consensus was reached on a variety of assessment issues, the original promise of ESSA was to return significant responsibility to states and schools districts to ensure students are learning. Our schools need to be equitably funded and stakeholders at the state and local levels need the space to come up with solutions that work better for students and to close critical resource gaps between affluent and poor schools." STEM funds available during ESSA transition ED wrote a Dear Colleague letter describing how to maximize federal funds to support and enhance innovative science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education for all students. Aimed at helping schools navigate the transition from NCLB to ESSA during the 2016-17 school year, the letter addresses ways to use federal grant funds under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act. ED's letter provides detailed examples of ways to use these funds to increase student access to STEM courses, materials and experiences, and to recruit and support educators in STEM disciplines. ED promotes equitable access, researchers highlight inter-district funding ED launched an upcoming series of Educator Equity Labs around the country with a March 29 stakeholder gathering at Jackson State University in Mississippi. The labs are designed to develop strategies to increase equitable access to strong teacher resources, a goal reaffirmed by ESSA. The Mississippi lab was supported by Partners for Each and Every Child, a project designed to advance the work of the National Equity and Excellence Commission. ED also operates an Equitable Access Support Network, providing many resources to promote equity.  As ED promotes educator equity, a recent study by researchers at Rutgers University cautions whether teaching inequalities between socioeconomically and racially segregated districts can be fully addressed without also addressing equity in inter-district funding, which influences school staffing expenditures. The study, State School Finance Inequities and the Limits of Pursuing Teacher Equity through Departmental Regulation, urges the administration to go beyond its existing efforts and pressure state legislatures to equitably and adequately fund school districts, and to ensure that this translates into district-to-school equity. Take Action Learn more about the Every Student Succeeds Act. Visit NEA's ESSA Begins page and ED's ESSA resources page.

Website         About Us          Leadership          Chapters        Calendar          FAQ Dear David,   School districts and communities in 60 counties will hold elections Tuesday, May 3. Check your registration status at the Michigan Voter Information Center atwww.Michigan.gov/vote. You can view your sample ballot if your community is holding an election as well as find your polling location and track your absentee ballot. A list of communities with May 3 elections can be found online. Those who wish to receive an absentee ballot by mail must submit the application by 2 p.m. Saturday, April 30. More information is available on the Secretary of State's page:  CLICK HERE. Thank you for voting! MEA-Retired   Visit Our Website! sign up to get emails FORWARD this EMAIL

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Website         About Us          Leadership          Chapters        Calendar          FAQ Dear David,   School districts and communities in 60 counties will hold elections Tuesday, May 3. Check your registration status at the Michigan Voter Information Center atwww.Michigan.gov/vote. You can view your sample ballot if your community is holding an election as well as find your polling location and track your absentee ballot. A list of communities with May 3 elections can be found online. Those who wish to receive an absentee ballot by mail must submit the application by 2 p.m. Saturday, April 30. More information is available on the Secretary of State's page:  CLICK HERE. Thank you for voting! MEA-Retired   Visit Our Website!