SB 614

SENATE BILL NO. 614
A bill to amend 1976 PA 451, entitled
"The revised school code,"
by amending sections 1278a, 1278b, and 1531f (MCL
380.1278a, 380.1278b, and 380.1531f), sections 1278a and 1278b as amended by
2022 PA 105 and section 1531f as added by 2010 PA 168.
the people of the state of michigan enact:
Sec. 1278a. (1) Except as otherwise
provided in this section or section 1278b, the board of a school district or
board of directors of a public school academy shall not award a high school
diploma to a pupil unless the pupil meets all of the following:
(a) Has
successfully completed all of the following credit requirements of the Michigan
merit standard before graduating from high school:
(i) At least 4 credits in mathematics that
are aligned with subject area content expectations developed by the department
and approved by the state board under section 1278b, including completion of at
least algebra I, geometry, and algebra II, or an integrated sequence of this
course content that consists of 3 credits, and an additional mathematics
credit, such as trigonometry, statistics, precalculus, calculus, applied math,
accounting, business math, a retake of algebra II, or, for only pupils entering
grade 8 before 2023, a course in financial literacy as described in section
1165. A pupil may complete algebra II over 2 years with 2 credits awarded or
over 1.5 years with 1.5 credits awarded for the purposes of this section and
section 1278b. A pupil also may partially or fully fulfill the algebra II
requirement by completing a department-approved formal career and technical
education program or curriculum, such as a program or curriculum in
electronics, machining, construction, welding, engineering, computer science,
or renewable energy, and in that program or curriculum successfully completing
the same content as the algebra II benchmarks assessed on the
department-prescribed state high school assessment, as determined by the
department. The department shall post on its website guidelines for
implementation of the immediately preceding sentence. Each pupil must
successfully complete at least 1 mathematics course during his or her the pupil's final
year of high school enrollment. This subparagraph does not require completion
of mathematics courses in any particular sequence.
(ii) At least 3 credits in social science
that are aligned with subject area content expectations developed by the
department and approved by the state board under section 1278b, including
completion of at least 1 credit in United States history and geography, 1
credit in world history and geography, 1/2 credit in economics, and the civics
course described in section 1166(2). For only pupils entering grade 8 before
2023, the 1/2-credit economics requirement may be satisfied by completion of at
least a 1/2-credit course in personal economics that includes a financial
literacy component as described in section 1165, if that course covers the
subject area content expectations for economics developed by the department and
approved by the state board under section 1278b. The 1/2 credit in economics
required under this subparagraph cannot be fulfilled by completion of the 1/2
credit course in personal finance described in subsection (3).
(iii) At least 1 credit in subject matter that
includes both health and physical education aligned with guidelines developed
by the department and approved by the state board under section 1278b, or at
least 1/2 credit in health aligned with guidelines developed by the department
and approved by the state board under section 1278b and at least 1/2 credit
awarded by the school district or public school academy for approved
participation in extracurricular athletics or other extracurricular activities
involving physical activity.
(iv) At least 1 credit in visual arts,
performing arts, or applied arts, as defined by the department, that is aligned
with guidelines developed by the department and approved by the state board
under section 1278b. A school district or public school academy is strongly
encouraged to offer visual arts and performing arts courses.
(v) The credit requirements specified in
section 1278b(1).
(b) Meets the
online course or learning experience requirement of this subsection. A school
district or public school academy shall provide the basic level of technology
and internet access required by the state board to complete the online course
or learning experience. For a pupil to meet this requirement, the pupil must
meet either of the following, as determined by the school district or public
school academy:
(i) Has successfully completed at least 1
course or learning experience that is presented online, as defined by the
department.
(ii) The pupil's school district or public
school academy has integrated an online experience throughout the high school
curriculum by ensuring that each teacher of each course that provides the
required credits of the Michigan merit curriculum has integrated an online
experience into the course.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in this section, and in In addition to the requirements under subsection (1),
the board of a school district or board of directors of a public school academy
shall not award a high school diploma to a pupil unless the pupil has
successfully completed during grades K to 12 at least 2 3 credits that
are grade-appropriate in a language other than
English or course work or other learning experiences that are substantially
equivalent to 2 credits in a language other than English, based on guidelines
developed by the department. A pupil may partially or fully fulfill 1 credit of
this requirement by completing a department-approved formal career and
technical education program or curriculum or by completing visual or performing
arts instruction that is in addition to the requirements under subsection
(1)(a)(iv). The board of a school district or board
of directors of a public school academy is strongly encouraged to ensure that
all pupils complete at least 1 credit in a language other than English in
grades K to 6. For the purposes of this subsection, both of the following
apply:
(a) American Sign Language is considered to be a language
other than English.
(b) The pupil may meet all or part of this requirement with
online course work.life skills. The credits in life skills
required under this subsection may be fulfilled through a department-approved
career and technical education program or curriculum or through completion of
courses in any of the following:
(a) A language other than English.
(b) Fine arts.
(3) Beginning with
pupils entering grade 8 in 2023, the board of a school district or board of
directors of a public school academy shall not award a high school diploma to a
pupil unless the pupil completes a 1/2 credit course in personal finance that aligns
with subject area content expectations developed by the department and approved
by the state board under section 1278b. The 1/2 credit course in personal
finance must fulfill 1/2 credit of mathematics required under subsection
(1)(a)(i), or 1/2 credit of visual arts, performing arts, or
applied arts required under subsection (1)(a)(iv), or 1/2
credit of a language other than English required under subsection (2), as
determined by the board of the school district or board of directors of the
public school academy in which the pupil is enrolled. The 1/2 credit course in
personal finance required under this subsection may be fulfilled through a
department-approved formal career and technical education program or curriculum
that aligns with the subject area content expectations developed by the
department and approved by the state board for the credit under section 1278b.
(4) The
requirements under this section and section 1278b for a high school diploma are
in addition to any local requirements imposed by the board of a school district
or board of directors of a public school academy. The board of a school
district or board of directors of a public school academy, as a local
requirement for a high school diploma, may require a pupil to complete the
Michigan merit examination under section 1279g or may require a pupil to
participate in the MIAccess assessments if appropriate for the pupil.
(5) For the
purposes of this section and section 1278b, all of the following apply:
(a) A pupil is
considered to have completed a credit if the pupil successfully completes the
subject area content expectations or guidelines developed by the department
that apply to the credit. For a career and technical education credit, a school
district or public school academy may supplement those content expectations and
guidelines with additional guidelines developed by the school district or
public school academy.
(b) A school
district or public school academy shall base its determination of whether a
pupil has successfully completed the subject area content expectations or
guidelines developed by the department that apply to a credit at least in part
on the pupil's performance on assessments developed or selected by the
department or on 1 or more assessments developed or selected by the school
district or public school academy that measure a pupil's understanding of the
subject area content expectations or guidelines that apply to the credit.
(c) A school
district or public school academy shall also grant a pupil a credit if the
pupil earns a qualifying score, as determined by the department, on assessments
developed or selected for the subject area by the department or the pupil earns
a qualifying score, as determined by the school district or public school
academy, on 1 or more assessments developed or selected by the school district
or public school academy that measure a pupil's understanding of the subject
area content expectations or guidelines that apply to the credit.
(6) If a high
school is designated by the superintendent of public instruction as a specialty
school and the high school meets the requirements of subsection (7), the pupils
of the high school are not required to successfully complete the 4 credits in
English language arts required under section 1278b(1)(a) or the 3 credits in
social science required under subsection (1)(a)(ii) and the school district or public school
academy is not required to ensure that each pupil is offered the curriculum
necessary for meeting those English language arts or social science credit
requirements. The superintendent of public instruction may designate up to 15
high schools that meet the requirements of this subsection as specialty
schools. Subject to this maximum number, the superintendent of public
instruction shall designate a high school as a specialty school if the
superintendent of public instruction finds that the high school meets all of
the following criteria:
(a) The high school
incorporates a significant reading and writing component throughout its
curriculum.
(b) The high school
uses a specialized, innovative, and rigorous curriculum in such areas as
performing arts, foreign language, extensive use of internships, or other
learning innovations that conform to pioneering innovations among other leading
national or international high schools.
(7) A high school
that is designated by the superintendent of public instruction as a specialty
school under subsection (6) is only exempt from requirements as described under
subsection (6) as long as the superintendent of public instruction finds that the
high school continues to meet all of the following requirements:
(a) The high school
clearly states to prospective pupils and their parents that it does not meet
the requirements of the Michigan merit standard under this section and section
1278b but is a designated specialty school that is exempt from some of those requirements
and that a pupil who enrolls in the high school and subsequently transfers to a
high school that is not a specialty school meeting the requirements of this
subsection will be required to comply with the requirements of the Michigan
merit standard under this section and section 1278b.
(b) For the most
recent year for which the data are available, the mean scores on both the
mathematics and science portions of the applicable state assessment for the
pupils of the high school exceed by at least 10% the mean scores on the
mathematics and science portions of the applicable state assessment for the
pupils of the school district in which the greatest number of the pupils of the
high school reside.
(c) For the most
recent year for which the data are available, the high school had a graduation
rate of at least 85%, as determined by the department.
(d) For the most
recent year for which the data are available, at least 75% of the pupils who
graduated from the high school the preceding year are enrolled in a
postsecondary institution.
(e) All pupils of
the high school are required to meet the mathematics credit requirements of
subsection (1)(a)(i), with no modification of these requirements under section 1278b(5),
and each pupil is offered the curriculum necessary to meet this requirement.
(f) All pupils of
the high school are required to meet the science credit requirements of section
1278b(1)(b) and are also required to successfully complete at least 1
additional science credit, for a total of at least 4 science credits, with no
modification of these requirements under section 1278b(5), and each pupil is
offered the curriculum necessary to meet this requirement.
Sec. 1278b. (1) Except as otherwise
provided in this section or section 1278a, as part of the requirements under
section 1278a the board of a school district or board of directors of a public
school academy shall not award a high school diploma to a pupil unless the
pupil has successfully completed all of the following credit requirements of
the Michigan merit standard before graduating from high school:
(a) At least 4
credits in English language arts that are aligned with subject area content
expectations developed by the department and approved by the state board under
this section.
(b) At least 3
credits in science that are aligned with subject area content expectations
developed by the department and approved by the state board under this section,
including completion of at least biology and either chemistry, physics,
anatomy, or agricultural science, or successfully completing a program or
curriculum that provides the same content as the chemistry or physics
benchmarks, as determined by the department. A student may fulfill the
requirement for the third science credit by completing a department-approved
computer science program or curriculum or formal career and technical education
program or curriculum. The legislature strongly encourages pupils to complete a
fourth credit in science, such as forensics, astronomy, Earth science, agricultural
science, environmental science, geology, physics, chemistry, physiology, or
microbiology.
(c) The credit
requirements specified in section 1278a(1)(a)(i) to (iv).
(2) If a pupil
successfully completes 1 or more of the high school credits required under
subsection (1) or under section 1278a(1) or (3) before entering high school,
the pupil must be given high school credit for that credit.
(3) For the
purposes of this section and section 1278a, the department shall do all of the
following:
(a) Develop subject
area content expectations that apply to the credit requirements of the Michigan
merit standard that are required under subsection (1)(a) and (b) and section
1278a(1)(a)(i) and (ii) and the 1/2 credit course in personal finance required under section
1278a(3) and develop guidelines for the remaining credit requirements of the
Michigan merit standard that are required under this section and section
1278a(1)(a), for the online course or learning experience required under
section 1278a(1)(b), and for the requirements for a
language other than English life skills under
section 1278a(2). All of the following apply to these subject area content
expectations and guidelines:
(i) All subject area content expectations
must be consistent with the state board recommended model core academic
curriculum content standards under section 1278. Subject area content
expectations or guidelines must not include attitudes, beliefs, or value
systems that are not essential in the legal, economic, and social structure of
our society and to the personal and social responsibility of citizens of our
society. The subject area content expectations must require pupils to
demonstrate critical thinking skills.
(ii) The subject area content expectations
and the guidelines must be approved by the state board under subsection (4).
(iii) The subject area content expectations
must state in clear and measurable terms what pupils are expected to know upon
completion of each credit.
(iv) The department shall complete the
development of the subject area content expectations that apply to algebra I
and the guidelines for the online course or learning experience under section
1278a(1)(b) not later than August 1, 2006.
(v) The department shall complete
development of the subject area content expectations or guidelines that apply
to each of the other credits required in the Michigan merit standard under
subsection (1) and section 1278a(1)(a) not later than 1 year before the
beginning of the school year in which a pupil entering high school in 2007
would normally be expected to complete the credit.
(vi) If the department has not completed
development of the subject area content expectations that apply to a particular
credit required in the Michigan merit standard under subsection (1) or section
1278a(1)(a) by the date required under this subdivision, a school district or
public school academy may align the content of the credit with locally adopted
standards.
(vii) Until all of the subject area content
expectations and guidelines have been developed by the department and approved
by the state board, the department shall submit a report at least every 6
months to the senate and house standing committees responsible for education
legislation on the status of the development of the subject area content
expectations and guidelines. The report must detail any failure by the
department to meet a deadline established under subparagraph (iv) or (v) and the reasons for that failure.
(b) Develop and
implement a process for developing the subject area content expectations and
guidelines required under this section. This process must provide for all of
the following:
(i) Soliciting input from all of the
following groups:
(A) Recognized
experts in the relevant subject areas.
(B) Representatives
from 4-year colleges or universities, community colleges, and other
postsecondary institutions.
(C) Teachers,
administrators, and school personnel who have specialized knowledge of the
subject area.
(D) Representatives
from the business community.
(E) Representatives
from vocational and career and technical education providers.
(F) Government
officials, including officials from the legislature.
(G) Parents of
public school pupils.
(ii) A review of the subject area content
expectations or guidelines by national experts.
(iii) An opportunity for the public to review
and provide input on the proposed subject area content expectations or
guidelines before they are submitted to the state board for approval. The time
period allowed for this review and input must be at least 15 business days.
(c) Determine the
basic level of technology and internet access required for pupils to complete
the online course or learning experience requirement of section 1278a(1)(b),
and submit that determination to the state board for approval.
(d) Develop and
make available material to assist school districts and public school academies
in implementing the requirements of this section and section 1278a. This must
include developing guidelines for alternative instructional delivery methods as
described in subsection (7).
(4) The state board
shall approve subject area content expectations and guidelines developed by the
department under subsection (3) before those subject area content expectations
and guidelines may take effect. The state board also shall approve the basic
level of technology and internet access required for pupils to complete the
online course or learning experience requirement of section 1278a(1)(b).
(5) The parent or
legal guardian of a pupil who has completed grade 9, a teacher who is currently
teaching the pupil, who currently teaches in or whose expertise is in a subject
area proposed to be modified by the personal curriculum, or who is determined
by the principal to have qualifications otherwise relevant to developing a
personal curriculum, or a school counselor or school employee qualified to act
in a counseling role under section 1233 or 1233a may request a personal
curriculum under this subsection for the pupil that modifies certain of the
Michigan merit standard requirements under subsection (1) or section
1278a(1)(a). If the request for a personal curriculum is made by the pupil's
parent or legal guardian or, if the pupil is at least age 18 or is an
emancipated minor, by the pupil, the school district or public school academy
shall develop a personal curriculum for the pupil. A teacher, school counselor,
or school employee qualified to act in a counseling role under section 1233 or
1233a may contact a pupil's parent or legal guardian to discuss the possibility
and potential benefits of a personal curriculum under this subsection for the
pupil. If all of the requirements under this subsection for completing a
personal curriculum are met, then the board of a school district or board of
directors of a public school academy may award a high school diploma to a pupil
who successfully completes his or her personal curriculum even if it does not
meet the requirements of the Michigan merit standard required under subsection
(1) and section 1278a(1)(a). All of the following apply to a personal
curriculum:
(a) The personal
curriculum must be developed by a group that includes at least the pupil, at
least 1 of the pupil's parents or the pupil's legal guardian, and a teacher
described in this subdivision or the pupil's high school counselor or another
designee qualified to act in a counseling role under section 1233 or 1233a
selected by the high school principal. In addition, for a pupil who receives
special education services, a school psychologist should also be included in
this group. The teacher included in the group developing the personal
curriculum must be a teacher who is currently teaching the pupil, who currently
teaches in or whose expertise is in a subject area being modified by the
personal curriculum, or who is determined by the principal to have
qualifications otherwise relevant to the group. This subdivision does not
require an in-person meeting of the group.
(b) The personal
curriculum must do all of the following:
(i) Incorporate as much of the subject area
content expectations of the Michigan merit standard required under subsection
(1) and section 1278a(1)(a) as is practicable for the pupil.
(ii) Establish measurable goals that the
pupil must achieve while enrolled in high school.
(iii) Provide a method to evaluate whether the
pupil achieved the goals described in subparagraph (ii).
(iv) Align with the pupil's educational
development plan developed under subsection (11).
(c) Before it takes
effect, the personal curriculum must be agreed to by the pupil's parent or
legal guardian and by the superintendent of the school district or chief
executive of the public school academy or his or her designee.
(d) The pupil's
parent or legal guardian shall communicate with each of the pupil's teachers to
monitor the pupil's progress toward the goals contained in the pupil's personal
curriculum.
(e) Revisions may
be made in the personal curriculum if the revisions are developed and agreed to
in the same manner as the original personal curriculum.
(f) The English
language arts credit requirements of subsection (1)(a) and the science credit
requirements of subsection (1)(b) are not subject to modification as part of a
personal curriculum under this subsection.
(g) The mathematics
credit requirements of section 1278a(1)(a)(i) may be modified as part of a personal
curriculum if the pupil successfully completes at least 3-1/2 total credits of
the mathematics credits required under that section before completing high
school, including algebra I and geometry, and successfully completes at least 1
mathematics credit during his or her the pupil's final 2 years of high school. The algebra
II credit required under that section may be modified as part of a personal
curriculum under this subsection if the pupil meets 1 or more of the following:
(i) Successfully completes the same content
as 1 semester of algebra II, as determined by the department.
(ii) Elects to complete the same content as
algebra II over 2 years, with a credit awarded for each of those 2 years, and
successfully completes that content.
(iii) Enrolls in a formal career and technical
education program or curriculum and in that program or curriculum successfully
completes the same content as the algebra II benchmarks assessed on the
department-prescribed state high school assessment, as determined by the
department.
(iv) Successfully completes 1 semester of
statistics, functions and data analysis, or technical mathematics.
(h) The social
science credit requirements of section 1278a(1)(a)(ii) may be modified as part of a personal
curriculum only if all of the following are met:
(i) The pupil has successfully completed 2
credits of the social science credits required under section 1278a(1),
including the civics course described in section 1166(2).
(ii) The modification requires the pupil to
complete 1 additional credit in English language arts, mathematics, or science
or 1 additional credit in a language other than English, or requires the pupil
to complete a formal career and technical education program. This additional
credit must be in addition to the number of those credits otherwise required
under subsection (1) and section 1278a(1). or under section 1278a(2).
(i) The health and
physical education credit requirement under section 1278a(1)(a)(iii) may be modified as part of a personal
curriculum only if the modification requires the pupil to complete 1 additional
credit in English language arts, mathematics, or science or 1 additional credit
in a language other than English, or requires the pupil to complete a formal
career and technical education program. This additional credit must be in
addition to the number of those credits otherwise required under subsection (1)
and section 1278a(1). or under section 1278a(2).
(j) The visual
arts, performing arts, or applied arts credit requirement under section
1278a(1)(a)(iv) may be modified as part of a personal curriculum only if the
modification requires the pupil to complete 1 additional credit in English
language arts, mathematics, or science or 1 additional credit in a language
other than English, or requires the pupil to complete a formal career and
technical education program. This additional credit must be in addition to the
number of those credits otherwise required under subsection (1) and section
1278a(1). or under
section 1278a(2).
(k) If the parent
or legal guardian of a pupil requests as part of the pupil's personal
curriculum a modification of the Michigan merit standard requirements that
would not otherwise be allowed under this section and demonstrates that the
modification is necessary because the pupil is a child with a disability, the
school district or public school academy may allow that additional modification
to the extent necessary because of the pupil's disability if the group under
subdivision (a) determines that the modification is consistent with both the
pupil's educational development plan under subsection (11) and the pupil's
individualized education program. If the superintendent of public instruction
has reason to believe that a school district or a public school academy is
allowing modifications inconsistent with the requirements of this subdivision,
the superintendent of public instruction shall monitor the school district or
public school academy to ensure that the school district's or public school
academy's policies, procedures, and practices are in compliance with the
requirements for additional modifications under this subdivision. As used in
this subdivision, "child with a disability" means that term as
defined in 20 USC 1401.
(l) If a pupil transfers to a school
district or public school academy from out of state or from a nonpublic school,
the pupil's parent or legal guardian may request, as part of the pupil's
personal curriculum, a modification of the Michigan merit standard requirements
that would not otherwise be allowed under this section. The school district or
public school academy may allow this additional modification for a transfer
pupil if all of the following are met:
(i) The transfer pupil has successfully
completed at least the equivalent of 2 years of high school credit out of state
or at a nonpublic school. The school district or public school academy may use
appropriate assessment examinations to determine what credits, if any, the
pupil has earned out of state or at a nonpublic school that may be used to
satisfy the curricular requirements of the Michigan merit standard and this
subdivision.
(ii) The transfer pupil's personal curriculum
incorporates as much of the subject area content expectations of the Michigan
merit standard as is practicable for the pupil.
(iii) The transfer pupil's personal curriculum
requires the pupil to successfully complete at least 1 mathematics course
during his or her the
pupil's final year of high school enrollment. In addition, if the
transfer pupil is enrolled in the school district or public school academy for
at least 1 full school year, both of the following apply:
(A) The transfer
pupil's personal curriculum must require that this mathematics course is at
least algebra I.
(B) If the transfer
pupil demonstrates that he or she has mastered the content of algebra I, the
transfer pupil's personal curriculum must require that this mathematics course
is a course normally taken after completing algebra I.
(iv) The transfer pupil's personal curriculum
includes the civics course described in section 1166(2).
(m) If a pupil is
at least age 18 or is an emancipated minor, the pupil may act on his or her own
behalf under this subsection.
(n) This subsection
does not apply to a pupil enrolled in a high school that is designated as a
specialty school under section 1278a(6) and that is exempt under that section
from the English language arts requirement under subsection (1)(a) and the
social science credit requirement under section 1278a(1)(a)(ii).
(o) The department
or a school district or public school academy shall not limit or discourage the
number of pupils with a personal curriculum on any basis other than the best
interests of each individual pupil.
(p) A school
district or public school academy annually shall notify each of its pupils and
a parent or legal guardian of each of its pupils that all pupils are entitled
to a personal curriculum under this subsection. The annual notice must include
an explanation of what a personal curriculum is and state that if a personal
curriculum is requested, the public school or public school academy will grant
that request. The school district or public school academy shall provide this
annual notice to parents and legal guardians by sending a written notice to
each pupil's home or by including the notice in a newsletter, student handbook,
or similar communication that is sent to a pupil's home, and also shall post
the notice on the school district's or public school academy's website.
(6) If a pupil
receives special education services, the pupil's individualized education
program, in accordance with the individuals with disabilities education act,
title VI of Public Law 91-230, must identify the appropriate course or courses
of study and identify the supports, accommodations, and modifications necessary
to allow the pupil to progress in the curricular requirements of this section
and section 1278a, or in a personal curriculum as provided under subsection
(5), and meet the requirements for a high school diploma.
(7) The board of a
school district or board of directors of a public school academy that operates
a high school shall ensure that each pupil is offered the curriculum necessary
for the pupil to meet the curricular requirements of this section and section
1278a. The board or board of directors may provide this curriculum by providing
the credits specified in this section and section 1278a, by using alternative
instructional delivery methods such as alternative course work, humanities
course sequences, career and technical education, industrial technology
courses, or vocational education, or by a combination of these. School
districts and public school academies that operate career and technical
education programs are encouraged to integrate the credit requirements of this
section and section 1278a into those programs.
(8) If the board of
a school district or board of directors of a public school academy wants its
high school to be accredited under section 1280, the board or board of
directors shall ensure that all elements of the curriculum required under this
section and section 1278a are made available to all affected pupils. If a
school district or public school academy does not offer all of the required
credits, the board of the school district or board of directors of the public
school academy shall ensure that the pupil has access to the required credits
by another means, such as enrollment in a postsecondary course under the
postsecondary enrollment options act, 1996 PA 160, MCL 388.511 to 388.524;
enrollment in an online course; a cooperative arrangement with a neighboring
school district or with a public school academy; or granting approval under
section 6(6) of the state school aid act of 1979, MCL 388.1606, for the pupil
to be counted in membership in another school district.
(9) If a pupil is
not successfully completing a credit required for graduation under this section
and section 1278a, or is identified as being at risk of withdrawing from high
school, then the pupil's school district or public school academy shall notify
the pupil's parent or legal guardian or, if the pupil is at least age 18 or is
an emancipated minor, the pupil, of the availability of tutoring or other
supplemental educational support and counseling services that may be available
to the pupil under existing state or federal programs, such as those programs
or services available under section 31a of the state school aid act of 1979,
MCL 388.1631a, or under the no child left behind act of 2001, Public Law
107-110, or every student succeeds act, Public Law 114-95.
(10) To the extent
required by the no child left behind act of 2001, Public Law 107-110, or every
student succeeds act, Public Law 114-95, the board of a school district or
public school academy shall ensure that all components of the curricular
requirements under this section and section 1278a are taught by highly
qualified teachers. If a school district or public school academy demonstrates
to the department that the school district or public school academy is unable
to meet the requirements of this section because the school district or public
school academy is unable to hire enough highly qualified teachers, the
department shall work with the school district or public school academy to
develop a plan to allow the school district or public school academy to hire
enough highly qualified teachers to meet the requirements of this section.
(11) The board of a
school district or board of directors of a public school academy shall provide
the opportunity for each pupil to develop an educational development plan
during grade 7, and shall ensure that each pupil reviews his or her educational
development plan during grade 8 and revises it as appropriate before he or she
begins high school. The board of a school district or board of directors of a
public school academy shall also ensure that each pupil reviews and revises his
or her educational development plan as appropriate during each year of high
school. An educational development plan must be developed, reviewed, and
revised by the pupil under the supervision of the pupil's school counselor or
another designee qualified to act in a counseling role under section 1233 or
1233a selected by the school principal and must be based on high school
readiness scores and a career pathways program or similar career exploration
program. An educational development plan must be designed to assist pupils to
identify career development goals as they relate to academic requirements.
During the process of developing and reviewing a pupil's educational
development plan, the pupil must be advised that many of the curricular
requirements of this section and section 1278a may be fulfilled through career
and technical education. In addition, during the process of developing and
reviewing an educational development plan, the pupil must be provided with all
of the following:
(a) Information on
various types of careers and current and projected job openings in this state
and those jobs' actual and projected wages.
(b) An opportunity
to explore careers specific to a pupil's interests and identify career pathways
and goals for achieving success in those careers, including, but not limited
to, the level and type of educational preparation necessary to accomplish those
goals.
(c) An opportunity
to develop a talent portfolio. A talent portfolio must be developed and revised
throughout the implementation of a pupil's educational development plan. A
talent portfolio must include, but is not limited to, a record of the pupil's
experiences, proficiencies, certifications, or accomplishments that demonstrate
talents or marketable skills. The department, in conjunction with the
department of labor and economic opportunity, shall develop and make available
to the public schools model information materials that districts or public
school academies may use to comply with this subdivision.
(12) Except as
otherwise provided in this subsection, if a school district or public school
academy is unable to implement all of the curricular requirements of this
section and section 1278a for pupils entering grade 9 in 2007 or is unable to
implement another requirement of this section or section 1278a, the school
district or public school academy may apply to the department for permission to
phase in 1 or more of the requirements of this section or section 1278a. To
apply, the school district or public school academy shall submit a proposed
phase-in plan to the department. The department shall approve a phase-in plan
if the department determines that the plan will result in the school district
or public school academy making satisfactory progress toward full
implementation of the requirements of this section and section 1278a. If the
department disapproves a proposed phase-in plan, the department shall work with
the school district or public school academy to develop a satisfactory plan
that may be approved. This subsection does not apply to a high school that is
designated as a specialty school under section 1278a(6) and that is exempt
under that section from the English language arts requirement under subsection
(1)(a) and the social science credit requirement under section 1278a(1)(a)(ii).
(13) This section
and section 1278a do not prohibit a pupil from satisfying or exceeding the
credit requirements of the Michigan merit standard under this section and
section 1278a through advanced studies such as accelerated course placement,
advanced placement, dual enrollment in a postsecondary institution, or
participation in the international baccalaureate program or an early
college/middle college program.
(14) Not later than
April 1 of each year, the department shall submit an annual report to the
legislature that evaluates the overall success of the curriculum required under
this section and section 1278a, the rigor and relevance of the course work
required by the curriculum, the ability of public schools to implement the
curriculum and the required course work, and the impact of the curriculum on
pupil success, and that details any activities the department has undertaken to
implement this section and section 1278a or to assist public schools in
implementing the requirements of this section and section 1278a.
Sec. 1531f. (1) The department may enter
into a memorandum of understanding with a federally recognized Native American
tribe, the board of a school district, or the board of directors of a public
school academy that authorizes the superintendent of public instruction to
issue a 3-year letter of approval or continuing approval to allow the Native
American tribe, school district, or public school academy to use noncertificated teachers who
do not possess a valid Michigan teaching certificate to teach a Native
American tribal language and culture class. A memorandum of understanding
entered into under this section shall must require that a noncertificated teacher has
demonstrated mastery of the tribal language either through a credential issued
by a federally recognized Native American tribe or another means considered
suitable by the department. The memorandum of
agreement shall must include
requirements for renewal or continuing approval of the noncertificated teacher
as established by the Native American tribe, the board of the school district,
or the board of directors of the public school academy in collaboration with
the department.
(2) Credits earned
by a pupil in a Native American tribal language taught by a noncertificated
teacher pursuant to under this section may be applied by the Native
American tribe, school district, or public school academy for any purpose to
the same extent as if taught by a certificated teacher.
, including, but not limited to, credit
toward completion of the credit requirements under section 1278a concerning a
language other than English.