The bill amends the State School Aid Act of 1979, specifically section 104b, to update the requirements for the Michigan merit examination administered to high school students. It mandates that districts must administer the examination to 11th graders and to 12th graders who did not take it in 11th grade. The examination will include a college entrance test, a work skills test, and the Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress (M-STEP). Notably, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, students will have the option to waive the work skills test through a process that requires parental consent. Additionally, the bill emphasizes the importance of providing informational resources to students and parents about the workforce readiness assessment.

Further provisions in the bill outline the responsibilities of the Department of Technology, Management, and Budget in contracting for the development and scoring of the examination, ensuring quality management standards, and providing timely feedback on student performance. The bill also specifies that the Michigan merit examination must be aligned with state content standards and includes various components necessary for compliance with federal education laws. Other changes include the requirement for districts to report individual student scores on transcripts and to provide accommodations for students with disabilities. The bill will only take effect if Senate Bill No. 349 is enacted into law.

Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 388.1704