January 5, 2005

MEAP Test to be Replaced with New Michigan Merit Exam

LANSING – Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today signed legislation that will implement an improved measure of high school student achievement. Under the legislation, the Michigan Education Assessment Program (MEAP) will be replaced with a college entrance-type exam, called the Michigan Merit Exam, beginning in the 2006-2007 school year.

This new, more rigorous exam will help teachers better understand what students have learned in the classroom and identify the progress students still need to ensure success in college and the 21st century workplace.

"To create a strong economy and good jobs, we need to reach our goal of doubling the number of college graduates in Michigan," Granholm said. "We know the more you learn, the more you earn, and this new exam will help high school students gain the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in college and the workplace. This new exam sends the message that we expect every student will continue their education beyond high school."

The new Michigan Merit Exam will test college entrance readiness in English, mathematics, reading, and science, and measure a student’s ability to successfully enter the workforce. The exam will also contain a social studies component.

Replacing the MEAP test with a college entrance based exam such as the new Michigan Merit Exam, was among the 19 recommendations of the Commission on Higher Education and Economic Growth presented in December. The report called for the implementation of a new set of rigorous standards for all high school students based on the skills needed to succeed in college and the workplace.

Under the new laws, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Michigan Department of Education, and the State Board of Education will be responsible for developing the new high school standards that support the new Michigan Merit Exam.

This package of legislation has five bills as detailed below:

SB 1153 (Public Act 597) requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Michigan Department of Management and Budget to ensure that specific MME examination contract requirements have been met and requires the Michigan Department of Education take all steps necessary to obtain approval of the U.S. Department of Education to use the MME for the purpose of the No Child Left Behind Act. It also excludes the assessment of a child who was not enrolled in the school district that administered their assessment from that school district’s scores.

SB 1154 (Public Act 594) amends the postsecondary enrollment options act to define "Michigan Merit Examination," "Qualifying Score," and "readiness assessment" and requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to determine qualifying scores for each subject area component of the readiness assessment.

SB 1155 (Public Act 593) amends the definition of "at risk pupil" to include a pupil who did not achieve proficiency on the reading component or did not achieve basic competency on the science component of the most recent MME for which results have been received.

SB 1156 (Public Act 596) amends the Michigan Merit Award Scholarship Act, in part, to revise the definition of "assessment test" to mean middle school assessment test, the high school assessment test, or the Michigan Merit Exam, and adjusts, after the 2006-2007 school year, the requirements met by students enrolled in grade 11 in order to be eligible for the Michigan Merit Award scholarship if they received an overall score in the top 25 percent of a nationally recognized college admission examination even if they did not receive qualifying results on the MME.

SB 1157 (Public Act 592) amends the Career and Technical Preparation Act (2000 PA 258), in part, to require the Superintendent of Public Instruction to do the following no later than July 1, 2005: approve one or more readiness assessment to be used to determine eligible students in the 2006-2007 school year and determine qualifying scores for each subject area component of a readiness assessment. It also defines "readiness assessment" as assessment instruments that are aligned with state learning standards; that are used nationally to provide high school students with an early indication of college readiness proficiency in English, mathematics, reading, social studies, and science and may contain a comprehensive career planning program; and that are approved by the Superintendent of Public Instruction for the purposes of this act.

The bills have immediate effect.