MEA Advocates for Educators During COVID-19 While this school year will end unlike any other in the past, the work for MEA will continue as the Association advocates for our members and our schools. Below are several key issues the Association worked to achieve and continues to work on.
1. Certification and Praxis Changes
The MEA has been advocating for relaxed rules and deadlines around initial and renewal certification in response to COVID-19. The changes here have multiple layers. MEA is pleased to see its advocacy work in this area will benefit our members. Please see page 22 for complete details.
2. Increased Funding
The MEA and NEA have been advocating, at the federal level, for increased federal dollars for our public schools. With an expected shortage of funding from the state to our local schools, stimulus money is necessary to close budget holes. The advocacy work of the state and national Associations is paying off, with Maine schools set to see $39 million in federal dollars. While this will not be enough to help close all budget holes, it will help soften the blow. See page 12 for more details.
3. IEP Flexibility
MEA understands the needs of our most vulnerable students. The Association worked with the Department of Education to express concerns with balancing meeting this need along with the reality of achieving all the requirements under IEPs. The Department of Education understands this and under the circumstances is allowing for flexibility as LEAs, educators, parents and students adjust to instruction outside of the traditional school setting. Should IEPs require changes due to steps taken by school districts to protect the health and safety of students during the COVID-19 outbreak, the IEP team should meet to address such changes. IEP Teams and parents may agree to conduct IEP meetings through alternate means other than in person (videoconferencing, conference call, etc.). The IEP Team may agree to not convene an IEP Team meeting for the purpose of making changes and instead develop a written document to amend or modify the current IEP. As always, educators must then follow any new IEP developed. It is important to note that a teacher is not responsible for being unable to follow an IEP plan that is no longer feasible. Compensatory services may be needed once school returns to normal.
4. Teacher Evaluations Suspended
MEA recommended the PE/PG system in school districts be suspended, until further notice. It is clear the key elements of the PE/PG system may be unworkable given the lack of classroom instruction in our schools. MEA recommends all elements should be on hold until schools resume normal operations. MEA discussed this issue with the MDOE and as a result, the following information was released to educators on March 25th: “DOE will not hold SAUs accountable for compliance with state statute/regulations regarding professional growth / supervision & evaluation systems. Enforcement of locally developed and/or adopted policies, programs, and systems remain at the discretion of local SAUs.” While the DOE will not hold local districts
accountable, local districts still have the ability to continue evaluations, if they choose, however MEA staff have been advocating against this measure.
5. Hourly Employee Pay Secured
During this difficult time, MEA worked to ensure our hourly employees continue to get paid. MEA raised this issue with the Commissioner and the Governor's office. Governor Mills issued an Executive Order requiring school districts to continue to pay their hourly employees for the remainder of the school year. MEA advocated for this measure from the beginning of the school closure announcements. This executive order protects your pay for what would be your normal, regular hours if the school year was not impacted by COVID-19.
6. School Days/Attendance Waiver
MEA asked the Commissioner of Education to be very flexible in terms of waiving the number of required school days. The official notification from the DOE to waive the minimum number of days came out on the twenty-fifth of March.
7. Standardized Testing Suspended
After the initial closures of schools happened, and MEA knew our members would receive pay, the Association worked with the MDOE to ensure standardized tests would be suspended for the year. The State then received testing waivers from the federal government.
8. Pre-Service Teacher Requirements Loosened
MEA met virtually with our pre-service teachers to better understand the needs of these students. After that discussion, and conversations with the MDOE, the Department of Education has notified MEA it will modify requirements for any students in pre-service programs at public universities in Maine. The MDOE says in lieu of certain coursework, practicum, and/or internship requirements, DOE will accept recommendations from educator preparation programs regarding the qualifications of pre-service educators who are currently in an educator preparation program/ certification program that has been disrupted by COVID-19.
9. Higher Education Advocacy
AFUM worked with the University of Maine System to come up with an agreement on several issues. AFUM & UMS agreed that there is no research expectation for this semester as faculty triage to meet multiple demands, caring for our students, colleagues, families and themselves. AFUM, UMPSA and ACSUM are currently working with MEA and NEA. MEA advocated for members in the community college system to have pay and benefits secured throughout the semester. The Community College System granted this request along with significant flexibility for the use of sick time and work location and time. See page 21 for more information about issues pertaining to higher education and COVID-19.
June 2020 • www.maineea.org
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