Michigan Merit Curriculum (MMC)
and Personal Curriculum (PC)
Update
FEBRUARY 6, 2015
Session Outcomes
Increase understanding of MMC/PC requirements and
recent legislative changes
Increase knowledge of PC resources and documents to
implement the process
What’s the Purpose of the PC?
Provide students with the opportunity to individualize the
rigor and relevance of their educational experience by
modifying or accelerating their learning within the MMC
What are Reasons for Requesting a PC?
 Substitute additional credits of Math, ELA, Science or World
Language
 Substitute credits of Social Studies, Health-PE and/or Visual,
Performing and Applied Arts (VPAA) through a state approved
CTE program
 Modify the mathematics requirement
 Modify credit requirements/content expectations for a student
with an IEP
 Modify credit requirements for a transfer student
Who Can Request a PC?
 Parent/Legal Guardian
 Emancipated Student
 School Personnel
Section 380.1278b.(5)
Who Can Request a PC?
 Parent/Legal Guardian
 Emancipated Student
 School Personnel
(5)…If the request for a personal curriculum is made by the pupil's parent or legal
guardian or, if the pupil is at least age 18 or is an emancipated minor, by the
pupil, the school district or public school academy shall develop a personal
curriculum for the pupil.
Section 380.1278b.(5)
Notice of PC Availability
 Annual notice to parents/guardians explaining the PC and that all
students are entitled to a PC
 Notice shall be sent to a student’s home
 Notice shall be posted on the school’s website
Section 380.1278b.(5)(p)
PC Implementation
 District shall not limit the number of students with a PC on any
basis other than best interest of each individual student
 PC must be agreed to by the pupil’s parent/guardian and the
superintendent
 Pupil’s parent/guardian shall be in communication pupil’s teachers
to monitor the progress toward the goals in PC
 Revisions may be developed/agreed to in same manner as
original PC
Section 380.1278b.(5)(c,o,d)
Who Develops a PC?
Pupil (required)
Parent/Legal Guardian (required)
Teacher* or School Counselor (required)
(for student with IEP) School Psychologist (recommended)
*who is currently teaching the pupil, who currently teaches in or whose expertise is in a subject
area being modified by the personal curriculum, or who is determined by the principal to have
qualifications otherwise relevant to the group.
Section 380.1278b.(5)(a)
Who Develops a PC?
Pupil (required)
Parent/Legal Guardian (required)
Teacher* or School Counselor (required)
(for student with IEP) School Psychologist (recommended)
This subdivision does not require an in-person meeting of the group.
Section 380.1278b.(5)(a)
Required PC Elements
 incorporate as much of the subject area content expectations of
the Michigan merit standard… as is practicable for the pupil
 establish measurable goals that the pupil must achieve while
enrolled in high school
 provide a method to evaluate whether the pupil achieved these
goals
 be aligned with the pupil's educational development plan
Section 380.1278b.(5)(b)
Mathematics Requirements
MMC
PC
• 4 math credits total
• 3 credits aligned to state content expectations in
Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II* OR
integrated sequence of 3 credits and additional
credit such as trigonometry, statistics, precalculus, calculus, applied math, accounting,
business math, a retake of Algebra II, or a course
in financial literacy
• 1 math or math-related course in the final year
• All credits aligned to state content expectations
• 3.5 math/math-related credits allowable
including Algebra I, Geometry and 1 math credit
in final 2 years of HS
• Algebra II credit modification options**
• Additional modifications for students with an IEP
or a transfer student
Section 380.1278b.(5)(g)
Algebra II
MMC
PC
• Algebra II over 2 years for 2 credits
• Algebra II over 1.5 years for 1.5 credits
• Partially or fully fulfilled by a formal CTE program
/curriculum such as electronics, machining,
constriction welding, engineering, computer
science, or renewable energy, and in that
program/curriculum successfully completing the
same content as the Algebra II benchmarks
assessed on the state high school assessment.
• One semester of Algebra II
• Algebra II content over 2 years for 2 credits
• One semester of statistics, functions and data
analysis OR technical mathematics
• Enrolls in state-approved CTE program where
student successfully completes the same content
as Algebra II benchmarks assessed on state
assessment
Section 380.1278b.(5)(g)
English Language Arts Requirements
MMC
PC
• 4 ELA credits total
• 1 credit in grades 9, 10, 11, 12
• All credits aligned to state content expectations
• No modification except for students with an IEP
or a transfer student
Section 380.1278b.(1)(a)
Section 380.1278b.(5)(f)
Science Requirements
MMC
PC
• 3 science credits total
• 1 credit of biology required
• 1 credit of either chemistry, physics, anatomy or
agricultural science
• May fulfill 3rd science credit by completing an
approved computer science program, state
approved CTE program
• All credits aligned to state content expectations
• No modifications except for students with an IEP
or a transfer student
Section 380.1278b.(1)(b)
Section 380.1278b.(5)(f )
Social Science Requirements
MMC
PC
•
•
•
•
•
•
• No modifications of civics
• Minimum successful completion of 2 social
science credits prior to modification
• 1 social science credit can be exchanged for an
additional ELA, math, science, or world language
• 1 social studies credit can be fulfilled by
completing a formal state-approved CTE program
• Additional modifications for students with an IEP
or a transfer student
3 social science credits total
½ credit of civics required
½ credit of economics
1 credit of US History and Geography
1 credit of World History and Geography
All credits aligned to state content expectations
Section 380.1278b (5)(h)
Health/Physical Education Requirements
MMC
PC
• 1 credit including both health and physical
education, OR
• ½ credit in health and ½ credit in PE or district
approved participation in extracurricular
athletics or other extracurricular activities
involving physical activity
• All credits aligned to state content expectations
• Health/PE credit can be exchanged for an
additional ELA, math, science or world language
credit
• Health/PE credit can be exchanged for
completion of a formal state-approved CTE
program
• Additional modifications for students with an IEP
or transfer student
Section 380.1278b (5)(i)
Visual, Performing and Applied Arts
Requirements
MMC
PC
• 1 VPAA credit total
• All credits aligned to state content expectations
• VPAA credit can be exchanged for an additional
ELA, math, science or world language credit
• VPAA credit credit can be exchanged for
completion of a formal state-approved CTE
program
• Additional modifications for students with an IEP
or a transfer student
Section 380.1278b (5)(j)
World Language Credit Requirements
MMC
PC
• 2 world language credits total (begins with class • No modifications except for students with an IEP
of 2016)
or a transfer student
• Completion during grades K-12, 2 credits that are
grade appropriate or an equivalent learning
experience equivalent to 2 credits
• Students graduating in 2015-2020 may fulfill 1
credit by completing a formal state-approved
CTE program or additional VPAA credit
• All or part of requirement can be met with
online coursework
• All credits must be aligned to state guidelines
Section 380.1278b.(2)
Online Learning Experience
Requirements
MMC
PC
• Online course or learning experience is
incorporated into one or more required credits
• No modifications except for students with an IEP
or a transfer student
Section 380.1278b.(1)(b)
PC for Students with an IEP
Specified team may consider additional and/or alternate MMC
modifications that are
 Necessary because of the pupil’s disability, and
 Consistent with pupil’s EDP and IEP
 Allows modifications of any MMC credit requirements and/or
subject area content expectations
 Incorporates as much of the subject area content expectations of
the Michigan merit standard… as is practicable for the pupil
Section 380.1278b.(5)(k))
Modifications vs. Accommodations
Modifications
Accommodations
• Changes that lower, reduce, or accelerate
learning expectations
• Fundamentally alter subject area content
expectations or credit requirements
• Practices that change how instruction is
presented, how students engage in instruction
and how student learning is assessed
• Do not fundamentally alter the subject area
content standards or credit requirements
Modified Content Expectations in a PC
 Only available to students with a disability and current IEP
 Essential learning targets may be a starting point from which to
modify
 Consider alternative instructional strategies and assessments to
measure proficiency
Required PC Elements
 incorporate as much of the subject area content expectations of
the Michigan merit standard… as is practicable for the pupil
 establish measurable goals that the pupil must achieve while
enrolled in high school
 provide a method to evaluate whether the pupil achieved these
goals
 be aligned with the pupil's educational development plan
Section 380.1278b.(5)(b)
PC Content and Transfer Students
 Available for a transfer student who has earned at least 2 years of
HS credit out of state or at a nonpublic school
 May use exams to determine credits earned
 incorporate as much of the subject area content expectations of
the Michigan merit standard… as is practicable for the pupil
 Must complete 1 math credit in final year of HS (equivalent of
Algebra I or higher)
 Must complete ½ credit of Civics
Section 380.1278b.(5)(l)
Required PC Elements
 incorporate as much of the subject area content expectations of
the Michigan merit standard… as is practicable for the pupil
 establish measurable goals that the pupil must achieve while
enrolled in high school
 provide a method to evaluate whether the pupil achieved these
goals
 be aligned with the pupil's educational development plan
Section 380.1278b.(5)(b)
MMC and CTE Programs
 Must be a (state) department approved formal CTE program or
curriculum
 Successful completion means:
 Completed coursework covering all CTE program standards
 Completion of any required technical assessments
 Replacement of 1 credit of world language and/or 1 credit of
science, the CTE program does not need to embed the academic
content standards from the MMC credit being replaced
PC and CTE Programs
 Through a PC, students have additional options for replacing MMC
credit in the following:
 3rd credit of social studies
 PE/Health credit
 VPAA credit
 1 CTE program may be used to replace up to 3 of these credits
above
 Through a PC, students can exchange/earn the Algebra II credit
through integration of mathematics in a CTE program
What additional questions do you have
about the MMC/PC requirements or
process?
Resources
 www.Michigan.gov/highschool
 www.Michigan.gov/standards
 http:www.legislature.mi.gov
 Public Act 208 (House Bill No. 4465)
 Public Act 209 (House Bill No. 4466)
For more information contact:
Laurie Schmitt
Assistant Superintendent for Instruction
Allegan Area ESA
lschmitt@alleganaesa.org
269.673.2161
Wendy Dubuisson
Director of Specialized Instruction
Allegan Area ESA
wdubuisson@alleganaesa.org
269.673.2161