what is mea

MEA stands for Minnesota Educators Academy, which is a professional development conference for educators in Minnesota. It is held annually on the third Thursday and Friday of October, which is why most public schools across the state close for "MEA weekend". The conference is hosted by Education Minnesota, the states teachers union, and is the largest professional development opportunity for educators in Minnesota. The conference provides an opportunity for teachers to attend courses and workshops with educators statewide, and to network with other professionals in their field. While participation in the MEA break is not mandatory, most schools across the state observe it.