Livingston Today

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's Executive Order 2020-35 is the state's plan to continue educating 1.5 million K-12 students in Michigan, despite school closures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rep. Sarah Lightner (R-Springport) said that, despite all the challenges educators have faced this year due to the novel coronavirus, she is confident they will find innovative ways to make sure students in Michigan will continue to learn.

The executive order received bipartisan support, and it gives school districts various ways to educate students on virtual platforms. Teachers will also have the option to educate students via phone or send instructional materials by mail, according to Michigan House Republicans.

To use these options, authorization from intermediate school districts or charter schools will be required.  

The school calendar is flexible, giving school districts the option to balance their calendar for the current school year or start the 2020-2021 school year before Labor Day without approval, according to Fox2Detroit.

A total of 24 instructional days can be forgiven, meaning they can be canceled for the remainder of the school year, according to Lightner.

All teachers and school staff must be paid for the rest of the school year, and certifications will be issued and/or renewed for all student teachers and current teachers, according to Fox2Detroit.

High school seniors who were worried about how the pandemic would impact their graduation can breathe a sigh of relief. Under the executive order, all high school seniors in Michigan will be given the opportunity to graduate.

The M-STEP (Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress) and the SAT have been canceled for this year, but high school juniors will be able to take the SAT in October. The PSAT will also be available in October, according to Fox2Detroit.

Rep. Lightner said she knows times are challenging right now, but she believes in Michigan educators. "I know our local educators will rise to the challenge and help our kids continue to learn, because that is what they always do -- in good times and tough times alike," Lightner told Michigan House Republicans.