New Senate bill would count quarantined students in attendance figures

In this week’s legislative update, state Senator Ed McBroom highlights bill 664 that passed the upper chamber unanimously. It will go to the House for consideration, and potentially on to Governor Gretchen Whitmer for her signature.

The Senate bill would allow school districts to count students quarantined due to COVID-19 procedures in their daily attendance count. There is a state regulation that districts must have 75 percent of students in the classroom to receive state funding. When outbreaks occur, it becomes more difficult to meet that requirement.

Hancock Superintendent Steve Patchin explains how other diseases have forced schools to alter their operations. He says, “In recent years area districts have closed for instruction for a day or two due the flu outbreaks.” Hancock’s current policy is to require symptomatic students to stay home. They are allowed to return when they are back to normal for at least 24 hours.