Rep. Noah Arbit introduced HB 4648 after student count day coincided with Yom Kippur in 2022
LANSING, Mich., June 13, 2023 — State Representative Noah Arbit (D-West Bloomfield) testified before the House Education Committee today on his legislation to prevent student count day from coinciding with religious holidays, as occurred in the 2022 school year. In September 2022, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued a letter calling on the Legislature to address to address the issue.
State Rep. Noah Arbit (D-West Bloomfield) testifies on House Bill 4648 before the House Education Committee on Tuesday, June 13, in the House Office Building in Lansing.
“Last year, student count day coincided with Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism,” Arbit stated. “This unfortunate coincidence generated significant concern among Jewish families in Greater West Bloomfield and across Michigan. I am proud to stand with my community and sponsor House Bill 4648 to ensure that no parent or student ever has to worry about observing a religious holiday occurring on student count day.”
Arbit’s House Bill 4648 would shift student count day — the annual date on which school districts conduct a count of enrolled students to enable the state to determine district funding allotments — by a single calendar day if the statutory count day (the first Wednesday in October) should coincide with a religious holiday.
“I am grateful to Chair Koleszar and my colleagues on the House Education Committee for voting to recommend HB 4648. On behalf of the people of Greater West Bloomfield and Commerce, and all Michiganders, I am excited to see this common-sense, non-partisan legislation progress through the Legislature and onto the Governor’s desk,” said Rep. Arbit.