Michigan Senate Bill SB0350

Michigan 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 6/4/25
• Refer: 6/4/25
• Report Pass: 6/18/25
• Refer: 6/18/25
• Report Pass: 6/26/25

Caption

Education: examinations; funding for schools that opt out of the WorkKeys examination; allow. Amends sec. 104b of 1979 PA 94 (MCL 388.1704b).

Impact

The implementation of this bill will formalize requirements around testing for high school students, which could significantly affect how schools allocate resources and prepare pupils for these exams. The Michigan Department of Technology, Management, and Budget is tasked with contracting test providers, and the bill places importance on quality management of the examination process, with explicit deadlines for test materials and results. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of ensuring the examinations meet federal education standards such as the No Child Left Behind Act and the Every Student Succeeds Act.

Summary

Senate Bill 350 seeks to amend the 1979 PA 94, known as the State School Aid Act of 1979, particularly focusing on the administration of the Michigan merit examination (MME) for high school students. The bill stipulates that to receive state aid, school districts must ensure that pupils in grades 11 and 12 take the MME, which consists of a college entrance test, an optional work skills test, and the Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress (M-STEP). The examination serves as a comprehensive assessment aimed at evaluating student performance and ensuring alignment with state educational standards.

Contention

One notable point of contention arises from the provision allowing students to opt out of the assessments through a waiver, effective starting in the 2025-2026 school year. This raises questions among stakeholders about the implications of waivers for educational equity and student preparedness within the workforce. The bill’s design aims to encourage higher participation in advanced subjects, which is welcomed by some, but it could face opposition from those concerned about the fairness of standardized testing and its impact on students with varying educational backgrounds. Moreover, the requirements for schools to report individual student scores to parents may also contribute to discussions on transparency and parental involvement in educational progress.

Additional_provisions

The bill also includes mechanisms for accommodating students with disabilities and provides guidance for assessing educational performance in multiple languages, aiming to make the assessment process more inclusive. Overall, SB350 seeks to fortify the link between academic readiness and state support by mandating comprehensive testing that reflects high expectations for educational outcomes within Michigan's schools.