Advocacy
Safe and Healthy Schools
In the middle of these challenging and rapidly evolving times, MSEA, NEA, and all of our local offices are here to support you and the students we serve. All students and educators deserve safe, healthy learning and working environments.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ: Distance learning, data privacy, and contractual issues for educators
FAQ: The impact of coronavirus on your pension and the Maryland State Retirement and Pension System
FAQ: ADA and whistleblower protections
FAQ: How does the State Board’s September 1 action on school schedules impact you?
FAQ: Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accommodations
Maryland Educators and the Vaccine: What You Need to Know
Professional Resources
Health and Safety Checklist for Buildings and Workspaces
Reopening and Virtual Instruction Resources
Cleaners and Disinfectants Related to Coronavirus
Best practices for teaching with technology during coronavirus closures
NEA Member Benefits discount program on remote teaching and teleworking equipment
MSEA’s Educator Self-Care Toolkit
The Framework for Remote Teaching from The Danielson Group
MSEA’s January Letter to Gov. Hogan and Superintendent Salmon
On January 26, MSEA President Cheryl Bost sent a letter to the governor and state superintendent in response to their letter to President Bost and their press conference threatening educators. Click here to read the full letter.
MSEA’s Educate at 8
We have held frequent updates via Facebook Live, typically every other Wednesdays at 8 p.m. featuring MSEA President Cheryl Bost and MSEA General Counsel Kristy Anderson, called “Educate at 8.” You don’t need a Facebook account to watch; just click here to head over to the MSEA Facebook page and watch online. As of the summer of 2021, we’ll be providing updates through Educate at 8 less frequently, but stay tuned to our social media pages for announcements about upcoming shows. You can view past episodes here.
Join MSEA
Now more than ever, it’s important for educators to stick together. MSEA has your back and will keep fighting for the answers, support, and resources that educators deserve. Click here to join.
MSEA’s November Letter to Superintendent Salmon
As cases spike and exceed state metrics for safe in-person learning, MSEA President Cheryl Bost sent a letter to State Superintendent Salmon requesting a statewide announcement that schools will operate in distance learning mode until at least the end of the semester. Click here to read the full letter.
MSEA’s Back to School Teletown Hall
On September 3, MSEA held a statewide teletown hall to discuss reopening schools, safety measures, job and privacy concerns, and much more. Click here to listen to a recording of the call.
MSEA, BTU, Maryland PTA Call for Virtual Learning to Start Year
On July 14, MSEA, the Baltimore Teachers Union, and Maryland PTA called for at least the first semester of the 2020-21 school year to be virtual in order to protect the health and safety of Maryland students, educators, and families. Click here to read the full letter.
FAQs from Spring 2020 School Closures
Following are a number of FAQs that we published this past spring when coronavirus forced our schools to physically close. For FAQs specific to the 2020-21 school year, please see the FAQ section above.
FAQ: How the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) impacts educators
FAQ: Taking sick and personal leave during coronavirus-related school closures
FAQ: Special education and guidance for educators of students with IEPs and 504s
FAQ: Pay and work requirements during coronavirus-related school closures
FAQ: How school closures will affect annual mandatory standardized and other tests
FAQ: How the federal coronavirus stimulus package will impact Maryland educators
FAQ: CARES Act student loan provisions (from NEA). NEA has also posted a recording of their April 7 webinar on federal student loan relief, which you can view here.
FAQ: CARES Act one-time payments (from NEA)
FAQ: CARES Act unemployment compensation provisions (from NEA)
We Are Here to Answer Your Questions
Do you have a question that wasn’t addressed on this page? Send it to [email protected]. If your question is local-specific, we suggest that you reach out to your local association or Uniserv director directly. You can find the local association contact info and directory here.
Other Helpful Links
- NEA’s Educating through Crisis website
- NEA resources
- Maryland Department of Health
- Maryland Unites
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Johns Hopkins University & Medicine Coronavirus Resource Center
- Johns Hopkins University Public Health on Call podcast
- Questions and Answers about COVID-19 Vaccines, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
- COVID-19 Vaccines, CDC