GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Grand Rapids school officials like the idea of allowing parents unpaid time off work so they can attend school conferences or their children’s tutoring sessions, The Grand Rapids Press reported.
District spokesman John Helmholdt said Grand Rapids Public Schools leaders believe that the Family Education Leave Act proposed in the state Legislature would help students, The Press reported. The measure would require employers to allow parents to take up to eight hours a year off work, unpaid, for school involvement.
“For us, there are problems with parents attending conferences because so many of our students come from single-parent homes and the parent can't get off from work,” he said, according to The Press.
Rep. Brandon Dillon, D-Grand Rapids, is sponsoring the Family Education Leave Act in the state House, and a similar bill has been submitted in the Senate, according to The Press. Twelve other states already have “school involvement leave” policies, according to The Press.
SOURCE:
The Grand Rapids Press, “Grand Rapids Public Schools leaders say family leave would be a form of community ‘partnership’,” Aug. 25, 2011
FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, “Carrot and stick for Detroit parents,” Oct. 28, 2010
The Mackinac Center for Public Policy is a nonprofit research and educational institute that advances the principles of free markets and limited government. Through our research and education programs, we challenge government overreach and advocate for a free-market approach to public policy that frees people to realize their potential and dreams.
Please consider contributing to our work to advance a freer and more prosperous state.