Gov. Whitmer tasks newly-formed council to create a plan on reopening schools in the fall

LANSING, Mich. — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer created a council Friday, May 15, 2020, that will begin the process of creating a plan to reopen schools safely in the fall.

The Return to Learning Advisory Council would be comprised of students, parents, frontline educators, administrators and public health officials. Whitmer said the state 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,” Whitmer said. “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.”

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 — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer

On March 3, Whitmer established the COVID-19 Task Force on Education which was tasked with recommending a road map and framework for school to utilize to plan for various public health scenarios.

The newly-formed council will provide the task force with recommendations on how to safely, equitably and efficiently return to schools.

Key issues schools must consider before reopening include:

• 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.

The council will be made up of more than 20 members.

Anyone interested can apply for the Return to Learn Advisory Council by going to Michigan.gov/appointments and click ‘apply now’ under boards and commissions. You will be able to choose Return to School Advisory Council under the appointment information tab within the application. Applications are due by Wednesday, May 20, 2020.

The governor closed school buildings to students on March 16, and on April 30, she announced that buildings would remain closed for the duration of the school year.