Whitmer Expected to Officially End School Year for K-12 Students

Governor Gretchen Whitmer is expected to sign an executive order which would officially end the school year for schools throughout Michigan. The announcement could be made Tuesday (3/31) or Wednesday, just days after Michigan's governor hinted at that reality in a radio interview.

Several sources said to be familiar with the drafting of the executive order tell Bridge that Whitmer's administration is reviewing the issues at hand and that details of the executive order will remain "fluid" until the official announcement is made.

While details of the order are yet to be ironed out, it is expected to say:

School buildings will be closed through the remainder of the school year.
Schools will be expected to provide some form of remote learning for students. However, extra state funding for schools to implement remote learning may not be included.
High school seniors will be graduated, as long as school districts determine that they were on pace to graduate on time. Seniors will be allowed to graduate even if they were in the midst of taking courses required for graduation.
Students in grades K-12 will advance to the next grade level (when the next school year begins) as long as school administrators determine that they were on pace to successfully complete their current grade.
Schools will receive their full state funding if they agree to pay school employees through the end of the school year.

The exact wording of the executive order is not known at this time, but Michigan is likely to join several other states which have already officially ended their school years.

Governor Whitmer's stay at home order went into effect for Michigan residents on March 24.