Bill Text: MI SB0886 | 2021-2022 | 101st Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Education: curriculum; civics instruction in K-12 curriculum; modify. Amends secs. 1166, 1278 & 1278a of 1976 PA 451 (MCL 380.1166 et seq.).
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-02-23 - Referred To Committee On Education And Career Readiness [SB0886 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2021-SB0886-Introduced.html
SENATE BILL NO. 886
A bill to amend 1976 PA 451, entitled
"The revised school code,"
by amending sections 1166, 1278, and 1278a (MCL 380.1166, 380.1278, and 380.1278a), section 1166 as amended by 2016 PA 391, section 1278 as amended by 2016 PA 170, and section 1278a as amended by 2020 PA 158.
the people of the state of michigan enact:
Sec. 1166. (1) In all public and nonpublic schools in this state regular courses of instruction shall must be given in the constitution Constitution of the United States, in the this state's constitution, of Michigan, and in the history and present form of government of the United States, Michigan, this state, and its political subdivisions. Instruction shall must begin not later than the opening of the eighth grade , 8 or its equivalent, except in schools maintaining a junior high school, in which case it may begin in the ninth grade 9.
(2) A high school in this state shall require a 1-semester course of study of 5 periods per week in civics. The course shall described in this subsection must include the form and functions of the federal, state, and local governments and shall must stress the rights and responsibilities of citizens. A diploma shall must not be issued by a high school to a pupil who has not successfully completed this course. This Beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, the course described in this subsection must include, as much as is possible, coverage of the criteria described in section 1278(1)(c). The course requirement under this subsection is not a graduation requirement for a high school pupil who has enlisted or been inducted into military service.
(3) By not later than May 1, 2018 or the next update of the state curriculum content standards after the effective date of this subsection, March 29, 2017, whichever occurs first, the state board shall revise the state curriculum content standards for high school social studies to ensure that those content standards cover the same content as covered by the 100 questions on the civics portion of the naturalization test used by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services as of December 1, 2016.
(4) Beginning with the first state high school social studies assessment administered after the state academic curriculum content standards are revised as required under subsection (3), the superintendent of public instruction shall ensure that the high school social studies assessment includes questions related to the learning objectives in the state curriculum content standards for high school social studies as revised under subsection (3).
(5) As used in this section, "state curriculum content standards" means the state board recommended model core academic curriculum content standards developed and periodically updated under section 1278.
Sec. 1278. (1) In addition to the requirements for accreditation under section 1280 specified in that section, if the board of a school district wants all of the schools of the school district to be accredited under section 1280, the board shall provide to all pupils attending public school in the district a core academic curriculum in compliance with subsection (3) in each of the curricular areas specified in the state board recommended model core academic curriculum content standards developed under subsection (2). The state board model core academic curriculum content standards shall must encompass academic and cognitive instruction only. For purposes of this section, the state board model core academic curriculum content standards shall must not include attitudes, beliefs, or value systems that are not essential in the legal, economic, and social structure of our society and to the personal and social responsibility of citizens of our society.
(2) Recommended model core academic curriculum content standards shall must be developed and periodically updated by the state board, shall must be in the form of knowledge and skill content standards that are recommended as state standards for adoption by public schools in local curriculum formulation and adoption, and shall must be distributed to each school district in the state. The recommended model core academic curriculum content standards shall must set forth desired learning objectives in math, science, reading, history, geography, economics, American government, and writing for all children at each stage of schooling and be based upon the "Michigan K-12 Program Standards of Quality" to ensure that high academic standards, academic skills, and academic subject matters are built into the instructional goals of all school districts for all children. The state board shall ensure that the recommended model core academic curriculum content standards for history for grades 8 to 12 include learning objectives concerning genocide, including, but not limited to, the Holocaust and the Armenian Genocide. The state board also shall ensure that the state assessment program and the Michigan merit examination are based on the state recommended model core curriculum content standards, are testing only for proficiency in basic and advanced academic skills and academic subject matter, and are not used to measure pupils' values or attitudes. By not later than May 30, 2023, the state board shall ensure that the recommended model core academic curriculum content standards for American government for grades K to 12 meet all of the following criteria:
(a) Provide for, by the end of grade 3, sufficient instruction for pupils to ensure pupils understand the concept of voting for a political candidate or a proposal, the concept of becoming a political candidate, and citizen participation in public meetings.
(b) Provide for, by the end of grade 8, instruction that covers the branches and levels of government, including, but not limited to, the role of the boards of canvassers, clerks, poll workers, and the secretary of state, in administering elections.
(c) Provide for, by the end of grade 11, at a minimum, instruction on the mechanics of democracy that must include, but is not limited to, the voter registration process for in-person and absentee voting, the registration process for political candidates, the process for making comments at a public meeting, the process for contacting public officials about issues, the means by which voting districts are drawn, and the process through which votes are counted and election results are certified.
(3) The board of each school district, considering academic curricular objectives defined and recommended pursuant to under subsection (2), shall do both of the following:
(a) Establish a core academic curriculum for its pupils at the elementary, middle, and secondary school levels. The core academic curriculum shall must define academic objectives to be achieved by all pupils and shall must be based upon the school district's educational mission, long-range pupil goals, and pupil performance objectives. The core academic curriculum may vary from the model core academic curriculum content standards recommended by the state board pursuant to under subsection (2).
(b) After consulting with teachers and school building administrators, determine the aligned instructional program for delivering the core academic curriculum and identify the courses and programs in which the core academic curriculum will be taught.
(4) The board may supplement the core academic curriculum by providing instruction through additional classes and programs.
(5) For all pupils, the subjects or courses, and the delivery of those including special assistance, that constitute the curriculum the pupils engage in shall must assure the pupils have a realistic opportunity to learn all subjects and courses required by the district's core academic curriculum. A subject or course required by the core academic curriculum pursuant to under subsection (3) shall must be provided to all pupils in the school district by a school district, a consortium of school districts, or a consortium of 1 or more school districts and 1 or more intermediate school districts.
(6) To the extent practicable, the state board may adopt or develop academic objective-oriented high standards for knowledge and life skills, and a recommended core academic curriculum, for special education pupils for whom it may not be realistic or desirable to expect achievement of initial mastery of the state board recommended model core academic content standards objectives or of a high school diploma.
(7) The state board shall make available to all nonpublic schools in this state, as a resource for their consideration, the model core academic curriculum content standards developed for public schools pursuant to under subsection (2) for the purpose of assisting the governing body of a nonpublic school in developing its core academic curriculum.
(8) Excluding special education pupils, pupils having a learning disability, and pupils with extenuating circumstances as determined by school officials, a pupil who does not score satisfactorily on the fourth or seventh grade 4 or 7 state assessment program reading test shall must be provided special assistance reasonably expected to enable the pupil to bring his or her reading skills to grade level within 12 months.
(9) Any course that would have been considered a nonessential elective course under Snyder v Charlotte School Dist, Snyder v Charlotte School Dist, 421 Mich 517 (1984), on April 13, 1990 shall must continue to be offered to resident pupils of nonpublic schools on a shared time basis.
(10) As used in this section, "Armenian Genocide", "genocide", and "Holocaust" mean those terms as defined in section 1168.
Sec. 1278a. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section or section 1278b, beginning with pupils entering grade 8 in 2006, 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 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 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). Beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, to the extent that the criteria described in section 1278(1)(c) are not covered in the civics course described in section 1166(2), the uncovered criteria must be covered in the other credit requirements in this subparagraph, as appropriate. 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.
(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 shall 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) In addition to the requirements under subsection (1), beginning with pupils entering grade 3 in 2006, 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 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.
(3) 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.
(4) 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 the assessments developed or selected by the department under section 1278b 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 the assessments developed or selected for the subject area by the department under section 1278b 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.
(5) 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 (6), then 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.
(6) A high school that is designated by the superintendent of public instruction as a specialty school under subsection (5) is only exempt from requirements as described under subsection (5) 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 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 ACT examination 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 ACT examination 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.
