In-person learning suspended for students for the remainder of the school year

State Rep. Jack O’Malley, of Lake Ann, today highlighted a bipartisan agreement between the Michigan Legislature and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to suspend in-person K-12 education for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year.

Instead, online and distanced learning will be prioritized to continue pivotal development for students throughout the state.

“The governor is doing her best to keep the people of Michigan safe during a pandemic. This decision was not made hastily, but with input from medical experts and in the best interest of our kids and their families,” O’Malley said. “In response, we needed a flexible fix that will allow for kids to continue to learn and develop. The measures that were agreed on will create a best-case scenario with the hand we’ve been dealt.”

All public and private school buildings will be closed for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year unless the situation improves and restrictions are scaled back. The order forgives 15 days of instruction beyond the nine snow days currently allowed under state law and districts are required to use resources from waived days to ensure all hourly and contracted employees are fully compensated.

Learning plans tailored by districts must detail the opportunities for remote learning for their students and how that progress will be monitored. Each district must have its plan approved by their regional intermediate school district before being implemented. Public school academies must have their plans approved by an authorizer. Districts can also work with one another to create joint plans.

“Local communities and educators are with their students every step of the way and allowing them this control will improve the experience for those students as the school year continues,” O’Malley said. “This will be vastly more effective than a rushed, one-size-fits-all approach.”

School districts will also be allowed to begin the 2020-21 school year in August – prior to the Sept. 7 Labor Day holiday – to make up for the loss of valuable in-person education in the coming months. A traditional waiver requirement for districts for this process will not be enforced.

O’Malley is continuing his work for Benzie, Leelanau, Manistee and Mason counties as the coronavirus outbreak unfolds and is available to anyone who has questions or concerns. His office can be reached by phone at (517) 373-0825 or email at [email protected].