H.S. GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS S.B. 1124 (S-1): FLOOR ANALYSIS
Senate Bill 1124 (Substitute S-1 as reported by the Committee of the Whole)
Sponsor: Senator Wayne Kuipers
Committee: Education
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Revised School Code to do the following:
-- Require students to earn the following credits before receiving a high school diploma, beginning with students entering the 8th grade in 2006: 4 in English language arts; 4 in math (including algebra I and II and geometry, or an integrated sequence of all three); 3 in science; 3 in social science; 1 in health and physical education; and 1 in visual, performing, or applied arts.
-- Require all high school students to participate in an online course or learning experience.
-- Beginning with 9th graders in 2009, require all high school students to earn two credits in a language other than English before receiving a diploma.
-- Require algebra, geometry, and science credits earned before high school to be counted toward the requirements; and include a similar provision for foreign language.
-- Require the Department of Education (DOE) to develop subject area content expectations and guidelines for the required credits, and to develop subject area assessments to evaluate whether students met the expectations or guidelines.
-- Require students to complete all subject area assessments developed by the DOE, the Michigan Merit Examination, or the MI-Access assessments before receiving a diploma.
-- Allow a student's parent or legal guardian to request a modification of the math or science requirements after the first semester of 11th grade, or a modification of the algebra II requirement at the end of 10th grade under certain circumstances.
-- Require all students in 7th grade to take a career pathways program.
-- Require students to take a specific number of elective courses, to be determined by the local district or public school academy, that would have to be aligned with one or more specified 21st century learning and teaching skills.
-- Allow school districts that were unable to comply with all requirements under the bill to submit to the DOE a plan to phase in the requirements.
-- Specify that students could satisfy or exceed the requirements of the bill through advanced studies such as advanced placement, dual enrollment in a postsecondary institution, or the international baccalaureate program.
Proposed MCL 380.1278a Legislative Analyst: Curtis Walker
FISCAL IMPACT
State: The Department would see increased costs associated with developing and implementing subject area content expectations that would apply to the credit requirements of the Michigan Merit Curriculum proposed by the bill. The magnitude of the costs would depend upon the current state of the Department's subject area content expectations and how well they would align with the Michigan Merit Curriculum.
Local: School districts and public school academies could see increased costs if the requirements of the high school curriculum were substantially different from what a district or academy currently implements, and if a district or academy could not quickly shift existing resources to satisfy the different requirements.
Date Completed: 3-15-06 Fiscal Analyst: Kathryn Summers-Coty
Analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent. sb1124/0506