HB-5606, As Passed Senate, March 23, 2006
SENATE SUBSTITUTE FOR
HOUSE BILL NO. 5606
A bill to amend 1976 PA 451, entitled
"The revised school code,"
by amending section 1280 (MCL 380.1280), as amended by 2003 PA 275,
and by adding section 1278a.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 1278a. (1) Beginning with pupils entering grade 8 in
2006, and subject to subsection (3), 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 completed all subject area assessments under section
1279 or the Michigan merit examination under section 1279g, as
applicable to the pupil under section 1279g, or has participated in
the MIAccess assessments.
(b) Has successfully completed the credit requirements of the
Michigan merit curriculum before graduating from high school. The
credit requirements of the Michigan merit curriculum are as
follows:
(i) At least 4 credits in English language arts that are
aligned with subject area content expectations developed by the
department. All of these credits shall include at least writing,
speaking, representing, reading, listening, viewing, literature,
culture, and language.
(ii) At least 4 credits in mathematics that are aligned with
subject area content expectations developed by the department,
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, or a retake of algebra II. If a pupil
successfully completes a credit in algebra I, geometry, or algebra
II before entering high school, the pupil shall be given high
school credit for that credit. Each pupil must successfully
complete at least 1 mathematics course during grade 12.
(iii) At least 3 credits in science that are aligned with
subject area content expectations developed by the department,
including completion of at least biology and chemistry or physics.
If a pupil successfully completes 1 or more of these science
credits before entering high school, the pupil shall be given high
school credit for that credit. The legislature strongly encourages
pupils to complete an additional credit in science, such as
forensics, astronomy, earth science, agricultural science,
environmental science, geology, physics or chemistry, physiology,
or microbiology.
(iv) At least 3 credits in social science that are aligned with
subject area content expectations developed by the department,
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 or government course described in
section 1166(2).
(v) At least 1 credit in health and physical education that is
aligned with guidelines developed by the department.
(vi) 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.
(c) Has successfully met the elective course credit
requirements established by the school district or public school
academy under subsection (6).
(d) Meets 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) In addition to the requirements under subsection (1),
beginning with pupils entering grade 9 in 2009, 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 9 to 12 at least 2
credits, as determined by the department, in a language other than
English, or the pupil has successfully completed during grades K to
8 course work or other learning experiences that are substantially
equivalent to 2 credits in a language other than English, based on
standards developed by the department. For the purposes of this
subsection, all 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.
(3) For the purposes of this section, the department shall do
all of the following:
(a) Develop and implement subject area content expectations
that apply to the credit requirements of the Michigan merit
curriculum that are required under subsection (1)(b)(i) to (iv) and
develop and implement guidelines for the credit requirements of the
Michigan merit curriculum that are required under subsection
(1)(b)(v) and (vi) and for the online course or learning experience
under subsection (1)(d). All of the following apply to these
expectations and guidelines:
(i) The department shall complete the development of the
subject area content expectations that apply to algebra I and Earth
science and the guidelines for the online course or learning
experience under subsection (1)(d) not later than August 1, 2006.
(ii) 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 curriculum under
subsection (1)(b) 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.
(iii) If the department has not completed development of the
subject area content expectations that apply to a particular credit
required in the Michigan merit curriculum under subsection (1)(b)
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.
(b) Not later than 3 years after the effective date of this
section, develop or select and approve assessments that may be used
by school districts and public school academies to determine
whether a pupil has successfully completed a credit required under
the Michigan merit curriculum. The assessments for each credit
shall measure a pupil's understanding of the subject area content
expectations or guidelines that apply to the credit. The department
shall develop or select and approve assessments for each of the
following credits: algebra I, geometry, algebra II, Earth science,
biology, physics, chemistry, grade 9 English, grade 10 English,
grade 11 English, grade 12 English, world history, United States
history, economics, and civics/government.
(c) Develop and implement standards and models for twenty-
first century teaching and learning skills required to be included
in elective courses under subsection (6).
(d) Develop standards for determining whether course work or
other learning experiences during grades K to 8 are substantially
equivalent to 2 credits in a language other than English.
(4) The requirements of subsection (1) are subject to all of
the following:
(a) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (b), the
parent or legal guardian of a pupil who has completed, or is about
to complete, at least the first semester of grade 11 and at least
2-1/2 years of the Michigan merit curriculum may request a
modification of the mathematics or science credit requirements
under subsection (1)(b)(ii) and (iii) for the pupil. If a pupil
requests modification under this subdivision, the pupil's school
district or public school academy shall work with the pupil and the
pupil's parent or legal guardian to develop an individualized
learning plan for the pupil. The pupil