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The MEA is only as strong as its members’ voices. Through the Association, you are able to have a voice in decisions made regarding your career, your students and the profession as a whole. MEA advocates for policies that advance the mission of great public schools for every Maine student. Including your voice in the process that strengthens our schools and in turn improves the education for all our students.
Action Center
Make a Difference Today - TAKE ACTION NOW
Support Community College Faculty!
TAKE ACTION The fulltime faculty at the Maine Community College System have been working without a contract since July 1, 2024. Meanwhile, the System has experienced record enrollments. Unfortunately, this record growth in enrollment has not been met with hiring...
More Mental Health Supports for Maine’s Students
TAKE ACTION Maine educators are deeply concerned about the mental health of their students. They regularly report to the MEA rising behavioral and emotional challenges as one of the top issues affecting students. Data from the Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey also...
Retirement with Dignity for Teachers and Ed Techs
TAKE ACTION Former Governor Paul LePage made major and drastic cuts to the pensions of teachers and ed tech IIs and IIIs and despite our best efforts we have been unable to undue to these cuts because of Maine's unique constitutional constraints. However, the...
Lift Teacher Pay! Now!
TAKE ACTION It is past time to lift the minimum teacher salary in Maine. We are witnessing an exodus from the profession. Each year, over 1,400 teachers leave the field, while only 400+ graduate from Maine's teacher preparation programs. The current...
Save Maine Absentee Voting
Coming to your ballot in November: “Do you want to change Maine election laws to eliminate two days of absentee voting, prohibit requests for absentee ballots by phone or family members, end ongoing absentee voter status for seniors and people with disabilities, ban...
Protect Paid Family Leave for School Employees
Protect Paid Family Medical Leave for School Employees! TAKE ACTION Two years ago, the Maine Legislature passed a law requiring employers to provide up to 12 weeks of paid family leave for workers, including school employees, to care for a newborn, adopted...
Under the Dome Updates
Big News on Teacher Salaries!
Dear Under the Domers – Before we get to the big news this week . . . February break for preK-12 public schools is right around the corner, and the MEA is hosting “Mini Lobby Days” on Tuesday and Thursday of February break. “Mini Lobby Days” are a new approach MEA is...
Important Certification Changes Proposed for Educators
Dear Under the Domers – My name is Mallory Cook and I serve as your Director of Training and Early Educator Engagement. Jan asked me to write the Under the Dome this week with some important updates about educator certification in Maine. For the past 18 months, the...
MEA in the House (and the Senate)!
Dear Under the Domers – I love lobbying in the State House, but I especially like it when I am lobbying next to MEA members. Community College Faculty Association – Contract NOW! This week, leaders from the Community College Faculty Association joined me to talk with...
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Legislative Lobbying
Our legislative program lobbies the Maine Legislature and Congress for school funding, education laws that make sense and more. Lawmakers need to hear from the experts in our schools and when you can’t be there MEA leadership and staff ensure lawmakers understand the impact of proposed policies on your work and on your students.
Read More on Legislative Lobbying
Because of MEA’s presence, in the last few years, some of the success include:
- Hundreds of Millions more in education funding
- Elimination of the testing mandate tied to teacher evaluations
- Changes to the Rules of Restraint and Seclusion to make them manageable/realistic for educators
Why is the MEA involved in politics? Why should educators worry about who gets elected? Here are three good answers:
- Protection of public schools is a fundamental task of the Association. With repeated political attacks on our schools at the state and national level, educators must defend their programs and MEA has led the way in proclaiming the success of Maine schools and defeating attempts to displace public schools as the cornerstone of our democracy.
- Funding for K-12 schools, the University of Maine, and Technical College Systems is largely dependent upon the goodwill of state legislators. The health and prosperity of your program, salary, and benefits is directly tied to votes on school funding. MEA is a strong proponent for more funding and is often the only voice for student needs.
- What you teach and how you do your job is the result of political decisions. If MEA isn’t involved, decisions about school curricula, teaching methodologies, student assessment, and graduation requirements will be made without regard for educator interests.
Want to know what is happening in the Maine State Legislature?
MEA Fund in Support of Public Education
Support and strengthen the commitment from Mainers who are invested in creating excellent public schools for our children.