SB 349 — Education: examinations; opt-out option for the workforce readiness assessment portion of the Michigan merit examination; provide for. Amends sec. 1279g of 1976 PA 451 (MCL 380.1279g).

SB-349, As Passed House,Senate, DecemberAugust 11,13, 2025 HOUSE SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL NO.

(2) For the purposes of this section, the department of technology, management, and budget shall contract with 1 or more CRM S02337'25 (H-1)_SB349_APH_1(S-3)_SB349_APS_1 xdru938xjyh6 1 providers to develop, supply, and score the Michigan merit examination.

Beginning with the 2026-20272025-2026 school year, a pupil may elect not to take a test described in this subdivision through a waiver that is developed by the department, made available on the department's website, and both signed and submitted to the pupil's school district, intermediate school district, or public school academy by the pupil's parent or legal guardian by not later than February 28 of the school year in which the test will be administered.

The department shall consult with an individual who represents business in this state, an individual who represents manufacturing in this state, and an individual who represents skilled trades organizations in this state to develop an CRM S02337'25 (H-1)_SB349_APH_1(S-3)_SB349_APS_1 xdru938xjyh6 1 informational letter about the purpose and benefits of the workforce readiness assessment.

(b) The department of technology, management, and budget and the superintendent of public instruction shall ensure that any contractor used for scoring, developing, or processing the Michigan merit examination meets quality management standards commonly used in the assessment industry, including at least meeting level 2 of CRM S02337'25 (H-1)_SB349_APH_1(S-3)_SB349_APS_1 xdru938xjyh6 1 the capability maturity model developed by the Software Engineering Institute of Carnegie Mellon University for the first year the Michigan merit examination is offered to all grade 11 pupils and at least meeting level 3 of the capability maturity model for subsequent years.

CRM S02337'25 (H-1)_SB349_APH_1(S-3)_SB349_APS_1 xdru938xjyh6 1 (4) A school district or public school academy that operates a high school shall include on each pupil's high school transcript all of the following:

In reporting the scores to pupils, parents, CRM S02337'25 (H-1)_SB349_APH_1(S-3)_SB349_APS_1 xdru938xjyh6 1 legal guardians, and schools, the superintendent of public instruction shall provide standards-specific, meaningful, and timely feedback on the pupil's performance on the Michigan merit examination.

(8) The superintendent of public instruction shall ensure that CRM S02337'25 (H-1)_SB349_APH_1(S-3)_SB349_APS_1 xdru938xjyh6 1 the length of the Michigan merit examination and the combined total time necessary to administer all of the components of the Michigan merit examination are the shortest possible that will still maintain the degree of reliability and validity of the Michigan merit examination results determined necessary by the superintendent of public instruction.

Not later than July 1, 2008, the department shall identify specific grade level content expectations to be taught before and after the middle of grade 11, CRM S02337'25 (H-1)_SB349_APH_1(S-3)_SB349_APS_1 xdru938xjyh6 1 so that teachers will know what content will be covered within the Michigan merit examination.

The assessment under this section provides a common measure of data that will contribute to the improvement of Michigan schools' curriculum and instruction by encouraging alignment with Michigan's CRM S02337'25 (H-1)_SB349_APH_1(S-3)_SB349_APS_1 xdru938xjyh6 1 curriculum framework standards and promotes pupil participation in higher level mathematics, science, social studies, and English language arts courses.

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