Michigan House Bill HB4556

Michigan 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 6/5/25
• Refer: 6/5/25

Caption

Education: examinations; certain requirements concerning the Michigan merit examination; modify. Amends sec. 1279g of 1976 PA 451 (MCL 380.1279g).

Impact

The bill will significantly impact state laws by formalizing the structure of the Michigan merit examination and defining its components and administration procedures. It will require schools to comply with new regulations about test development, scoring, and reporting, which will all be contracted out to providers selected by the Department of Technology, Management, and Budget. These measures are designed to improve accountability and ensure that assessments are aligned with both state educational standards and national expectations. The legislation also emphasizes accessibility, providing accommodations for pupils with disabilities to ensure equitable access to the examination.

Summary

House Bill 4556 aims to amend the revised school code in Michigan by updating the requirements surrounding the Michigan merit examination. Specifically, it mandates that the examination be administered to pupils in grades 11 and 12, ensuring that all students are assessed with a suite of tests that include a college entrance test, a work skills test, and the Michigan student test of educational progress (M-STEP). This comprehensive assessment is intended to serve as a standardized measure of students' readiness for college and career pathways, while also providing an indicator of school performance at the district and statewide levels.

Contention

Notably, HB4556 introduces requirements that require schools to include additional social studies content that addresses historical events such as the Holocaust and the Armenian Genocide. This could stir discussions regarding educational content and curricular choices, especially among those resistant to mandated educational frameworks. As this bill rolls out, stakeholders will be closely monitoring the implications for local governance in education, as municipalities may feel that their ability to tailor educational standards to suit local needs is somewhat constrained by state-level mandates.