merit curriculum

Here is the clarification of SB 981 language regarding Algebra II credit within approved CTE courses. Before reading, I advise you get refreshment. It will take awhile.

My read tells me their word says... know the law, use the overall HS math content expectations document in your decision (the big book--not the individual course/credit content expectations documents), within a group make a decision, let you conscience be your guide and "don't ask - don't tell."

Have your refreshment? Click below to read it.

Jim Ballard

From the Lansing State Journal

Michigan high school students could meet their advanced mathematics requirements for graduation if they completed a career and technical education program that had embedded math skills under a measure that was reported by the Senate Education Committee.

The panel unanimously sent SB 698 to the full chamber.

Under the bill, if a high school student completes an approved career and technical course with embedded mathematics skills then that will meet the algebra II requirements the state now has for a student to graduate high school.

Supporters have said the change is important to ensure that students continue taking technical and skills-based classes in high school.

On Monday, July 13th, MASSP was pleased to have been included in a research project by Achieve and Education Trust. These two major players in national educational standards were visiting Michigan to interview different players regarding the obstacles to the implementation of the Michigan Merit Curriculum. Joining them was Sir Michael Barber, founder and former head of Tony Blair’s Delivery Unit in the UK.

While students are making some progress on the Michigan Merit Exam in math, social studies and writing, with the same or worse scores in other subject areas, still fewer than half of students are proficient in writing and math and, overall, scores don't reflect college readiness, Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan said on Tuesday.

Writing and math scores each improved by three points this year, with 44 percent of 11th grade students scoring proficient or advanced in 2009 compared to 41 percent in 2008 and 49 percent receiving those marks in math this year compared to 46 percent last year, according to test results released by the Department of Education.

Dear Michigan Secondary Principals:

As you are aware, Michigan became the first state to require students to have an online experience prior to High School graduation. Specifically, “380.1278a Requirements for high school diploma” states:

(b) Meets the online course or learning experience requirement of this subsection. A school district or public school academy shall provide the basic level of technology and internet access required by the state board to complete the online course or learning experience. For a pupil to meet this requirement, the pupil shall meet either of the following, as determined by the school district or public school academy:

Michigan Algebra II Expectations in Relation to ACHIEVE, Inc. American Diploma Project and The National Assessment of Educational Progress 12th Grade Mathematics Framework

Executive Summary

Want to know what is happening in the federal discussion about national curriculum standards. Here's the best insight you'll find. It's an email to me from Matt Gandal, VP, of Achieve.

Dear ADP State Leader:

As we have previously communicated to ADP Network states, Achieve is working with the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) and National Governors Association (NGA) on an important effort to create common core standards that can be adopted by states across the country. Over the last several weeks, this initiative has taken on a much more public profile, and leaders in ADP states have reached out to Achieve with a variety of questions about the process and our role in it. This update is designed to answer those questions.

Common Standards Development Process

The State Superintendent’s memo regarding the use of power standards you received in the past few days is the result of a lot of work by MASSP. The memo vindicates what we’ve been saying to you ever since the passage of the MMC -- there is a lot more flexibility in the standards than believed.

MASSP put considerable effort into getting this memo written to your advantage, the building principal. I hope you will now put it to your use.

mymassp.com/powerstandards

The Detroit News
Thursday, April 16, 2009, Lansing
By Lou Glazer

Reversing Michigan's alarming population decline hopefully will rise to the top of the state's agenda. Particularly retaining and attracting recent college graduates. They are the key to restoring Michigan to high prosperity.

Why? Because employment growth and high wages are increasingly knowledge-based. Primarily in five broad sectors of the economy: information, finance and insurance, professional and technical services, health care and education. These industries, all of which have at least 30 percent of their employees with four-year degrees, are concentrating in the
regions of the country with the greatest concentrations of college educated adults.