$1.3 billion plan implements robust distance learning, safety measures

State Rep. Rodney Wakeman, of Saginaw Township, today announced his support for a sensible and flexible plan to help ensure the safety of all Michigan students as learning resumes in the fall.

The House-Senate plan, announced this morning during a Capitol press conference, requires local school districts and health departments to work together to develop health and safety standards that are best for their unique area.

“It’s time we begin preparing for a substantially different school year,” Wakeman said. “We need to make sure that our teachers and administrators have the flexibility to educate our children while keeping them healthy and safe.”

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

The Return to Learn plan also:

• Provides an $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.
• Limits the use of snow days to encourage the use of remote instruction when in-person instruction is unsafe or unsuitable. Moving forward, schools would be granted just two forgiven days of instruction per year.
• 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.

“In my many communications with Saginaw County school leaders about the upcoming school year, one thing has been clear: we need to provide our schools with the flexibility they need to adapt to the situation we find ourselves in,” Wakeman said. “We can explore innovate ways to maximize student learning while keeping our children and communities safe.”

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