New Michigan Legislation Allows Students to Take Welding Classes for Credits
High school students in the State of Michigan who are heading towards a skilled trades career will have more ways to pass their foreign language and math requirements.
A new law lets technical and career education courses such as computer science, welding, electronics, or construction to satisfy requirements for a single foreign language credits and Algebra II.
The present law states that high school students need to pass Algebra II as one of the four mathematics credits and have two foreign language credits in order to graduate.
Supporters of the changes stated that allowing skilled trades classes to satisfy the math requirement will encourage students to pursue careers in the fields of welding or construction. Those who criticized the new legislation said the changes weaken the graduation standards of the state.
The legislation has been passed to make the Michigan Merit Curriculum stronger by preparing students for jobs that employers within the state are looking for. Improving Michigan high school graduation requirements prepares the kids for rewarding careers once they are out of high school.
Those who oppose the new legislation said that since the Michigan Merit Curriculum was implemented, the graduation rates are up and dropout rates are reduced. CTE enrollment has been steady. Weakening the standards doesn’t make any sense to them. They said that it gives the message that students need less science, math and foreign language. They added that there is already enough flexibility under the existing law.
A companion bill was also approved that adds career and technical education as well as agricultural science to the list of courses that can satisfy the required non-biology science credit. Both legislations will take effect in spring of 2015. That means the changes will affect the 2015-2016 school year. The bills still need the signature of Governor Rick Snyder.
