| Michigan Schools presented its new high school | | | | Core. The new Michigan Merit Core consists of the |
| graduation requirements - the Michigan Merit Curriculum | | | | following coursework: |
| - in December 2005. The Michigan schools are | | | | • English Language Arts, integrated |
| determined to better prepare students for work and | | | | Humanities sequence, or CTE sequence - 4 credits |
| college success, by assuring that all students have the | | | | • Mathematics - 4 credits with one credit |
| knowledge and skills needed to succeed. | | | | each in Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, AND an |
| Previous requirements for graduation in the Michigan | | | | additional mathematics or mathematics-related credit in |
| schools reflected an economy and society that no | | | | the senior year, integrated mathematics sequence, or |
| longer exist, nor did they represent the real world | | | | CTE sequence |
| demands of work and college. Michigan schools skills | | | | • Science - 3 credits with one credit each in |
| and course subjects that were once optional for | | | | Biology, Physics or Chemistry, and one additional credit |
| students after graduation now are essential to enter | | | | of science, integrated math sequence, or CTE |
| college or the workforce. In a 2005 survey, only 24 | | | | sequence |
| percent of the graduates said they were significantly | | | | • Social Sciences - 3 credits |
| challenged during high school, while a recent survey | | | | • Civics and Economics - 5 credits |
| showed one-in-five graduates thought expectations | | | | • U.S. History and World History - 1 credit |
| were low and it was easy to "slide by". National data | | | | each, integrated with Geography, integrated Humanities |
| indicate that academic achievement in high school | | | | sequence, or CTE sequence |
| reading, mathematics and science has been mostly | | | | • World Languages - 2 credits |
| stagnate for decades. | | | | • Health and Physical Education - 2 credits |
| Michigan's Governor Jennifer M. Granholm backs the | | | | • Visual and Performing Arts - 1 credit |
| new Michigan schools program, stating that the state's | | | | Additionally, students in their junior year must take the |
| economy will suffer if Michigan does not have a highly | | | | Michigan schools' Michigan Merit Exam or the alternate |
| educated workforce. Her goal is to double the number | | | | MI-ACCESS assessment exam. Those who do not |
| of college graduates in Michigan, and the new Michigan | | | | pass in their junior year have another opportunity to |
| schools high school graduation requirements will ensure | | | | take the exam in the spring of their senior year. |
| the goal is met. | | | | Additionally, the Michigan schools are developing high |
| The new Michigan Merit Curriculum requires Michigan | | | | school content expectations to serve as a guide to |
| schools graduates to successfully complete both the | | | | curriculum development for the school districts. |
| Michigan Merit Core and the 21st Century Learning | | | | |