HB 5648

HOUSE BILL NO. 5648
A bill to amend 1976 PA 451, entitled
"The revised school code,"
by amending section 1278a (MCL 380.1278a), as amended
by 2022 PA 105, and by adding section 1279i.
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 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 credits
that are grade-appropriate in a language other than English or course work coursework 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.coursework.
(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), 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 the high school 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. 1279i. (1)
The board of a school district or intermediate school district or board of
directors of a public school academy shall grant high school credit as
described in subsection (2) to a pupil in grade 12 who works full-time in a
board-approved trade occupation that provides documented
training or verifiable skills aligned with recognized career and technical
education pathways. To be eligible to receive high school credit under this
section, all of the following requirements must be met:
(a) The pupil's employment in a trade occupation must be documented by
the pupil's employer and verified by the pupil's school district, intermediate
school district, or public school academy.
(b) The pupil must complete at least 30 hours per week of employment in
a trade occupation during the academic term, or the equivalent as determined by
the board of the pupil's school district or board of directors of the pupil's
public school academy.
(c) The trade occupation in which the pupil is employed must provide
training or experience that develops skills aligned with state-recognized career
and technical education programs, apprenticeships, or skilled trades.
(d) The pupil's employer shall comply with all state and federal
workplace safety laws and shall provide documentation of safety training
completed by the pupil.
(e) The pupil's employer shall comply with all state and federal labor
laws applicable to minors, including permitted work hours and prohibited
occupations.
(f) The pupil's school district, intermediate school district, or public
school academy shall assign a staff member to monitor the pupil's employment,
verify training, and ensure alignment with recognized career and technical
education pathways.
(g) The pupil shall provide written consent from a parent or legal guardian
to receive credit for employment in a trade occupation under this section.
(h) The trade occupation in which the pupil is employed must align with
state-recognized career and technical education standards or lead to an
industry-recognized credential.
(i) A pupil participating in a trade occupation under this section must continue
to be counted in full membership for purposes of state school aid under the
state school aid act of 1979.
(j) A pupil participating in a trade occupation under this section must
be counted in membership in accordance with the work-based learning provisions
of the pupil accounting manual, including off-site instructional time, employer
verification, and district monitoring requirements.
(k) If a pupil ceases reporting to the pupil's place of employment for
more than 3 scheduled workdays, the pupil's employer shall notify the pupil's school
district, intermediate school district, or public school academy within 2
business days. The assigned staff member under subdivision (f) shall determine
whether the pupil remains eligible to receive credit under this section and
shall communicate that determination to the pupil's employer and the pupil.
(l) If a pupil is
unable to complete the employment under this section due to injury, illness,
employer closure, loss of hours, or other good cause as determined by the pupil's
school district, intermediate school district, or public school academy the pupil
may be granted credit if the pupil has demonstrated satisfactory progress
toward the competencies of the course. A pupil granted credit under this
subdivision must not be counted as a nongraduate for accountability purposes.
(m) The pupil's employer shall maintain liability insurance covering
pupil participants and comply with all reporting requirements for workplace
injuries. A school district, intermediate school district, or public school
academy is not liable for workplace injuries occurring at the place of
employment unless the school district has acted with gross negligence in
assigning the pupil to that employer.
(n) The pupil's employer shall provide documentation of hours worked,
attendance, and any incidents affecting the pupil's safety or participation to
the school district's, intermediate school district's, or public school
academy's assigned staff member at least once every 30 days and on request by
the school district's assigned staff member.
(2) The board of the pupil's school district or intermediate school
district or board of directors of the pupil's public school academy shall
determine whether the pupil's employment in a trade occupation under this
section may satisfy the final-year mathematics credit requirement under section
1278a.
(3) The board of a school district or intermediate school district or
board of directors of a public school academy shall annually report to the
department the number of pupils receiving credit under this section and the
types of trade occupations approved.
(4) All hours used to satisfy the requirements of this section must be
paid hours of employment in compliance with the improved workforce opportunity
wage act, 2018 PA 337, MCL 408.931 to 408.945, and the fair labor standards act
of 1938, 29 USC 201 to 219. Nothing in this section shall be construed to
require a school district, intermediate school district, or public school
academy to pay wages to a pupil.
(5) As used in this section:
(a) "Full-time" means employment of not less than 30 hours per
week during the academic term, or the equivalent as determined by the board of
a school district or intermediate school district or board of directors of a
public school academy.
(b) "Trade occupation" means a skilled occupation in
manufacturing, construction, health technology, information technology, or
other career and technical education pathway as defined by the department of labor
and economic opportunity or recognized by a local school board. Trade
occupation does not include general or unskilled labor positions without
verifiable training or credentials.