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Snow day relief could be coming to some Michigan school districts

steve carmody
/
Michigan Radio
Credit steve carmody / Michigan Radio
/
Michigan Radio

Tuesday, state lawmakers plan to consider legislation to help school districts that have to make up snow days.

Severe weather and bitter cold forced many Michigan schools to exceed the number of allowable snow days this year. 

A billgoing before the state House Education committee would give school districts a break if the governor declares an emergency because of the weather.   

Without a break from the state, many schools will be forced to add at least a week to the end of the school year in June or expand the school day.

Peter Spadafore is with the Michigan Association of School Administrators. He says they support the bill and other similar legislation.

“We’re kind of looking at all the concepts out there and trying to craft a grand bargain solution to making sure snow day forgiveness and student instruction are taken care of this year,” he said.

Spadafore says doing away with a required waiver for districts to start classes before Labor Day and online instruction credit during bad weather could help avoid instruction lost to snow days.

Copyright 2019 Michigan Radio

Steve Carmody has been a reporter for Michigan Radio since 2005. Steve previously worked at public radio and television stations in Florida, Oklahoma and Kentucky, and also has extensive experience in commercial broadcasting. During his two and a half decades in broadcasting, Steve has won numerous awards, including accolades from the Associated Press and Radio and Television News Directors Association. Away from the broadcast booth, Steve is an avid reader and movie fanatic. Q&A