In an attempt to better prepare high school students for college education and the job market afterward, high school students will have new requirements by the 2016 school year including the introduction of a new merit system. This merit system will significantly change the usual high school diploma by including the option of a Certificate of Attendance.
The new merit system will include strict additions to Michigan’s current curriculum, adding Algebra I, Algebra II, two English Language Arts, two world language credits and an online learning course.
The additions will become integrated into school systems yearly, beginning with the class of 2011, which was the first to experience the beginnings of the New Michigan Merit system, providing an additional math and science course as mandatory
along Michigan graduation regulations.
The COA, as described by Eastern Michigan University’s Associate Director Chris LaRusso, is the difference between graduating and walking because it creates a newer high school curriculum within every Michigan high school.
The COA will be used as the substitute if a student should fail any of those courses during any point of their high school career.
In addition, the COA allows colleges to view applications much easier than before by determining a student’s placement. However, a traditional high school diploma still creates a better chance for a student to be accepted into college because it displays “true final grades,” as described by LaRusso, and a higher grade-point average than what a student with a COA would provide.
“Students will receive a Certificate of Attendance, they will be able to gain a GED, take summer school classes, or six credits of community college to be accepted here within the fall semester,” LaRusso said.
Although the Michigan rule is new and still slightly unfamiliar, another underlying issue came about when deciphering the new online portion.
“I’m concerned for inner-city schools that may not be able to afford the technology to go along with this change,” EMU Admissions Director Kathryn Orscheln said.
Viewing the inner city’s current economic problem as the greatest concern for the issue, LaRusso described his view on the positives this situation could bring.
“With New York and California already having these requirements,” LaRusso said. “This is to become better students and this will create and a stronger future workforce.”
Although LaRusso and Orscheln viewed this as no issue, several Hazel Park High School students saw fault in the new Michigan merit.
“Students in our school already view school as being hard enough, this would only make the drop-out rate increase,” said sophomore Sam Cooper.
Other students of HPHS had their own reasons for disagreeing with the suggestion of taking an online course and saw concern for inner cities.
“I don’t believe this is going to go over well with our school as well as the schools around us,” Steve Morton said. “We’re still considered in down time with the economy, adding on more issues, which will cost money is kind of a bad idea at this time.”
Yet LaRusso and Orscheln offered a completely opposite reaction toward the new system, acknowledging past troubles saying:
“I believe this is a start in a new generation; they have been slow to adapt and now they will be able to adapt with this new system.”
The changes coming with the new system have been accepted and scheduled to come into full effect for every Michigan high school by the beginning of the 2016 school year.
