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Rep. Markkanen announces plan to give local schools more flexibility when learning resumes
RELEASE|June 23, 2020

‘Return to Learn’ plan includes distance learning options, safety measures

State Rep. Greg Markkanen of Hancock today announced details of the Michigan Legislature’s plan to ensure the safety of Michigan students as learning resumes in the fall.

The Return to Learn plan, unveiled this morning during a Capitol press conference, requires local school districts and health departments to work together to develop health and safety standards best for their individual communities.

“The coronavirus has affected different areas of our state very differently,” said Markkanen, a former teacher. “As we move forward, what’s safe for kids in Detroit is not necessarily going to be what’s best for students in the Upper Peninsula. That’s why it’s so important for our schools to be given the flexibility to make the best choices for the education of their students.”

Markkanen said schools would have the flexibility to begin instruction as quickly and safely as possible. Under the plan, school districts could start whenever is best for them without obtaining a waiver to bypass Michigan’s Labor Day start requirement.

The Return to Learn plan also:

  • Provides a $800 per pupil payment to K-12 schools to implement a robust distance learning plan and health and safety measures to return students safely to the classroom.
  • Includes a $500 per teacher payment as hazard and overtime pay and to help cover costs incurred due to transitioning to distance learning teaching plans.
  • Delivers $80 million to intermediate school districts to assist schools in coordinating and implementing distance learning plans and safety measures.
  • Redefines the word “attendance” to mean “engaged in instruction” rather than “physically present,” allowing schools to be innovative and give students the opportunity to learn outside the classroom.
  • Utilizes benchmark assessments to provide detailed information to parents and teachers about where a student needs additional help, ensuring kids do not fall behind in the wake of the public health crisis.
  • Requires school districts to work with local health departments to establish safety requirements for extracurricular activities and sports in addition to regular school safety measures.

One aspect of the plan Markkanen said he will be pushing to change is a reduction in the number of snow days schools would be granted each year. As introduced, the proposal would give schools just two forgiven days of instruction per year and encourage the use of remote instruction when in-person learning is not safe.

“Two snow days a year just isn’t going to cut it for schools here in the Upper Peninsula,” Markkanen said. “I will be fighting to make adjustments to that part of the proposal.”

The plan will be referred to the House and Senate education committees for consideration later this week.

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