Michigan school superintendent Michael Rice says the state legislature must act to waive enrollment and attendance requirements for the state’s schools. He says the enormous uncertainty in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic means that the traditional methods of logging days, hours, enrollment and attendance have to change this school year. Governor Whitmer signed executive orders in the spring that waived the state’s minimum education requirements for instructional hours and daily attendance, but they are set to expire on September 30th. Rice explained that he has no authority under state law to waive the traditional requirements on his own and that is why he is calling for action from lawmakers.
The latest figures from the state health department shows there were 796 new cases of the corona virus and seven additional deaths. Yesterday’s figures bring the state’s total to 88,756 cases and 6,264 deaths.