Through the Political Action and Legislative Services Committee (PALS), MCEA members engage with our elected officials at the Board of Education, Montgomery County Council, and Maryland General Assembly.
We aim to form deep relationships with elected decision-makers to make positive change in Montgomery County and to support the MCEA objectives. At the core of the PALS committee is our direct engagement with elected officials. We engage in this work to ensure that all children across Montgomery County have access to public education to transform lives and create a more just and inclusive society.
MCEA believes that public education is the foundation of a strong and thriving community, and is accomplished through:
- Ensuring equity for all children,
- Honoring the professionalism of educators,
- Providing full funding of our public schools, and
- Engaging community partners and stakeholders.
Who We Are
The PALS committee will move the association’s political work through targeted actions and lobbying efforts. Members will be tasked with working on the turnout for priority events such as lobby nights, public hearings, phone banking, social media blasts, and other actions. PALS members also lead a key piece of the Apple Ballot recommendation process by promoting participating in the Apple Ballot process (i.e., interviews and poll volunteers) to ensure the membership is aware of their opportunity to have a voice and in turn, take the decisions made from recommendations and move these decisions through our membership and the greater Montgomery County to ensure we have education advocates elected.
This committee aims to create a network of activists within MCEA membership on varying levels. As we move toward the 2024 general election, and foresee future impact bargaining needs, it is our ability to mobilize our membership in large numbers that will be key to our ability to move our program.
What We’ve Done
We’ve turned out members at the polls, supported the Apple Ballot shifts (Early Voting and Election Day), and represented our students’ needs and teacher voices at the various town halls. In 2022, 54 out of 57 MCEA-endorsed Primary candidates won their General Elections. 10 out of 12 candidates we endorsed for County Council won their respective primaries, and all three candidates we endorsed for Board of Education advanced to the 2022 General Election.*