Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Thursday clarified and added to an earlier executive order that closed all K-12 school buildings for the rest of the school year, also suspending early childhood programs and some portions of teacher evaluations.
Under the reissued executive order, school districts that run Great Start Readiness Programs must provided a detailed plan on how the team will continue to work enrolled families, as well as a plan to transition from GSRP to kindergarten. The GSRP is a state-funded preschool program for children at risk for educational failure. Per the order, the plan must include a virtual conference with the family and begin implementation of the plan by May 7.
“A few weeks ago, I made the difficult choice to close our school facilities for the remainder of the school year. I understand the tremendous impact this has placed on families, teachers, staff and students. It was not a decision I took lightly,” Whitmer said in a statement. “I am so thankful for the tireless work of our frontline school employees who are working every day to ensure the continued education of Michigan’s kids.”
Whitmer originally closed the schools on March 16 and announced that they would stay closed for the rest of the school year on April 2. Schools were originally slated to reopen on April 6.
The new executive order, in addition to continuing the school closures and clarifying directions for GSRP programming, also suspends certain other requirements.
According to the order, teachers with individualized development plans will receive an annual year-end performance evaluation, but administrators should only use data from prior to the school shutdown. It also suspends the mandatory fire, lockdown and tornado drills that schools will be unable to complete, as well as attendance requirements and truancy enforcement for the rest of the school year.
The order also cancels standardized testing, including the M-STEP and the SAT. Rising high school seniors who need to take the SAT and other high school students who need to take the PSAT will be able to do so in October.
“Already, I have seen amazing stories of teachers doing their part and working hard to make sure their students have the resources they need,” Whitmer said. “This order builds upon my previous order to ensure schools have the clear guidance they need to give Michigan students the best, most equitable education possible from the safety of their homes.”
Read the full order here.
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Jordyn Pair is a reporter with The Michigan Star. Follow her on Twitter at @JordynPair. Email her at [email protected].
