State Rep. Dave Prestin today announced a plan to forgive additional school closure days caused by extreme weather during the 2025-26 school year. The proposal comes after the Upper Peninsula, Northern Michigan, and communities across the state have endured more than nine months of severe and unpredictable weather that has forced schools to close far more often than expected.

“While U.P. residents are accustomed to tough weather, no one could have expected the severity of the storms we’ve faced over the last year,” said Prestin, R-Cedar River. “In just the past few months, schools have been forced to shut down for extended periods because of historic blizzards, extreme cold, flooding, and other extreme conditions.”

House Bill 5800 would allow local school boards to waive up to 15 school closure days caused by circumstances beyond the control of school officials, up from the current allowance of six closure days per school year.

“Our schools have done an incredible job continuing to educate students despite these recent challenges,” Prestin said. “Teachers and students have worked hard to stay caught up and not let extreme weather get in the way. The summer is a critical time for our schools to prepare for the next academic year, and the limited window for things like construction projects makes time critical. It’s important to families as well, who couldn’t have anticipated all these storms and the possibility of an extended school year when making their summer plans. Forgiving these additional days is common sense after the year we’ve had.”

Schools eligible to forgive the additional closures must be located within a county that is covered by a state of emergency declared by the governor, or be one of the following counties:

• Alger
• Baraga
• Cheboygan
• Chippewa
• Dickinson
• Iron
•  Luce
• Mackinac
• Marquette
• Menominee
• Montmorency
• Schoolcraft

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