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Testing

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PARCC Is Going Away. What’s Next?

Photo from Flickr. The news is out: Maryland is replacing the PARCC test with a new state standardized test, to be launched in the 2019–2020 school year. While PARCC’s problems are well documented, much about the new test is still unknown. So what’s next? PARCC May Be Going Away, But Standardized Testing Isn’t Annual standardized testing in […]
School Funding

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41% of Maryland Educators Work Second Jobs

Photo © NEA The Kirwan Commission is working on a plan to dramatically raise educator salaries — and not a moment too soon. A new poll of Maryland educators finds that far too many are struggling to make ends meet at home and keep their heads above water at work. 2 in 5 Educators Working Second Jobs The poll […]
Early Career Educators

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19 Tips for Successful Parent-Teacher Conferences

Photo © NEA When educators can work together with a child’s parents toward common goals, we vastly improve the atmosphere for learning. Remember that most successful teacher-parent teams begin with a conference — usually one conducted before there’s a real need to meet. Good luck! 1. Make contact early. Get your relationship off to a good start by […]
Early Career Educators

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Preparation Is Everything

Photo © NEA PLAN THE DRIVE TO SCHOOL If you plan to drive to school, drive it at least once during the time of day you will be driving to school. Find the best route and an alternate route in case of a traffic accident. LEARN YOUR WAY AROUND Familiarize yourself with the building. Locate exits, […]
Early Career Educators

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30 Questions You Should Ask Today

Photo © NEA If you’re in a new school or you’re a first-year teacher, use these questions as a guide to what you’ll need to know about school policies in the coming year: Where and how do I secure supplies (dry erase markers, erasers, paper, etc.)? 2. How do I check out regular and supplemental texts? […]
Union Updates

Latest Updates

The Mackinac Center’s Hidden Agenda

Around the country, billionaire-funded political organizations are flooding union members with misleading information to try and take away their strong voice and contract. Right here in Maryland, MSEA members have received communications from anti-union operatives from the Michigan-based Mackinac Center trying to convince them to drop out of our union. This politically extreme out-of-state group […]
Union Updates

Actionline

SLC ’18: Tackling Issues with Union Values

We’ve said it before, it’s an unprecedented time for public education in Maryland and the country. The Janus Supreme Court case is unleashing anti-union attacks that threaten employees’ seat at the table; the Betsy DeVos agenda to privatize and monetize public schools has found an ally in our governor; and we’re campaigning for our endorsed […]
Union Updates

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Inside MSEA: Thank You, Betty

Six years ago, when you elected Betty Weller to lead MSEA, our public schools were feeling the brunt of the recession. School employment levels were at post-recession lows and many school systems were freezing step movement and salary levels. These post-recession years have been characterized by flat state and local funding, making the work of […]
Legal Questions

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An FMLA Tutorial

The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a federal law that provides job-protected, unpaid leave under certain circumstances. Who is eligible for FMLA? Government and private sector employees qualify for FMLA if their employer has at least 50 employees and they have worked for 12 months and 1,250 hours. Ten-month certificated educators in the public […]
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