Governor Gretchen Whitmer has signed a historic education package designed to give schools more flexibility during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under the law, school districts unsure of their projected student enrollment can use last year’s pupil count as a funding baseline.
It also requires districts that deem it safe to resume onsite instruction to prioritize that option for students in grades K-5.
An earlier draft of the legislation mandated that in-person learning, but lawmakers removed that piece in recognition of the fact that many districts are already planning a virtual start to their school year.
School districts must submit their instruction plans to the state, with an explanation of how they’ll deliver their curriculum to students.