2013 House Bill 4465 / 2014 Public Act 208

Lower high school graduation standards

Introduced in the House

March 14, 2013

Introduced by Rep. Ed McBroom (R-108)

To revise details of the mathematics and foreign language standards in the state's high school graduation curriculum requirements in ways that generally reduce their rigor. The bill would also allow school districts to establish their own career and technical standards, rather than the current statewide standards, and make additional changes in the physical education and arts standards. <br>Under current law (and subject to many exceptions), to get a diploma a student must complete four credits in "English language arts," three credits in science, including biology and either chemistry or physics; four credits in mathematics including at least algebra I, geometry, and algebra II; three credits in social science including U.S. and world history and geography; one health and physical education credit; and one credit in visual, performing, or applied arts.

Referred to the Committee on Education

May 7, 2013

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (H-3) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

June 5, 2013

Substitute offered

The substitute passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Jeff Irwin (D-53)

To tie-bar the bill to House Bills 4466 and 4712, meaning this bill cannot become law unless those ones do also. Those bills propose additional changes in current standards.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Joseph Haveman (R-90)

To allow school officials to have more discretion in determinging physical education standards.

The amendment passed by voice vote

June 6, 2013

Passed in the House 81 to 26 (details)

To revise wording in the state's high school graduation curriculum requirements in ways that generally reduce the rigor of foreign language and math standards, among other things allowing students to substitute certain alternative courses for Algebra II; and also to revise details of physical education and arts standards.

Received in the Senate

June 11, 2013

Referred to the Committee on Education

June 12, 2014

Amendment offered

To include a course in computer science among the alternatives to having to take algebra II.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Passed in the Senate 23 to 14 (details)

To revise wording in the state's high school graduation curriculum requirements in ways that generally reduce the rigor of foreign language and math standards, among other things allowing students to substitute certain alternative courses for Algebra II; and also to revise details of physical education and arts standards.

Received in the House

June 12, 2014

Passed in the House 89 to 21 (details)

Signed by Gov. Rick Snyder

June 25, 2014