Michigan High School Graduation

Requirements

Implications for Curriculum and Instruction

April, 2006

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Overview of Required Credits

• 4 English Language Arts• 4 Mathematics• 3 Science• 3 Social Studies• 1 PE/Health• 1 Arts• 2 World Languages• Online course

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Local Graduation Requirements

• Legislation authorizes local districts to add additional requirements to the Michigan Merit Curriculum

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Michigan Merit Exam

• Participation not required by legislation

• Legislation authorizes local district to institute as graduation requirement

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Effective Dates

• 8th graders entering fall of 2006

• For World Languages: 3rd graders entering fall of 2006 (graduating class of 2016)

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English Language Arts

• Credit content to be defined• Likely to have general

applicability vs. specific course titles (e.g. American Lit)

• Heavy emphasis on Reading and Writing

• Emphasis on informational text• Suggested, not required, lit or

reading lists

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Mathematics

• Algebra I and II, Geometry• 4th credit selected by student• May be math or math-related• Legislation lists examples, not

limited list• Math in final year required• Sequence is not mandated• Integrated math allowed

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Mathematics 4 credits

Algebra I Geometry Algebra II1 Additional Math or Math-Related class

(For example: Calculus, Trigonometry Applied Math, Business Math, Accounting, Probability and Statistics)

■or Integrated Math or CTE sequence

Math must be taken in the final year of high school.

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Social Studies

• .5 credit in Civics• .5 credit in Economics• US History and Geography• World History and

Geography

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Science

• Biology required of everyone

• Choice of Physics or Chemistry

• 3rd credit selected by student

• Legislation encourages 4th credit

• Earth Science not required• Sequence not mandated

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Physical Education/Health

• Credit mix is up to local school district

• Legislation does not say .5/.5

• Health requirement may be met in other credit areas

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Visual, Performing, and Applied Arts

• Visual and performing arts generally decided by local district

• Applied arts--CAD, Industrial Tech, Multimedia, Web publishing, etc.

• Creativity or artistry criteria

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World Languages

• 2 credits in high school

..OR..

• Course work or other learning experiences prior to high school

• American Sign Language (ASL) considered a foreign language

• Requirement may be met online

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Online Requirement

Can be earned in 2 ways:

• Credit or non-credit course or learning experience

…OR…

• District has integrated online learning into each credit area required for graduation

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Online Requirement

• MDE to develop guidelines for “learning experience”

• MDE must specify basic level of technology and internet access for requirement to be in effect

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“Subject Area Content Expectations”

• Officially, the comprehensive list of expectations for the subject area--ELA, Math, etc.

• Not course-specific, as in Algebra 1, Biology, etc.

• Legislation presumes, however, that specific course content expectations (CCE’s) will be developed for each credit area named in the law

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MDE will develop CCE’s for the following credit

areas

• English 9, 10, 11, 12

• Algebra I & II• Geometry• Biology• Chemistry• Physics

• Civics• Economics• US History &

Geography• World History

& Geography• *Earth

Science*Not a required credit

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Guidelines for:

• Physical Education/Health• Visual, performing, and

applied arts• Online course or learning

experience• World Languages credit

prior to high school

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Timeline for Course Content Expectations

• CCE’s for Algebra I and guidelines for online learning by August 1, 2006

• Other CCE’s and guidelines one year before students may typically be expected to earn the credit

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Assessments

• Within 3 years of passage of legislation, MDE must develop assessments to measure achievement of CCE’s in each credit area

• End-of-course exams• Possibly “broken down”

assessments (e.g. semester assessments vs. large final exam)

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Credits vs. Courses

Student earns credit by:• Successfully completing the CCE’s

for the credit area• Successful completion to be

determined, in part, by state or local district assessments

• “Testing out” allowed based on earning qualifying score on state or local assessments

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Credits vs. Courses

• Grad requirements intended to be standards/competency-based

• Requirements do not imply courses, seat time, Carnegie Units

• Legislation says districts may offer credits through “alternate methods” (e.g. Humanities, CTE, Industrial Tech, Voc-Ed, or combination)

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Credits vs. Courses,

• Able to be met in variety of ways and in other credit areas

• High school credit may be earned for high school level credits taken prior to high school

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Credits vs. Courses

• Legislation does not prohibit student satisfying credit requirements through:– Dual enrollment– Advanced Placement– International Baccalaureate– Other “early college”

experiences or programs

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“Personal Curriculum”Modifications

• Begins with student/parent request

• No age or grade level legislated

• Developed by team of student, parent/guardian, high school counselor or staff member designated by principal

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“Personal Curriculum” Modifications

• Should incorporate as much of graduation requirements as appropriate

• Shall include measurable goals and evaluation

• Aligned with student’s EDP• Final plan must be approved by

parents and the superintendent• Parents must communicate with

teachers once each quarter to assess progress

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“Personal Curriculum” ELA, Science, and Social Studies

Modification

• ELA and Science credits may not be modified.

• Social Studies may be modified only after student has completed 2 credits

• Civics may not be modified• Social Studies may be modified

only if pupil takes additional credit in ELA, Math, Science, or world languages.

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“Personal Curriculum” Math Modifications

+Option 1: • Complete 2.5 credits in

mathematics before requesting a modification

• Complete .5 credit in Algebra 2• Complete 3.5 total credits in math

All students must:•Complete at least .5 credits in Algebra 2•Complete a total of 3.5 credits in mathematics•Complete 1 math or math-related class in the final year

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“Personal Curriculum” Math Modifications

+Option 2:• Complete Algebra 2 over 2

years (for two credits) • Complete 1 math or math-

related class in the final year

All students must:•Complete at least .5 credits in Algebra 2•Complete a total of 3.5 credits in mathematics•Complete 1 math or math-related class in the final year

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“Personal Curriculum” Math Modifications

+Option 3:• Complete a 2 year CTE program

that includes .5 credit of Algebra 2 content

• Complete a total of 3.5 credits in mathematics

• Complete 1 math or math-related class in the final year

•Complete at least .5 credits in Algebra 2•Complete a total of 3.5 credits in mathematics•Complete 1 math or math-related class in the final year

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“Personal Curriculum”Health/PE, the Arts Modifications

• Physical Education/Health credit may be modified only if student takes additional ELA, Math, Science, or World Languages credit

• Visual, Performing, and Applied Arts credit may be modified only if student takes additional ELA, Math, Science, or World Languages credit

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Special Education

• Student’s IEP governs grad requirements

• Basic premise: all grad requirements apply

• IEP must designate what is to be modified, not what is to be included

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Students At Risk of Failure or Dropping Out

• District must notify parents• Provide information on

tutoring, support, counseling services available, e.g. through:– 31A programs/services– Services required through

NCLB– Other services available

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“Specialty Schools”

• State supt. may designate up to 15

• Exempt from the 4 ELA credits• Exempt from the 3 Social

Studies credits• Must require 4 credits of

Science, with no modification• No modification of Math credits

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“Specialty Schools”

• Must incorporate significant reading and writing in curriculum

• Specialized, innovative curriculum based on national or international models

• Mean scores on Math and Science sections of ACT must be 10% above local district

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“Specialty Schools”

• 85% graduation rate• 75% enrolled in postsecondary• Students and parents must be

notified school doesn’t meet Michigan Merit grad requirements

• Student transferring to another school would be required to meet grad requirements

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School Accreditation

• State accreditation of high schools dependent upon schools providing opportunities to meet all grad requirements

• Beginning 2008-09 school year, no high school will be accredited unless such opportunities are provided

• Legislation indicates consequences for schools failing to be accredited for 3 consecutive years

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MDE Contacts

Diane McMillan, High SchoolRedesign Consultant mcmillandj@michigan.gov 517-335-4739

Jeremy M. Hughes, Ph.D. Deputy Superintendent/Chief

Academic Officer hughesj@michigan.gov 517-335-0011