State Rep. Ben Frederick of Owosso is cosponsoring a merit curriculum legislative initiative that will give high school students more flexibility in their education choices. “High school is about preparing our kids for life after graduation and that’s what these four bills help do,” Frederick said. “We need to give students with an aptitude for specific trades the opportunity to explore the fields that align with their future aspirations. Employers are looking right now for workers who have the training and experience, and there are tens of thousands of jobs available in our state. Local educators and parents have told me that more flexibility is needed to allow students additional space in their schedules to explore these avenues. I look forward to moving forward on these important reforms.”
The four bills in the package will allow students to fulfill a 21st Century Skills requirement by completing a combination of career/technical education (CTE) or visual/performing arts courses. Allow for one of two required foreign language credits to be achieved through a CTE course, computer coding or certain visual/performing arts courses and also allow the completion of a Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration general industry or construction training program within a CTE program to fulfill a health education requirement.
Lastly, allow for statistics to be an alternative to Algebra II as the third required math credit within current Michigan merit standards.
House Bills 4315-4318 have been assigned to the House Workforce and Talent Development Committee chaired by Frederick, who expects to begin hearings on the reforms later this month.
