New Task Force Will Determine How To Reopen Schools: MI Governor

MICHIGAN — The process for determining how schools may be able to reopen in the fall will be developed by the recently created Return to Learning Advisory Council, the governor's office announced Friday.

The panel — which will be comprised of students, parents, front line educators, administrators and public health officials — will be tasked with providing the COVID-19 Task Force on Education within the State Emergency Operations Center with recommendations on how to safely and efficiently return to school in the Fall. The State of Michigan will also partner with a national nonprofit organization called Opportunity Labs to bring national expertise to this project.

“It’s critical we bring together experts in health care and education, as well as students, educators, and families to think about how and if it’s possible to safely return to in-person learning in the fall and how to ensure the more than 1.5 million K-12 students across Michigan get the education they need and deserve,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement. “This panel will use a data-informed and science-based approach with input from epidemiologists to determine if, when, and how students can return to school this fall and what that will look like.”

On March 3, Whitmer established the COVID-19 Task Force on Education, which includes key state government agencies, including representatives from MDHHS, MDE, and others. The governor closed school buildings to students on March 16. Whitmer on April 30 announced that buildings would remain closed for the duration of the school year.

The COVID-19 Task Force on Education will be informed by the Return to School Advisory Council. The Advisory Council will gather critical stakeholder feedback on the content of the road map to opening.

The Advisory Council will provide the COVID-19 Task Force on education with recommendations on how to safely, equitably and efficiently return to school in the fall and assemble critical voices from education, public health and communities across the state to identify the key issues schools must consider before opening, including:

• Performing outreach to ensure the voices of stakeholders are included in the discussion of implementing the 2020-2021 school year in these challenging and uncharted circumstances.
• Ensuring experts in public health and epidemiology are informing the discussion of safety returning to school.
• Recommending actions to remove statutory/administrative barriers to delivering education before we are at Phase 6 of the MI Safe Start Plan.
• Recommending actions to develop and improve systems for remedial support for students who experienced learning loss during the spring and summer.

“I want to thank all of the parents who have been burning the candle at both ends these last few months trying to help their kids stay on track with their schoolwork while juggling their other responsibilities during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic," Whitmer said. "I know it hasn’t been easy. My hope is that by organizing a formal process informed by public health experts, we can give school districts much-needed direction heading into the 2020-2021 school year.”

The panel will be made up of more than 20 members representing K-12 administrators and educators, health experts and community stakeholders.

Anyone interested can apply for the Return to Learn Advisory Council can do so here. Applications are due by Wednesday, May 20.