Announcements

Personal Curriculum Guidance Update (01/05/2010):

Public Act 204 (2009), signed into law by Governor Jennifer Granholm on January 4, 2010, made several changes to section 308.1278b of the Revised School Code and consequently to the Michigan Department of Education’s guidance regarding the personal curriculum. These changes are listed below.

• Public Act 204 allows a personal curriculum to be requested after a student completes grade 9. A student must still complete 1.5 mathematics credits before requesting a personal curriculum to modify the Algebra II requirement (see below) and must complete 2.0 credits of social studies prior to requesting a personal curriculum to modify the social studies requirement to earn additional credits in English language arts, mathematics, science, and/or world language (see 380.1278b(5)(h)(i)).
• While not previously stated in law, MDE guidance has provided that a personal curriculum may be requested by a student’s parent(s) or legal guardian(s), the student (if emancipated or of legal age), or school personnel. Public Act 204 makes explicit that a personal curriculum may be requested by school personnel including a teacher who currently teaches the student, a teacher whose expertise is in the subject area to be modified, a school counselor or designee, or a teacher with qualifications deemed relevant by the principal.
• Previously, Michigan law required that a student earn 2.0 credits, equivalent to Algebra I and Geometry, before requesting a personal curriculum to modify the Algebra II credit requirement from 1.0 credit to 0.5 credit. Under Public Act 204, a student may request a personal curriculum to modify the Algebra II requirement after completing 1.5 required Michigan Merit Curriculum mathematics credits. The student need not have attained a passing grade in these credits prior to requesting the personal curriculum.
• Although the law has not previously required it, MDE guidance has recommended the inclusion of a teacher on the committee convened to create a personal curriculum. Public Act 204 makes the inclusion of a teacher on the personal curriculum committee a requirement. The teacher must currently be teaching the student, have expertise in the content area to be modified, and/or be determined by the principal to have relevant qualifications.

Updates reflecting these changes have been made to all affected guidance documents and ActPoint RoadMaps.

Personal Curriculum Guidance Update (9/1/2009):

Previous guidance on the personal curriculum released by the Michigan Department of Education has provided that a student requesting and receiving a personal curriculum to modify Algebra 2 from 1.0 credit to 0.5 credit must earn a total of 4.0 math or math-related credits in order to fulfill graduation requirements. This guidance has been revised, now reflecting that a student who requests and receives a personal curriculum to modify Algebra 2 from 1.0 credit to 0.5 credit must complete a total of 3.5 math or math-related credits, including 1.0 credit Algebra, 1.0 credit Geometry, and 0.5 credit Algebra 2, in order to fulfill graduation requirements.

Updates reflecting this change have been made to all affected guidance documents and ActPoint RoadMaps.