After a school year filled with frequent interruptions and changes, Livingston County schools are expanding their summer education programs to address learning gaps.
With the state shutdown last spring, student quarantines and virtual classes, some students struggled more this year than before. Class failure rates were higher compared to previous years, said Tim Dowker, assistant superintendent and curriculum director at Fowlerville Community Schools.
Dowker said Fowlerville has extended the number of weeks for summer school classes and is offering more small-group and one-on-one summer school programs for elementary school students.
Several districts noted a difference in performance between virtual and in-person students. Dowker said the failure rate among virtual students was notably higher.
December 14, 2020 By Tom Tolen / news@whmi.com
It will be 2021 before high school students in Livingston County can return to their classrooms.
It was announced by Governor Gretchen Whitmer on Nov. 15th that the Michigan Dept. of Health and Human Services was imposing a partial shutdown â including a âpauseâ in grades 9-12 and college classroom learning â from Nov. 18th through Dec. 8th. However, the initial three-week pause was later extended another 12 days, through Dec. 20th.
The order was issued because of the increasing number of positive COVID-19 cases, particularly in high schools, where â due to the large volume of students â social distancing and other measures are almost impossible to enforce. The order also prohibits bars and restaurants from serving customers inside and has other restrictions.