MI Students Will Not Need To Make Up Days Missed Due To Ice Storms

MICHIGAN — Northern Michigan students who missed extensive time from the classroom in March due to ice storms will not need to make up that time this summer.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Monday signed House Bill 4345, now Public Act 5 of 2025, which will allow local school boards to waive up to an additional 15 days of instruction for the 2024-25 school year.

The bill only applies to school districts that are at least partially in a county where Whitmer declared a state of emergency. Those counties include Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Emmet, Mackinac, Montmorency, Oscoda, Otsego, and Presque Isle.

"Many Michigan families are still reeling from the effects of the ice storms that devastated northern Michigan earlier this year," Whitmer said. "I’ve been committed to supporting recovery efforts, protecting Michigan families from additional disruptions to their daily routines. That’s why I’m proud to sign this bill that will remove unnecessary penalties and obstacles for students and schools who are just trying to get by."

Michigan law requires school districts to meet a minimum of 1,098 hours and 180 days of student instruction each school year. Due to the widespread and lengthy power outages caused by the ice storms at the end of March, many school districts in northern Michigan were unable to meet this requirement.