Professional Development Opportunities

There are a series of events taking place throughout Michigan to help educators better understand how to meet the world languages requirement of the Michigan Merit Curriculum.

1. Michigan Merit Curriculum Update: Online Experience, Personal Curriculum, Science, Social Studies, Visual Performing and Applied Arts, World Languages (PDF).   There will be regional rollouts with general and breakout sessions to address each of these areas of the Michigan Merit Curriculum:

• Marquette-Alger RESA, December 18-19, 2007
• Wexford-Missaukee ISD, January 9, 2008
• Kent ISD, January 18, 2008
• Saginaw ISD, January 30, 2008
• St. Clair County RESA, Feb 4-5, 2008
• Kalamazoo RESA, February 22, 2008
• Wayne RESA, March 4, 2008 (to be held at the Doubletree Hotel in Dearborn)
• Ingham ISD, March 28, 2008

Background Information

Michigan Merit Curriculum Requirement in World Languages

On April 20, 2006 Governor Jennifer M. Granholm signed into law a new set of graduation requirements which includes a requirement in world language. Beginning with the Class of 2016 (fourth graders in 2007), students will need to complete 2 credits of a World Language in grades 9-12 OR have an equivalent learning experience in grades K-12. While the requirements in most subject areas were implemented in fall 2006, the world language requirement was delayed to allow schools and districts time to prepare.

Following the release of the new Michigan Merit Curriculum, the State Board of Education formed a working group to draft credit guidelines for the requirement and new standards and benchmarks for world languages. The writing team was composed of Jackie Moase-Burke (Oakland Schools), Anne Nerenz (Eastern Michigan University) and Emily Spinelli (American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese). The final documents were widely reviewed by the working group, professional organizations, community members and other educators.

At the August 14, 2007 meeting of the Michigan State Board of Education, the Board approved the two documents: Michigan Merit Curriculum Credit/Experience Guidelines for World Languages and Michigan World Language Standards and Benchmarks for K-12 Schools.

The World Languages Credit/Experience Guidelines (PDF) were developed to assist teachers in successfully implementing the two-credit world language requirement and to define the alternative option of two-year equivalent proficiency in a world language other than English in grades K-12. The identified content expectations and guidelines provide a useful framework for designing curriculum, assessment, and relevant learning experiences for students.

The Michigan World Language Standards and Benchmarks (PDF) define what students should know and be able to do to communicate effectively in a language other than English. These standards and benchmarks outline three levels of proficiency: a level that meets the Michigan Merit Curriculum requirements and two additional levels that describe the knowledge and skills attained by students who complete an extended program of study.