LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Governor Gretchen Whitmer is announcing the first steps on how schools could reopen this fall and Michiganders can be a part of the process.
On Friday, May 15th she signed an executive order creating the “Return to Learning Advisory Council” that will work with the COVID-19 Task Force on Education to recommend the best ways on how in person classes can resume.
The 20 member panel will consist of students, parents, frontline educators, administrators and public health officials who apply to be a part of the advisory council.
The key issues schools must consider before opening include:
- Performing outreach to ensure the voices of stakeholders are included in the discussion of implementing the 2020-2021 school year in these challenging and uncharted circumstances.
- Ensuring experts in public health and epidemiology are informing the discussion of safety returning to school.
- Recommending actions to remove statutory/administrative barriers to delivering education before we are at Phase 6 of the MI Safe Start Plan.
- Recommending actions to develop and improve systems for for remedial support for students who experienced learning loss during the spring and summer.
In a written statement Governor Whitmer said, “It’s critical we bring together experts in health care and education, as well as students, educators, and families to think about how and if it’s possible to safely return to in-person learning in the fall and how to ensure the more than 1.5 million K-12 students across Michigan get the education they need and deserve. This panel will use a data-informed and science-based approach with input from epidemiologists to determine if, when, and how students can return to school this fall and what that will look like.”
Anyone interested in applying for the Return to Learn Advisory Council can do so at Michigan.gov/appointments by clicking ‘apply now’ under boards and commissions.
The governor closed school buildings to students on March 16th and on April 30th she announced that buildings would remain closed for the duration of the school year.
During her press briefing on Friday the governor said “It’s my hope that we will have some form of in person instruction come the fall.” She added that it all depends on if all residents continue following the current safety precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“I want to thank all of the parents who have been burning the candle at both ends these last few months trying to help their kids stay on track with their schoolwork while juggling their other responsibilities during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. I know it hasn’t been easy,” Whitmer said.
