REVISE GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

House Bill 5463 (proposed substitute H-1)

Sponsor:  Rep. Lisa Posthumus Lyons

Committee:  Workforce and Talent Development

Complete to 4-27-16

SUMMARY:

House Bill 5463 would amend Section 1278a of the Revised School Code by requiring a high school student to complete at least three credits in "21st century skills" as part of requirements to receive a high school diploma. The bill would take effect 90 days after it is enacted into law.

Currently, as part of the requirements for a high school diploma, students must complete at least one credit in the visual, performing, or applied arts and at least two credits in a language other than English as part of the requirements for a diploma.

The bill would instead require students to complete at least three credits in 21st century skills, which could be met by completing any combination of three credits in the following:

o   A language other than English

o   Visual, performing, or applied arts.

o   Computer science or computer coding, or a combination of the two.

o   A Michigan Department of Education (MDE)-approved formal career and technical education program.

HB 5463 would also allow a student to complete one or more credits in a language other than English between kindergarten and 12th grade and have it count toward the total of three credits of 21st century skills. Presently, a student who entered 3rd grade in 2006 (the high school class of 2016) or after must complete at least two credits that are grade-appropriate in a language other than English between kindergarten and 12th grade to receive a high school diploma.

For students graduating high school in 2016 to 2021 only, one credit of that requirement may be met in whole or in part by completing a department-approved formal technical education program or curriculum, or by completing visual or performing arts instruction that is in addition to the one credit of visual arts, performing arts, or applied arts that is also required to receive a high school diploma. American Sign Language counts as a language other than English currently, and would continue to do so under the bill.

FISCAL IMPACT:

House Bill 5463 would have no fiscal impact for the state or local school districts. 

                                                                                         Legislative Analyst:   Josh Roesner

                                                                                                 Fiscal Analyst:   Samuel Christensen

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.