HB 5983 — Education: other; public innovative programs; provide for. Amends secs. 1278a, 1278b & 1284a of 1976 PA 451 (MCL 380.1278a et seq.) & adds sec. 1278e. TIE BAR WITH: HB 5984'26

HB-5983, As Passed House, June 17, 2026 SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO.

(a) Has successfully completed all of the following credit CRM H06311'26 (H-3)(H-3)_HB5983_APH_1 smc3b7nkxog5 1 requirements of the Michigan merit standard before graduating from high school:

(ii) At least 3 credits in social science that are aligned with CRM H06311'26 (H-3)(H-3)_HB5983_APH_1 smc3b7nkxog5 1 subject area content expectations developed by the department and approved by the state board under section 1278b, including completion of at least 1 credit in United States history and geography, 1 credit in world history and geography, 1/2 credit in economics, and the civics course described in section 1166(2).

CRM H06311'26 (H-3)(H-3)_HB5983_APH_1 smc3b7nkxog5 1 (v) The credit requirements specified in section 1278b(1).

The board of a school district or board CRM H06311'26 (H-3)(H-3)_HB5983_APH_1 smc3b7nkxog5 1 of directors of a public school academy is strongly encouraged to ensure that all pupils complete at least 1 credit in a language other than English in grades K to 6.

(4) The requirements under this section and section 1278b for a high school diploma are in addition to any local requirements imposed by the board of a school district or board of directors of CRM H06311'26 (H-3)(H-3)_HB5983_APH_1 smc3b7nkxog5 1 a public school academy.

(c) A school district or public school academy shall also grant a pupil a credit if the pupil earns a qualifying score, as determined by the department, on assessments developed or selected for the subject area by the department or the pupil earns a qualifying score, as determined by the school district or public CRM H06311'26 (H-3)(H-3)_HB5983_APH_1 smc3b7nkxog5 1 school academy, on 1 or more assessments developed or selected by the school district or public school academy that measure a pupil's understanding of the subject area content expectations or guidelines that apply to the credit.

(7) A high school that is designated by the superintendent of public instruction as a specialty school under subsection (6) is only exempt from requirements as described under subsection (6) as CRM H06311'26 (H-3)(H-3)_HB5983_APH_1 smc3b7nkxog5 1 long as the superintendent of public instruction finds that the high school continues to meet all of the following requirements:

(f) All pupils of the high school are required to meet the CRM H06311'26 (H-3)(H-3)_HB5983_APH_1 smc3b7nkxog5 1 science credit requirements of section 1278b(1)(b) and are also required to successfully complete at least 1 additional science credit, for a total of at least 4 science credits, with no modification of these requirements under section 1278b(5), and each pupil is offered the curriculum necessary to meet this requirement.

A student may fulfill the requirement for the third science credit by completing a department-approved computer science program or curriculum or formal career and technical education program or CRM H06311'26 (H-3)(H-3)_HB5983_APH_1 smc3b7nkxog5 1 curriculum.

Subject area content expectations or guidelines must not include attitudes, beliefs, or value systems that are not essential in the legal, economic, and social structure of our society and to the personal and social CRM H06311'26 (H-3)(H-3)_HB5983_APH_1 smc3b7nkxog5 1 responsibility of citizens of our society.

(vii) Until all of the subject area content expectations and guidelines have been developed by the department and approved by the state board, the department shall submit a report at least every 6 months to the senate and house standing committees responsible for education legislation on the status of the CRM H06311'26 (H-3)(H-3)_HB5983_APH_1 smc3b7nkxog5 1 development of the subject area content expectations and guidelines.

(c) Determine the basic level of technology and internet access required for pupils to complete the online course or learning experience requirement of section 1278a(1)(b), and submit CRM H06311'26 (H-3)(H-3)_HB5983_APH_1 smc3b7nkxog5 1 that determination to the state board for approval.

A teacher, school counselor, or school employee qualified to act in a counseling role under section 1233 CRM H06311'26 (H-3)(H-3)_HB5983_APH_1 smc3b7nkxog5 1 or 1233a may contact a pupil's parent or legal guardian to discuss the possibility and potential benefits of a personal curriculum under this subsection for the pupil.

CRM H06311'26 (H-3)(H-3)_HB5983_APH_1 smc3b7nkxog5 1 (ii) Establish measurable goals that the pupil must achieve while enrolled in high school.

The algebra II credit required under that section may be modified as part of a personal CRM H06311'26 (H-3)(H-3)_HB5983_APH_1 smc3b7nkxog5 1 curriculum under this subsection if the pupil meets 1 or more of the following:

(i) The health and physical education credit requirement under section 1278a(1)(a)(iii) may be modified as part of a personal CRM H06311'26 (H-3)(H-3)_HB5983_APH_1 smc3b7nkxog5 1 curriculum only if the modification requires the pupil to complete 1 additional credit in English language arts, mathematics, or science or 1 additional credit in a language other than English, or requires the pupil to complete a formal career and technical education program.

If the superintendent of public instruction has reason to believe that a school district or a public school academy is allowing modifications inconsistent with CRM H06311'26 (H-3)(H-3)_HB5983_APH_1 smc3b7nkxog5 1 the requirements of this subdivision, the superintendent of public instruction shall monitor the school district or public school academy to ensure that the school district's or public school academy's policies, procedures, and practices are in compliance with the requirements for additional modifications under this subdivision.

In addition, if the transfer pupil is enrolled in the CRM H06311'26 (H-3)(H-3)_HB5983_APH_1 smc3b7nkxog5 1 school district or public school academy for at least 1 full school year, both of the following apply:

The school district or CRM H06311'26 (H-3)(H-3)_HB5983_APH_1 smc3b7nkxog5 1 public school academy shall provide this annual notice to parents and legal guardians by sending a written notice to each pupil's home or by including the notice in a newsletter, student handbook, or similar communication that is sent to a pupil's home, and also shall post the notice on the school district's or public school academy's website.

(8) If the board of a school district or board of directors of CRM H06311'26 (H-3)(H-3)_HB5983_APH_1 smc3b7nkxog5 1 a public school academy wants its high school to be accredited under section 1280, the board or board of directors shall ensure that all elements of the curriculum required under this section and section 1278a are made available to all affected pupils.

CRM H06311'26 (H-3)(H-3)_HB5983_APH_1 smc3b7nkxog5 1 (10) To the extent required by the no child left behind act of 2001, Public Law 107-110, or every student succeeds act, Public Law 114-95, the board of a school district or public school academy shall ensure that all components of the curricular requirements under this section and section 1278a are taught by highly qualified teachers.

An CRM H06311'26 (H-3)(H-3)_HB5983_APH_1 smc3b7nkxog5 1 educational development plan must be designed to assist pupils to identify career development goals as they relate to academic requirements.

(12) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, if a school district or public school academy is unable to implement all CRM H06311'26 (H-3)(H-3)_HB5983_APH_1 smc3b7nkxog5 1 of the curricular requirements of this section and section 1278a for pupils entering grade 9 in 2007 or is unable to implement another requirement of this section or section 1278a, the school district or public school academy may apply to the department for permission to phase in 1 or more of the requirements of this section or section 1278a.

(14) Not later than April 1 of each year, the department shall submit an annual report to the legislature that evaluates the overall success of the curriculum required under this section and CRM H06311'26 (H-3)(H-3)_HB5983_APH_1 smc3b7nkxog5 1 section 1278a, the rigor and relevance of the course work coursework required by the curriculum, the ability of public schools to implement the curriculum and the required course work, coursework, and the impact of the curriculum on pupil success, and that details any activities the department has undertaken to implement this section and section 1278a or to assist public schools in implementing the requirements of this section and section 1278a.

CRM H06311'26 (H-3)(H-3)_HB5983_APH_1 smc3b7nkxog5 1 (a) Draft an innovation plan to define the public innovative program.

(b) Produce a statement of commitment from the board of a CRM H06311'26 (H-3)(H-3)_HB5983_APH_1 smc3b7nkxog5 1 primary district outlining the board's vision for the public innovative program and a board resolution approving the submitted innovation plan.

An innovation coach described in this subdivision must be treated in the same manner as CRM H06311'26 (H-3)(H-3)_HB5983_APH_1 smc3b7nkxog5 1 other individuals working for the primary district.

(8) By not later than December 31 of each year, a primary CRM H06311'26 (H-3)(H-3)_HB5983_APH_1 smc3b7nkxog5 1 district shall provide a report to the department in the form and manner determined by the department.

Not later than 60 days after receiving an application under subsection (3)(d), and subject to subsection CRM H06311'26 (H-3)(H-3)_HB5983_APH_1 smc3b7nkxog5 1 (10), the department shall approve the public innovative program designation if the innovation plan meets the requirements of subsection (3)(a), the application has been approved by the primary district through a board resolution under subsection (3)(b), a statement of commitment from a teachers' union under subsection (3)(c) has been received, if applicable, and a statement of support from a public school academy's authorizing body under subsection (3)(f) has been received, if applicable.

If the department determines that a primary district has failed to adhere to a corrective action plan implemented under this subsection, the department may revoke the primary district's approval to operate a public innovative program under this section following a public meeting by the board of the primary district CRM H06311'26 (H-3)(H-3)_HB5983_APH_1 smc3b7nkxog5 1 explaining why the primary district has failed to implement the corrective action plan.

(g) A complete list of any statutory waivers issued under CRM H06311'26 (H-3)(H-3)_HB5983_APH_1 smc3b7nkxog5 1 subsection (9), including an explanation of why those waivers were necessary to enable the public innovative program to operate as designed under the innovation plan submitted under subsection (3)(a) and how those waivers are intended to be used, or if no waivers were issued for a public innovative program, an explanation of why no waivers were necessary.

(c) "Innovation coach" means an adult employed by a primary district or innovation partner available to meet in person or CRM H06311'26 (H-3)(H-3)_HB5983_APH_1 smc3b7nkxog5 1 through audio or video conferencing with assigned pupils, as needed, to do all of the following:

(h) "Teacher content specialist" means a teacher who holds a valid Michigan teaching certificate, has a personnel identification code, and, if applicable, is endorsed in the subject area and grade of the course content or credits earned or competencies to be demonstrated, and is responsible for providing instructional design, determining instructional methods for each pupil, diagnosing learning needs, assessing pupil learning, prescribing intervention strategies, reporting outcomes, and evaluating the CRM H06311'26 (H-3)(H-3)_HB5983_APH_1 smc3b7nkxog5 1 effects of instruction and support strategies.

(2) Beginning with the 2008-2009 school year, except Except as CRM H06311'26 (H-3)(H-3)_HB5983_APH_1 smc3b7nkxog5 1 otherwise provided in this section, the board of each constituent district and the intermediate school board shall ensure that its school calendar complies with the common school calendar adopted under subsection (1).

The application shall must be in writing in the form and manner prescribed by the department and shall must provide justification for the school or program to operate on a calendar that differs from the common CRM H06311'26 (H-3)(H-3)_HB5983_APH_1 smc3b7nkxog5 1 school calendar adopted under subsection (1).

(7) This section does not apply to a public school that CRM H06311'26 (H-3)(H-3)_HB5983_APH_1 smc3b7nkxog5 1 operates all of grades 6 to 12 at a single site, that aligns its high school curriculum with advanced placement courses as the capstone of the curriculum, and that ends its second academic semester concurrently with the end of the advanced placement examination period.

Final Page CRM H06311'26 (H-3)(H-3)_HB5983_APH_1 smc3b7nkxog5