Department of Education Memo

Detroit Free Press Article

Though times are worrying with the Covid-19 scare, students across Michigan, myself included, have adapted through online courseware to maintain their academic standing, rising up to meet the challenges of a challenging learning environment. However, the above memo by the Department of Education and associated Free Press Article have only added to our worries.

In essence, all of the effort we are putting into our online coursework is for naught as the Department of Education will not be recognizing this effort for graduation requirements. For students that are in Advanced Placement classes, what will they do from the time they take tests in May to whenever those hours are made up?



This is deeply unsettling to all students, but especially for seniors. We carried the expectation that our school year ended on 5/20, with plans for the summer. Now that future is uncertain.

This decision also impacts the teachers that have worked tirelessly to set up online coursework and facilitate the education of their students. Now, there will be an additional burden placed on them as the school year is extended.

Ultimately, it is uncertain when this quarantine period will end. How does the Department Education plan to have students meet requirements if they physically can't be in school and don't have their online school counted?

What everyone wants is greater clarity on the matter, whether that means relaxation of attendance requirements or something else.