SB 1124, As Passed Senate

SB-1124, As Passed Senate, March 16, 2006

SUBSTITUTE FOR

SENATE BILL NO. 1124

(As amended, March 15, 2006)

A bill to amend 1976 PA 451, entitled

"The revised school code,"

(MCL 380.1 to 380.1852) 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<<.

Senate Bill No. 1124 as amended March 15, 2006

(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

Senate Bill No. 1124 as amended March 15 and 16, 2006

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.

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.

Senate Bill No. 1124 as amended March 15, 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.

first century teaching and learning skills required to be included

in elective courses under subsection (6).

Senate Bill No. 1124 as amended March 16, 2006

(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 may then complete a curriculum designed

through this process and specified in the individualized learning

plan even if it does not meet the mathematics or science credit

requirements of subsection (1)(b). 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 subdivision.

(b) For a modification of the algebra II credit required under

subsection (1)(b), all of the following apply:

(i) If a pupil has completed, or is about to complete, at least

grade 10 and at least 2 years of the Michigan merit curriculum, the

pupil's parent or legal guardian may request a modification of the

algebra II credit requirement at that point only if the pupil

<<meets 1 or more of the following:

(A) Elects>> to complete the same content as algebra II over 2

Senate Bill No. 1124 as amended March 16, 2006

years, with a credit awarded for each of those 2 years<<.

(B) Elects to use an alternative approach to complete the

benchmarks for algebra II based on the Michigan curriculum framework

after a mathematics teacher of the pupil and a certified school counselor

or an individual qualified to act as a school counselor under section

1233 or 1233a, in consultation with the pupil and the pupil's parent or

legal guardian, have recommended an alternative approach.

curriculum.

(ii) If a pupil 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, the pupil's parent or legal guardian

may request a modification of the algebra II credit requirement at

that point as provided under subdivision (a).

(iii) 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 subdivision.

pupil's individualized education program, in accordance with the

individuals with disabilities education act, title VI of Public Law

91-230, shall identify the appropriate course or courses of study

and identify the supports, accommodations, and modifications

necessary to allow the pupil to progress in the Michigan merit

curriculum required under subsection (1), or in an individualized

learning plan as provided under this subsection, and meet the

requirements for a high school diploma.

(5) 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 subsection (1). The board or

board of directors may provide this curriculum by providing the

credits specified in subsection (1), 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.

(6) The board of a school district or board of directors of a

public school academy that operates a high school shall establish a

number of elective course work credits that each pupil must

successfully complete to earn a high school diploma. The board or

board of directors shall ensure that each elective course offered

by the high school includes at least 1 of the following twenty-

first century teaching and learning skills according to standards

and models developed by the department:

(a) Global literacy.

(b) Civic literacy.

(d) Information and communications technology literacy.

(e) Learning skills.

(7) Beginning in the 2006-2007 school year, the board of a

school district or board of directors of a public school academy

that operates grade 7 shall ensure that all pupils in grade 7 are

provided with a career pathways program or similar career

exploration program.

(8) The board of a school district or public school academy

shall ensure that all components of the curricular requirements

under this section are taught by highly qualified teachers,

consistent with the requirements of the no child left behind act of

2001, Public Law 107-110.

(9) If a school district or public school academy is unable to

implement all of the curricular requirements of this section for

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pupils entering grade 9 in 2007 or is unable to implement another

requirement of this section, 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. 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. 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.

(10) For the purposes of this section, 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.

(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 the <<assessments>> developed or selected by the

department under subsection (3)(b) 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.

Senate Bill No. 1124 as amended March 15 and 16, 2006

grant a pupil a credit if the pupil earns a qualifying score, as

determined by the <<department >>, on

<< >> the <<assessments>> developed or selected for the subject

area by

the department under subsection (3)(b) 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.

<<(11) This section does not prohibit a pupil from satisfying or exceeding the credit requirements of the Michigan merit curriculum under this section through advanced studies such as advanced placement, dual enrollment in a postsecondary institution, or the international baccalaureate program.>>

<<(12) Not later than October 1 of each year, a school district or public school academy that operates a high school shall submit to the intermediate school district in which it is located an annual report detailing the number of pupils who have requested and received a modification of the algebra II credit requirement under subsection (4)(b).>>