By Laura Weber, Michigan Public Radio Network
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkar/local-wkar-922953.mp3
LANSING, MI –
Michigan's K-12 students may eventually be in school for as many as 40 more days per year. Michigan Public Radio's Laura Weber tells us that as kids headed back to classrooms this week, people at the state Capitol were discussing changes to the school year.
AUDIO:
State Senator Buzz Thomas says his biggest concern with the current school-year requirement is it's based on the number of hours schools should be in session, rather than the number of days. He thinks students should be in school 200 days or more a year.
"When we're competing with countries around the world that are 220, 230 days, these kids need to have every opportunity afforded to them. And being in school longer will do that."
Thomas says in some cases, schools are only open 160 days a year. And he commended Governor Granhom for calling for a longer school year. But he says it will take a lot of work to get all lawmakers and school districts on board. And school officials say the state will need to come up with a way to pay for an extended school year.