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.
A plan announced by the Senate and House of Representatives on Tuesday would provide additional investment and guidelines for school districts to safely reopen in the fall, said Sen. Ed McBroom.
The “Return to Learn” plan would invest a total of $1.3 billion, including an $800 per-pupil payment to K-12 schools to implement distance learning plans and health and safety measures to return students safely to the classroom, and $80 million to intermediate school districts to assist schools in coordinating and implementing distance learning plans and safety measures. It would also provide teachers with $500 in hazard pay — $53 million total — to help cover costs incurred from transitioning to distance learning in response to COVID-19.
“Finding a way to get students back to school in person as much as possible is important. I support this plan because it will help ensure students continue to receive a quality education in their community with the guidance of their professional teachers,” said McBroom, R-Waucedah Township. “Not only does the plan provide investments for developing and implementing distance learning plans, but it also will support school districts’ health and safety efforts to ensure students have safe places to learn.”
Additionally, the plan would provide resources for local school districts and health departments to work together to develop school health and safety standards that best meet community needs. This may include smaller class sizes, adjustments to instructional hours and busing times, enhancing sanitation procedures, purchasing personal protective equipment, and making building enhancements to improve safety.
“While this plan is in the early stages, my legislative colleagues and I will be working to ensure that Upper Peninsula schools are represented fairly and will be able to make decisions that are in the best interest of our students and rural communities,” McBroom said. “We believe that our schools should have flexibility given the fewer cases of COVID-19 in the U.P. compared to the rest of Michigan.”
The plan would also:
- Redefine “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.
- Utilize benchmark assessments to provide parents and teachers with details about where a student needs additional help, so they don’t fall behind in the wake of a public health crisis.
State Sen. Wayne Schmidt announced Tuesday morning the Return to Learn Plan, which utilizes federal funding to assist school districts and outlines top priorities for schools as they consider the future of in-person learning.
“As we look toward the future, it is important that we carefully consider the health and safety of students and teachers,” said Schmidt, R-Traverse City. “My colleagues and I have been talking with school administrators and teachers in our communities to understand what schools need to safely reopen.”
The Return to Learn Plan outlines the top priorities for schools to allow learning to continue in a safe and healthy environment. The plan includes $1.3 billion in Federal Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF) to help pay for the costs faced by administrators, teachers and students during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The plan includes an additional $800 per student so schools will have the resources they need to implement health and safety measures for classrooms. School districts would receive additional resources to implement smaller class sizes and other adjustments, enhance sanitation procedures, purchase personal protective equipment and make building enhancements to improve safety.
“Students, school employees and parents need to have complete confidence that classrooms will be safe when the time comes to return to in-person learning,” Schmidt said. “Everyone has shown their ingenuity and worked hard to ensure students can continue learning in the face of this pandemic, but we need to start looking at future needs.”
The plan also includes language to provide continued support for learning at home and ensuring resources are available to promote distance learning in the meantime.
Resources will be available for all efforts undertaken after the statewide closure of classrooms on March 16. This includes device purchases, upgrades to networks and wireless connectivity, development of digital curriculum, mailing or personal delivery of educational materials, and professional development related to virtual learning.
“Our plan also recognizes the incredible work teachers did to finish the school year under extraordinary circumstances and provides a one-time payment of $500 for the untold additional hours and tremendous personal cost they incurred quickly transitioning to distance learning,” Schmidt said.
Schmidt also was appointed as one of the legislative representatives to the COVID-19 Return to Learn Advisory Council created by Gov. Whitmer earlier this month. The task force is responsible for leading the state’s efforts on students returning to school safely.
“I am honored to have been chosen as one of the legislative representatives on the council. I remain committed to working with other members of the council, my colleagues in the Legislature, and the governor to ensure a smooth-as-possible transition as we seek to return to some level of normalcy.”
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