Advocates for making Michigan's high school graduation requirements more flexible were back at the table at a July 15 House Education Committee, whose chair said the question was more of a matter of when, not whether, changes will be made to the 2006 law. The testimony echoed earlier criticism of the Michigan Merit Curriculum.

But offering one new perspective was Yung Zhao, a Michigan State University professor and native of China who warned Michigan would be headed to the dark ages of education if it did not change a standard he said does not allow schools to bring out the strongest abilities of each student.

"What determines success is flexibility and different pathways to success," he said, adding he did not realize that his children would be facing the same kinds of education restraints in Michigan as he experienced in China. "A model that works well is in England, where they are using a personalized curriculum rather than a standardized one so they can identify every child's strength."

Mr. Zhao said foreign language, tough mathematics requirements and other standards are great, but should not be required of everyone. And he said greater flexibility could mean counting language courses taken prior to high school, reflecting the conclusions of many studies that students learn languages better when they start young.

Karen McPhee, superintendent of the Ottawa Area ISD, also supported changes to for HB 4410 as a way to apply rigorous standards to both those students who are going to college and those on a career track. The bill, she said, "acknowledges there is more than one way to achieve the same ends."

Rep. Tim Melton (D-Auburn Hills), chair of the committee, said the bill will be subject to additional hearings yet this summer.

Source: Gongwer News Service, 7.15.09