Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Who is eligible to receive a personal curriculum?

A personal curriculum may be developed to address the needs of an individual student for one of four reasons:

  • A student demonstrates need for modification to the Algebra II requirement of the MMC. The student must complete 1.5 credits of math aligned to the high school mathematics content expectations before requesting a PC to modify the Algebra II requirement.

  • A student with an IEP demonstrates need for modification to the MMC within the area(s) of his/her disability.

  • A student who transfers from a school outside of Michigan or from a non-public school to a public high school after completing the equivalent of two years of high school demonstrates need for modification to the MMC based on previous academic experience.

  • A student demonstrates need to modify Social Studies, PE/Health, and/or Visual, Performing, and Applied Arts in order to take credits beyond those required in the areas of Math, English Language Arts, Science, and/or World Languages. The student must earn 2 credits in Social Studies, including 0.5 credit in Civics before requesting a PC to modify the Social Studies requirement.

Q: Does the personal curriculum lead to a diploma?

The personal curriculum should be designed to lead to a diploma, incorporating as much of the MMC as is practicable for the individual student while maintaining the rigor of the MMC and the integrity of the diploma.

Should a student fail to meet the requirements of the personal curriculum, the PC will be considered null and void, and the student will be responsible for meeting all standard requirements of the MMC in order to receive a diploma.

Q: Who can request a personal curriculum?

  • Parent or legal guardian
  • Student with adult status (age of majority)
  • Emancipated minor
  • School personnel

Q: When can a personal curriculum be requested?

  • A request for modification to the Algebra II requirement may be made after the student completes 1.5 mathematics credits aligned with required state content expectations.

  • A request for modification(s) for a student with a disability may be made at any time, but the modification(s) cannot take effect until the student begins high school.

  • A request for modification to the social studies credit requirement in order to earn additional credits in English Language Arts, Math, Science, or World Languages may be made after earning 2 social studies credits, including 0.5 credit in Civics.

  • A request for modification(s) for a transfer student may be made upon enrollment in a Michigan public high school after an assessment of previous credits earned determines that the student has completed the equivalent of two years of high school.
  • All other requests for personal curriculum modifications may be made after the student completes 9th grade.

Q: How is the need for a personal curriculum determined?

  • The need for, and potential effectiveness of, a personal curriculum must be determined on a student-by-student basis. A student’s Educational Development Plan, inclusive of postsecondary goals, and Individualized Education Program, or IEP, (for students with disabilities only) should be examined in addition to the student’s prior and current academic performance. There are many instructional and structural interventions available to a student that may help him or her access the full MMC successfully without a personal curriculum.

  • For example, a student who wants to take more English Language Arts, Math, Science, or World Language courses may be able to find space in his or her class schedule to take these courses in lieu of electives rather than modify the MMC credit requirements. A student who is struggling in math may benefit from simultaneous enrollment in a regular Algebra II class and a math support class rather than modify the MMC with a personal curriculum. A student with a disability who is failing his or her science course due to disengagement, boredom, or the need for an alternate instructional strategy may benefit from completing the credit through online learning rather than modifying the MMC with a personal curriculum.

For additional Personal Curriculum FAQ's, click here.

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