Legislative Analysis
Phone: (517) 373-8080
AMEND HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION
http://www.house.mi.gov/hfa
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Analysis available at
House Bill 5735 as introduced http://www.legislature.mi.gov
Sponsor: Rep. Carol Glanville
Committee: Education
Revised 12-3-24
SUMMARY:
House Bill 5735 would amend the Revised School Code to remove references to specific
courses a student must complete to meet the Michigan Merit Curriculum’s high school
graduation requirements. This would affect courses listed for mathematics, social science, and
science.
Under current law, as part of the credit requirements for mathematics, students can complete
algebra I, geometry, and algebra II for three of the four required math credits, and then an
additional math credit in one of the following:
• Trigonometry.
• Statistics.
• Precalculus.
• Calculus.
• Applied math.
• Accounting.
• Business math.
• A retake of algebra II.
• For students who entered the eighth grade before 2023, a course in financial literacy.
A student can also fulfill all, or some, of their algebra II requirement by completing a formal
career and technical education (CTE) program or curriculum approved by the Michigan
Department of Education (MDE), such as one in electronics, machining, construction, welding,
engineering, computer science, or renewable energy, as long as that course meets the same
content benchmarks as the algebra II course, as determined by MDE. Current law also allows
students to meet the credit requirement by taking an integrated sequence of this course content.
All courses must be aligned to state standards.
House Bill 5735 would change this by removing references to specific courses. Under the bill,
three of the math courses would have to be aligned with the subject area content expectations
established in the state mathematics standards, with an additional credit determined by the
board of the school district or public school academy. Courses are already required to be
aligned with the subject area content expectations established by MDE and approved by the
State Board of Education. 1 These changes would have the effect of allowing students to
continue taking algebra I and II and geometry for the first three math credits if they wish, as
long as those courses are properly aligned with state standards.
1
https://www.michigan.gov/-/media/Project/Websites/mde/Literacy/Content-Standards/Math_Standards.pdf
House Fiscal Agency Page 1 of 2
 The bill would make similar changes relating to completing the credits in the other subjects by
removing specific course names and retaining provisions requiring content be aligned to state
standards. However, this would not mean that those courses presently named in law could no
longer count toward meeting the credit requirement if successfully completed by a student, as
long as they are properly aligned to standards.
MCL 380.1278a and 380.1278b
FISCAL IMPACT:
The bill would have no fiscal impact on the state or on local school districts, intermediate
school districts (ISDs), or public school academies (PSAs).
Legislative Analyst: Josh Roesner
Fiscal Analysts: Jacqueline Mullen
Noel Benson
■ 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.
House Fiscal Agency HB 5735 as introduced Page 2 of 2


Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 380.1278
As Passed by the House: 380.1278