School districts across Michigan are preparing for students to return to the classroom after the pandemic forced many to attend school virtually.

“We’re teaching them something that honestly just breaks my heart, that we don’t have responsibility to care for and about one another,” Eisenberg said.

“We’re teaching them something that honestly just breaks my heart, that we don’t have responsibility to care for and about one another,” Eisenberg said.

As school districts across Metro Detroit work to normalize the learning experience for the 2021-22 school year, a concerning trend is developing.

Superintendents from multiple Metro Detroit school districts said the guidance is unclear on how it impacts classrooms.

The coronavirus pandemic has created many hurdles for special education teachers looking to provide students the life skills they need to succeed. But now, we’re seeing how some teachers are making it work -- virtually.

DETROIT – During the coronavirus pandemic, Local 4 has been checking in with students around Metro Detroit on their struggles, successes and how COVID is impacting their lives. It’s no surprise that students are starting to get concerned about end-of-year activities like graduations and proms. Paula Tutman spoke with students from the Walled Lake Consolidated School District, and they thing Michigan lawmakers need to be more efficient with their time. They acknowledge that they are not entitled to a fun senior year, but believe they have earned the right to start making plans. Walled Lake superintendent Kenneth Gutman said he thought there would be more guidance from Lansing, so he could direct his students on what they can and cannot plan toward, but he said he’s heard nothing.

WAYNE COUNTY, Mich. – While many teachers are reluctant to return to the classroom for face-to-face education, one district has teachers ready, waiting and excited to return Monday. Wednesday was a big day for the Wayne-Westland Community School district. Of the nearly 1,700 teachers, drivers and staff -- everyone who wants a vaccine has gotten them. The district arranged for clinics set up just for school staff. More information on the district’s plans can be found on the Wayne-Westland Community School district website here.

DETROIT – School districts across Michigan are struggling to meet Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s target to return to in-person learning by March 1. Detroit Public Schools Community District Superintendent Dr. Nikolai Vitti said 10-20% of students have been absent since the COVID pandemic started. The Southfield Public School District, has been 100% since March and while recognizing the importance of bringing students back to their teachers, Dr. Jennifer Martin Green said the science dictates the district remain remote. Both districts believe vaccinations are a key part in getting students and teachers back in the classroom safely.

MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. – Monday was the first day of the fall semester for L’Anse Creuse Public Schools and students are sharing video of what things look like inside. One video showed a tight squeeze in some of the hallways as students showed up for a half day. There was controversy about the district moving forward with in person instruction this fall as coronavirus cases continue climbing in Michigan. Local 4 spoke with stakeholders about the packed hallways. You can watch the interviews in the video above.

ADDISON TOWNSHIP, Mich. – A private school in Michigan has decided to have classes outside in an effort to give students more space and lower chances of transmitting the coronavirus. Officials at Upland Hills School in Addison Township also have indicated that they want to continue classes outdoors throughout the year using sturdy, temperature-controlled tents when needed, The Detroit News reported. After schools closed in March to curb the spread of the virus, school officials have been determined to have in-person classes. We all just dropped our books and left school and never came back until now," said Rob Himburg, Upland Hills director. “We just knew our kids needed to be back here with their friends as safe as we can make it, and we want them to feel safe."

BERKLEY, Mich. It has been challenging work for nearly two dozen Metro Detroit school districts that have rolled out their back to school plans. So what has the first week of remote learning looked like like for students and their families? But shes up for the adventure that is remote learning. Remote teachers are working longer hours because they cant turn it off. Without question, teachers, students and families are having a heavy learning curve adjusting to the new education plans.

Join Local 4 for a primetime special on Monday night after the Ford Fireworks on the return to school in Michigan. Many students are starting the school year online. They give advice on the best ways for you to set your child up for success during the school year. How is the start of school going for many of the school districts in Metro Detroit? You will hear from teachers doing online and in-person learning, as well as from parents whose children have headed back to school.

The deal occurred a week after members of the Detroit Federation of Teachers authorized a strike over coronavirus safety. The Detroit Public Schools Community District is the largest in Michigan with roughly 50,000 students. Schools that open will become vectors of disease spread, and the spread wont be limited to the schools. The district said teachers will have the option of teaching online, though nearly all schools with have some in-person instruction. Teachers could earn an extra $750 per quarter, or $3,000 for the year, if they work in classrooms, the district said.

With many students beginning the school year remotely, parents are setting up spaces in their homes for learning. The Help Me Hank team reached out to parents through our website and the Local 4 Facebook page to get recommendations from parents to set children up for success with at-home learning. McPherson said a must for children is a water bottle or water close by. As an educator herself, McPherson supply recommendations includes a pencil caddy, folders and in and out baskets for completed work. McPherson said if parents are looking for a product to help with movement consider a wobble stool.

Photos on the first day back to school are a tradition in many households. With Michigan kids gearing up for virtual learning to start the fall semester this year, we expect the photo tradition will be changing a bit. We would love to see what kind of back-to-school photos everyone takes this year. Please share with us here:

DETROIT Local 4 is hosting a virtual town hall on education and the return-to-school amid the coronavirus pandemic. The town hall event will be held on Thursday, Aug. 13 at 7 p.m. on ClickOnDetroit. You can still submit questions ahead of the town hall right here. Become an Insider Introducing WDIV Insider: A new way for loyal Local 4 fans to gain access and customize your ClickOnDetroit news experience. Learn more about WDIV Insider - and sign up here!

Weve conducted a survey of ClickOnDetroit members to find out where everyone stands with the potential for a return to in-person school classes this fall amid the coronavirus pandemic. The CDCs guidelines call for schools to return to in-person classes with the director proclaiming it critically important for our public health to open schools this fall.Despite the strong recommendation for a return to in-person classes, the CDC does warn that community spread of the virus could lead to another closure. A lot of school districts in Michigan are announcing plans to start the semester with virtual learning only. Other districts have decided to offer a hybrid of in-person and virtual learning options. Learn more about WDIV Insider - and sign up here!

(Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)Heres a table of select Michigan districts listing how each plans to start the 2020-21 academic year, and a link to their website or official plan. Hybrid start means the district is offering virtual, in-person or a mix of both options to start the academic year. Please contact us with updates on districts or information from districts that we are missing.

DETROIT Local 4 is hosting a virtual town hall on education and the return-to-school amid the coronavirus pandemic. The town hall event will be held on Thursday, Aug. 13 at 7 p.m. on ClickOnDetroit. You can submit a question for the town hall by filling out the form below: Become an Insider Introducing WDIV Insider: A new way for loyal Local 4 fans to gain access and customize your ClickOnDetroit news experience. This new and free membership is our way of saying thank you and your way of getting in on the news action. Learn more about WDIV Insider - and sign up here!

DETROIT Even without a global pandemic, keeping children engaged and learning is no easy feat during the summer months. But this year, Teach For America came up with a solution. Teach For America Detroit took the initiative to teach more than 500 Detroit students onlineJackson Brooks was just learning how to read when the schools shut down. It allows for some more for you to share more of your personality because were in our own personal spaces.McCoy is the summer enrichment director at Teach For America Detroit. She said the program was more beneficial for the students because of the one-on-one interactionI was very shocked, McCoy said.

LANSING A group of Michigan educators took to the lawn of the Capitol Building in Lansing on Thursday to protest the states return-to-school plan amid the coronavirus pandemic. Thursdays protest was about the online learning teachers want instead of in-person learning, and so they have been very serious about their social distancing. Knowing that Detroits superintendent, Dr. Nikolai Vitti, is pushing hard for in-person learning, she sees more practical problems. RELATED: What will it take for Michigan schools to go back to in-person learning? Gretchen Whitmer reveals plan for schools to return to in-person learning this fall

LANSING Michigans largest teacher union is holding a rally in Lansing on Thursday to protest the states return-to-school plan amid the coronavirus pandemic. More on why theyre rallying, from MI Core:When Governor Whitmer suspended in-person school instruction in March, there were only a few dozen cases in Michigan. Gretchen Whitmer reveals plan for schools to return to in-person learning this fallMI Core represents more than 1,000 educators across the state. Many school districts in Michigan have already moved to a fully-remote start to the school year, or have offered the option to parents. Updated: Heres what Michigan school districts have planned for the fall amid the pandemicCoronavirus resources:

John Barrett and his daughter Autumn pose for photos outside Bascomb Elementary School in Woodstock, Ga., Thursday, July 23, 2020. Cherokee County, near Atlanta, is one of many districts nationwide that gave parents a choice between in-person and all-online classes this fall. Molly Ball is sending her teenage sons to school in the same district on Monday, but not without feelings of regret. In Cherokee County, administrators have stuck with plans to offer in-person school five days a week despite pressure from some parents and teachers. “You basically have to make the student’s education time a priority over your own job,” Dalrymple said.

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. Dr. Jennifer Green, superintendent of the Southfield Public Schools district, talked to us about plans for returning to school this fall amid the coronavirus pandemic. She talked about a need for business engagement to get almost half of her students connected in time for fall. She also discussed whether or not in-person learning will be possible at the start of the school year. Related: Heres what Michigan school districts have planned for the fall amid the pandemicMichigan school districts, colleges and universities are working to prepare for a return to in-person classes this fall amid the coronavirus pandemic. Please share your thoughts and concerns about returning to in-person learning this fall -- we want to hear from you:View more: School Confessionals