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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.
Want to know what is happening in the Maine State Legislature?
Updates
Under the Dome: Crunch Time!
Dear MEA Members –The Legislature is scheduled to conclude its work in the next three weeks, and everything we have worked on to improve conditions for educators will be voted on in the next few weeks. This session the MEA has consistently advocated for pension...
Under the Dome: Dangerous Student Behavior Bill, State Budget Discussions are Underway
Dear MEA Members –The committee work in the Legislature is winding down. There have been over 2,000 proposed bills submitted this session – a huge number. It feels like MEA has weighed in on all of them. We are always working to make sure the voices of educators...
Under the Dome: Major Progress on Bills to Increase Educator Pay
Dear MEA Members - Raising Salaries for Teachers and Wages for Support Staff: Hopefully, you received my message earlier in the week regarding the progress we are making on bills that could drastically impact salaries and wages for teachers and all school support...
$50K the First Day? Educators Step Up!
Dear MEA Members -Huge news this week!$50k the First Day:This week the Education Committee moved forward many very important bills. First, the Education Committee voted UNANIMOUSLY to support LD 1064, An Act to Increase the Minimum Teacher Salary. This bill proposes...
Fair Wages
The average starting teacher salary in Maine is now $40,000 thanks to the work of the MEA and its members. For too many years the starting salary was just $30,000-$7,317 less than the starting salary for the New England region. The work of the Maine Education Association righted the ship and benefited members across the state.
Read More on Fair Wages
For more information regarding this issue, read the Maine Educator: Salary Issue
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.
Social and Racial Justice
MEA works to ensure our educators have the tools they need to support a diverse student population.
Responding to Racial Justice Issues Toolkit
This online toolkit provides an introduction to be multiple facets of diversity.
Take Action
Stand with us. Sign our petitions!
Supporting English Language Learners
Research-based and classroom-focused instructional and advocacy strategies to help educators.
Social Justice News
Latest social justice updates from around the nation.
Land Acknowledgement
Interested in issues that impact our students and schools?
Check out NEA’s legislative action center and use your voice today!
Submit Your Testimony on Key Issues
Use your mobile device and join us!
This is your chance to use your voice and talk about the issues that matter to your students and schools. Lawmakers need to hear from educators as they debate key legislation that impacts the profession. The Maine Education Association always wants to help you make your voices heard, and the Association has made it easier than ever with our new video testimony application!
Submitting video testimony on issues that matter to our work and students is simple-just follow the instructions below!
What to Include in Your Testimony
- State your name, where you work, what you do
- Talk about why you’re speaking on the issue
- Keep it brief, no more than two minutes
Follow These Steps
- Click the submit here button below
- Type in your email
- Click transfer
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.
#RedForEd
Connecting educators to those who make decisions about education is a continued effort of the Maine Education Association. During MEA’s #RedForEd days in Augusta, members meet with both the Commissioner of Education, staff at the Maine Department of Education and lawmakers, all who have the power to impact education in our public schools.
Educators work a second job
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of people think that teachers aren't paid enough
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