Labor Day Waiver Request

Section 1284b of the Revised School Code (MCL 380.1284b) prohibits public schools from scheduling instruction on or before Labor Day. However, the legislation also provides the State Superintendent with sole authority to issue a waiver from this requirement if it is determined that the school or program is a bona fide year–round school or program established for educational purposes.

When a Labor Day waiver is requested, Section 160 of the State School Aid Act (MCL 388.1760) requires the district to conduct a joint public hearing at a location within the district or intermediate school district. A joint public hearing must take place before the Labor Day waiver can be approved. The local school board is not required to attend the hearing; however, we encourage board participation where possible.

For a request to be considered, it must be submitted to the Department using this form. The request must provide sufficient justification for the waiver and demonstrate that the request is in the best educational interest of the affected pupils.

District Information

Please enter the name of the district: *

District Code *

District Code Lookup

Contact - First Name *

Contact - Last Name *

Contact - Phone Number *

Contact - Email Address *

ISD Pupil Membership Auditor Email Address *

Standards for Determining a Bona Fide Year Round School or Program

Bona Fide Year Round School or Program Standards

Please review the Standards for Determining a Bona Fide Year Round School. Check the box that describes your program. * 🛈

Early Middle College (Calendar Coterminous with College/University)

Balanced Calendar (You operate on a year-round calendar with a summer break no longer than six weeks)

Summer Learning Program (You offer a summer program to all students, free of charge, that shortens your summer break to six weeks or fewer)

Formerly Designated as Persistently Lowest Achieving (Previously implemented a reform model and you continue to provide additional contact time above the required 180 days and 1,098 hours of instructional time)

Summer Learning Program: District must demonstrate how their program will offer summer learning options to students throughout the summer break in a manner that provides an experience similar to that of a shortened summer break. Summer learning opportunities must be free of charge to all students. If your summer learning program is made optional to students, the district’s intent must still be to serve the majority of the student population through the program. In the boxes below, please explain the programs available to students, the district's goals and objectives, and how progress towards those goals and objectives will be measured.

Will your summer learning program be offered to all students? *

Yes

Will your summer learning program be free of charge to all students? *

Yes

How will your summer learning program be advertised to all students and parents? *

Your summer program must shorten the summer break to six weeks or fewer. For example, if your summer break is 11 weeks, your summer program must run at least five weeks. Will your summer program shorten the summer break to six weeks or fewer? *

Yes

How many weeks will your summer learning program run? *

What programs will students have access to if the waiver is approved? Please explain each program in detail. *

What goals and objectives by grade span does the district intend to support if the waiver is approved? Please indicate the specific grade span for each goal/objective. *

What measures will the district use to gauge whether or not the goals and objectives are being met? *

Explain how approval of the waiver will assist the district in efforts to mitigate the summer learning loss that students often experience. *

Early Middle College Schools and Programs

Name of the EMC being offered. *

Please note: The Early Middle College program being offered must be an approved program. A current list of programs approved by the Office of Career and Technical Education is on their website.

Is this Early Middle College program approved by the Department's Office of Career and Technical Education? *

Yes

Is this a new Early Middle College Program? *

Yes

Which school year will the new Early Middle College begin? *

2024-2025

2025-2026

Balanced Calendar

Does the proposed balanced calendar align with one or more state assessment windows? *

Yes, the proposed calendar aligns with one or more state assessment windows.

No, the proposed calendar does not align with one or more state assessment windows.

Calendars must align with one or more state assessment windows before the waiver can be considered for approval.

State Assessment Windows

What is the current length of summer break for the district? *

If the district will implement a balanced calendar to meet the Length of Summer Break standard, please upload the existing/proposed calendars showing a summer break that is six weeks or less in length.

Formerly Designated as Persistently Lowest Achieving

Do you provide additional contact time with your students? *

Yes, we provide additional contact time above the required 180 days and 1,098 hours of instructional time.

No, we don't provide additional contact time above the required 180 days and 1,098 hours of instructional time.

If you don't provide additional contact time to students, you don't qualify for a waiver under the this option.

How much additional contact time do you provide to students during the school year? Please indicate the number of additional days and hours you provide above the required 180 days and 1,098 hours of instruction. *

General Waiver Information

Please select the school year this waiver will begin. *

2024-2025

2025-2026

Is the waiver being requested for the entire ISD? *

This is an ISD-wide application.

This is not an ISD-wide application.

List the districts included in this request.

Joint Public Hearing Details

The hearing does not need to be held jointly with a board meeting, nor is the board required to attend. The district must have a district representative available to provide information and answer questions during public comment.

The district must provide public notice of the hearing per the requirements of the Open Meetings Act, Act 267 of 1976.

Proposed dates and times for the hearing. Please provide dates at least two weeks from the date of your submission to allow for processing. *

	Date	Time
Date/Time 1	Date	Time
Date/Time 2	Date	Time
Date/Time 3	Date	Time

Please provide a conference call number the Department may use for the hearing. *

Submitter Certification

By checking the box below, I certify that:
- I have read and understand the requirements of Section 1284b of the Revised School Code.
- I have read and understand the requirements of Section 160 of the State School Aid Act.
- I will ensure that schools are not in session on the Friday before Labor Day.
- I will ensure that the requirements of this waiver are met.

*

I Certify That The Above Statements Are True

Questions related to this application may be sent to Chad Urchike at urchikec1@michigan.gov.