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Academic Standards
According to the dictionary, a standard is “something considered by an authority or by general consent as a basis of comparison”. Today’s world is replete with standards documents such as standards of care, standards of quality, and even standard operating procedures. These various sets of standards serve to outline agreed-upon expectations, rules, or actions which guide practice and provide a platform for evaluating or comparing these practices.
The State academic standards posted here serve to outline learning expectations for Michigan’s students and are intended to guide local curriculum development. They should be used as a framework by schools for curriculum development with the curriculum itself prescribing instructional resources, methods, progressions, and additional knowledge valued by the local community. Furthermore, these standards provide a platform for State assessments, which are used to measure how well schools are providing opportunities for all students to learn the content outlined by the standards.
On this page, you will also find the course/credit descriptions and guidelines for implementing the Michigan Merit Curriculum for each subject area. For questions related to Academic Standards, please call the Education Experiences Unit in the Office of Educational Supports at 517-241-2219.
Please note: Alternate Content Expectations are intended ONLY for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities.
The Michigan Department of Education (MDE), in partnership with The Comprehensive Center Network Region 8, is providing the following report: Tools and Guidance for Evaluating Bias in Instructional Materials. Districts may use this report to identify tools and rubrics that will assess bias in local standards and curricular materials.
Arts
- Michigan Arts Education Instruction and Assessment Project (MAEIA)
- Section 33 K-5 Music Programs Grant
- Standards, Benchmarks, and Grade Level Content Expectations (GLCEs) for Visual Arts, Music, Dance, and Theatre
- Visual, Performing and Applied Arts Course/Credit Requirements
Career and College Ready Skills
- Career and Technical Education (CTE) National Career Ready Practices
- CTE National Standards by Career Cluster and Career Pathways
- CTE Standards by Program Area
Computer Science
English Language Arts (ELA)
- Model Essential Skills for ELA
- ELA Alternate Content Expectations
- ELA Course/Credit Requirements
- ELA Crosswalks: Claims, Targets, and Standards
- Michigan K-12 ELA Standards
English Language Development (ELD) Standards
Health
- K-8 GLCEs for Health Education
- Michigan High School Health Credit Guidelines
- Michigan High School Health Standards
Mathematics
- Model Essential Skills for Mathematics
- Mathematics Alternate Content Expectations
- Mathematics Course/Credit Requirements
- Mathematics Crosswalks: Claims, Targets, and Standards
- Michigan K-12 Mathematics Standards
- Personal Finance Homepage
- Section 23h Improving Mathematics Teaching and Learning
Personal Finance
Physical Education
Science
- Michigan K-12 Science Standards
- Michigan Science Standards: An Overview for Principals
- Model Course Mapping Resource
- Science Course/Credit Requirements
- Subscribe to the Science List for monthly updates, resources, and opportunities.
- Contact Leanne Weber, Science Education Consultant, for further assistance.
Social Studies
- Michigan K-12 Social Studies Standards (June 2019)
- Personal Finance Homepage
- Section 99d Teaching Diverse Histories Grant
- Social Studies Course/Credit Requirements
Technology
- Michigan K-12 Computer Science Standards
- Michigan Integrated Educational Technology Competencies for Students (MITECS)
World Languages
- Michigan Seal of Biliteracy
- World Languages Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) (Updated October 2014)
- World Languages Guidelines (Updated September 2014)
- World Languages Standards and Benchmarks