Plan improves student preparedness for future careers

State Rep. Roger Hauck’s plan to modernize high school graduation standards was approved today by the Michigan House Education Committee.

The four-bill package updates curriculum requirements across the board, but Hauck’s legislation specifically allows a student enrolled in a career and technical education (CTE) program to fulfill the required half credit of physical education by completing a 30-hour Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) educational training program. The requirement would be satisfied as long as the course or program relates to occupational safety and health standards applicable to general industry or construction.

“We must give students the option to pick courses that more closely align with their future goals and career interests,” said Hauck, of Union Township. “We keep hearing about Michigan industries and businesses that are struggling because there aren’t enough qualified individuals to staff them. This plan is twofold in that it helps students learn more about what interests them and it will help fill the gaps in our state’s workforce.”

The plan will also:

• Allow the foreign language course requirement to be met by completing a CTE program or visual or performing arts course.
• Require students to complete at least three courses in any combination of foreign language, visual or performing arts, computer science or coding, or a formal CTE program in order to graduate.
• Allow a statistics or financial literacy course to be an alternative to Algebra II within current standards that require at least four mathematics credits to graduate.

House Bills 4269, 4271 and 4282 now move to be considered by the House Ways and Means Committee.

#####