HB 4557: Education: examinations; certain requirements concerning the Michigan merit examination; modify. Amends secs. 22p & 104c of 1979 PA 94 (MCL 388.1622p & 388.1704c) & repeals sec. 104b of 1979 PA 94 (MCL 388.1704b). - Michigan

Substitute (S-1) - 5 → House Concurred Bill · 8 edits

MODERATE

The bill was converted from a Senate substitute version to the final House Concurred Bill, incorporating significant new requirements for student assessments. The most substantive change is the addition of mandatory summative assessments for social studies and new reporting requirements for educators and the public, alongside stricter timelines for implementing assessment systems.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include social studies as a subject for mandatory summative assessments and added specific requirements for test quality review and public access to test samples.

REQUIREMENT

Added mandatory summative assessments for social studies for students in grades 5 and 8, expanding the testing requirements beyond English language arts, mathematics, and science.

Added new requirements for the assessment system to include transparent review processes for test questions, public access to sample questions, and detailed reporting on individual student domain-level performance.

Added a requirement that the assessment system be pilot-tested before statewide implementation to ensure reliability.

Added a cap on the total cost of the statewide assessment system, limiting it to no more than twice the cost of the previous system adjusted for inflation.

Added a specific time limit requiring that the combined administration of math and English language arts assessments for any single grade level must not exceed 3 hours on average.

Added a requirement that summative assessments for grades 8-10 must align with the college entrance test portion of the Michigan merit examination.

Modified the partnership district agreement requirements to include attendance rates and specific graduation rate improvements as measurable benchmarks.

TIMELINE

Added a requirement that benchmark assessments for grades K-2 must be fully implemented by the 2019-2020 school year.

Substitute (H-3) - 2 → Substitute (S-1) - 8 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was converted from a House substitute to a Senate substitute, updating references to the 2024 PA 120 session law to the 2025 PA 15 session law. The core policy changes involve shifting the terminology from 'academic outcomes' to 'benchmarks' and clarifying that accountability measures apply to schools subject to the partnership district agreement. Additionally, the requirement for reconstitution now explicitly applies to public school academies operating under these agreements, and the goals for reconstituted schools must now align with the specific measurable benchmarks in the agreement.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding accountability remains similar, but the applicability of reconstitution requirements is now explicitly extended to public school academies assigned as partnership districts, whereas the previous version focused primarily on districts.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the term 'measurable academic outcomes' to 'measurable benchmarks' throughout the partnership agreement requirements.

Revised the description of benchmark requirements to list 'pupils on track' as a specific item rather than an outcome description.

Explicitly included public school academies in the list of schools subject to reconstitution if they fail to meet partnership benchmarks.

Updated the reconstitution plan goals to require alignment with the 'measurable benchmarks' included in the partnership district agreement.

TECHNICAL

Updated legislative session law references from '2024 PA 120' to '2025 PA 15' and changed the document title to 'Senate Substitute'.

As Passed by the Senate → Substitute (H-3) · 2 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to replace the term 'benchmarks' with 'academic outcomes' throughout the text, clarifying that the district must achieve specific results rather than just set targets. Additionally, the amendment updated the citation for the 2025 legislative act to the correct 2024 act, correcting a reference error in the original version.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the requirement from achieving 'measurable benchmarks' to achieving 'measurable academic outcomes' to better define the expected results for schools.

TECHNICAL

Corrected the legislative citation from '2025 PA 15' to '2024 PA 120' to accurately reflect the law that amended section 22p.

As Passed by the House → As Passed by the Senate · 7 edits · Mar 18, 2026

MODERATE

This bill updates the partnership requirements for school districts and academies, shifting the focus from generic 'academic outcomes' to specific 'measurable benchmarks' like attendance and graduation rates. It also significantly expands the state's standardized testing system by adding mandatory science and social studies assessments in grades 5 and 8, while introducing strict new rules to limit testing time and costs.

Scope change

The bill applies to all districts and public school academies designated as 'partnership districts' and expands the scope of state-mandated assessments to include science and social studies for younger students.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the required partnership agreement benchmarks from general 'academic outcomes' to specific metrics including attendance rates and high school graduation rates.

Added a specific requirement that if a school is reconstituted due to poor performance, the district must make significant changes to instructional programming based on a comprehensive data review.

Added new requirements for reconstitution plans to include adoption of goals similar to the partnership benchmarks with a 3-year limit, triggering a second reconstitution if goals are not met.

Added mandatory summative assessments for science and social studies in grades 5 and 8, expanding the current testing requirements for English and Math.

Added new constraints on the testing system to ensure assessments are pilot-tested, do not exceed 9 hours total per grade level, and cost no more than double the previous system adjusted for inflation.

Added a requirement that summative assessments for grades 8-10 must align with the college entrance test portion of the Michigan Merit Examination.

ENFORCEMENT

Clarified that if a partnership district fails to sign an agreement within 90 days of assignment, the department must withhold funding until the agreement is signed.

House Introduced Bill → As Passed by the House · 6 edits · Dec 18, 2025

MODERATE

This bill amends the State School Aid Act to strengthen accountability for partnership districts and public school academies by requiring specific academic outcomes and attendance metrics in their agreements. It also overhauls the state assessment system to include new subjects like science and social studies, mandates more detailed reporting for educators and parents, and sets strict time limits for test administration to reduce student burden.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of required assessments to include science and social studies and adds ESSA compliance requirements, while tightening eligibility and reporting rules for partnership districts.

REQUIREMENT

Partnership agreements must now include measurable attendance rates and specific academic outcomes tied to pupil needs.

New accountability measures require reconstitution of schools that fail to meet partnership goals, with specific procedures for public school academies.

The summative assessment system is expanded to include science and social studies in addition to English language arts and mathematics.

New requirements mandate that assessments be pilot-tested, limit total testing time to a maximum of 9 hours, and provide detailed performance reports to parents and teachers.

The previous requirement for a 3-year limit on reconstitution goals and a mandatory second reconstitution plan after 3 years was removed.

TIMELINE

Benchmark assessments for grades K-2 must be implemented by the 2019-2020 school year.

Education: examinations; certain requirements concerning the Michigan merit examination; modify. Amends secs. 22p & 104c of 1979 PA 94 (MCL 388.1622p & 388.1704c) & repeals sec. 104b of 1979 PA 94 (MCL 388.1704b).

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