May 15th, 2022
NEWSETTE
Information is Power
Inside this Newsette:

  • Upcoming Bargaining For The Common Good Events
  • Bargaining Documents
  • Updates
  • Benefits
  • Mental Health Assistance
  • In the News
Updates
2022 SUMMER LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
Join us for this year’s SLC “Turn Up the Heat, Ed Justice for All” happening at Salisbury University. At MSEA’s annual Summer Leadership Conference (SLC) we’re digging in on what education justice looks like for educators, students, and school communities. We’ll study the issues and build the skills we need to be effective, informed, and focused ed justice warriors.

Register Here. Please note that this conference will be held 100% in person (no virtual/hybrid options). Click here for the catalog.
Date: Tuesday July 11, 2022 – Friday July 15, 2022
Where: Salisbury University
Contact: slc@mseanea.org
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION UPDATE
The State Board of Education met April 26 and the agenda can be accessed here. 
STATE BOARD STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS
The State Board is engaging in a strategic planning process and teacher member, Rachel McCusker is on the internal committee. All Marylanders are being asked to take part in their survey at www.marylandpublicschools.org/survey.
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STUDENT LOAN UPDATE
Exciting news! The official announcement came from The White House and Department of Education  extending the pause on federal student loan payments and interest to August 31, 2022.  This continues the policy that’s been in place since March 2020. As a reminder, here’s what this means:
-For Direct and federally-held FFEL loans, no payment is due and your interest rate is 0%. You can make payments, but you are not required to. 
-Commercially-held FFEL loans and Perkins loans that are not in default DO NOT qualify for this payment and interest suspension. 
-Private student loans DO NOT qualify for this payment and interest suspension, but your lender may have implemented a forbearance program, so it’s best to contact them directly about that. 
-If you are on track to use the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program (and are meeting the employment and loan type requirements of that program), the months in administrative forbearance because of the pandemic DO count toward your 120 qualifying payments even if you aren’t making payments. You can read more about changes to PSLF here.
Changes to the 2021-2022 School Calendar
The Prince George’s County Board of Education has approved changes to the 2021-22 school calendar. As Juneteenth is a federal and county holiday, it has been added as a new holiday on Monday, June 20. The Monday, March 7 professional development day is now a regular instructional day for students. The last day for both students and teachers will be Thursday, June 23.
 
Additional inclement weather days may be virtual learning days to ensure the last day for students is no later than Friday, June 24.
 
To view the updated calendar, visit the PGCPS calendar webpage
BENEFITS
Get Valuable Educator Perks Just for Union Members
Whether you’ve joined your education association at the local, state or national level, you belong to the NEA and have access to educator perks through NEA Member Benefits. Watch this video to see how it works.
 
Why NEA Member Benefits Is Dedicated to Serving Educators
NEA members are at the core of everything we do – from negotiating on your behalf to offer valuable benefits with trusted partners, to supporting your personal needs in each stage of your life and career. Find out more about why you inspire us and how we can help you.
 
For immediate mental health assistance:
PGCPS Employee Assistance Program:
By phone: 1-800-346-0110 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
    Username: PGCPS
    Password: PRINCE
IN THE NEWS...
How Tech-Driven Teaching Strategies Have Changed During...

Two years of intermittent remote and hybrid learning led schools to expand their use of some of the best-known technology tools in K-12, opening the door for instructional changes both small and large. That's according to a review of more than...

Read more
www.edweek.org
Schools are struggling to hire special education...

This is part two of a two-part series on the special education teacher shortage. You can read part one . A few years after Heather Carll started teaching special education in Hawaii public schools, she called it quits. She needed a break from the ...

Read more
www.npr.org
Do you know your UniServ Director?

Our UniServ directors (UD's) are here to assist you with any of your school-based issues or contract compliance needs. To find out which UD is assigned to your school click the button to see their school assignments.
PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY EDUCATORS' ASSOCIATION| WWW.PGCEA.ORG