The "Return to Learn" plan allows districts to choose if and how students return to school in the fall. | Pixabay
The "Return to Learn" plan allows districts to choose if and how students return to school in the fall. | Pixabay
Sen. Curt VanderWall (R-Ludington) supported a bipartisan effort to ensure Michigan students' safety as they return to school this fall.
“One of the many challenges facing us in these unusual times is determining how our kids are going to get back to school safely,” VanderWall said, according to MiSenateGOP. “Republicans and Democrats today put aside some partisan disagreements and crafted a solution to this problem.”
The "Return to Learn" plan gives school districts flexibility with the number of instructional hours and days, as long as a full school year's worth of instruction is provided. The bill also requires two-way interaction between students and teachers, ensuring that distance-learning students receive personal attention.
Sen. Curt VanderWall
| #MiSenateGOP
Funding for the plan will be determined by blending this academic year's pupil count with last year's pupil count.
Under the "Return to Learn" plan, school districts must consult with their local health departments to develop health and safety guidelines for in-person instruction.
Regular benchmark testing will also be conducted to assess students' learning needs, and the results will be shared with parents.
“Learning needs differ among students and between communities,” VanderWall told MiSenateGOP. “This plan will empower districts to make decisions that are best for them.”
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