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HB 4836

Education: examinations; opt-out option for the workforce readiness assessment portion of the Michigan merit examination; provide for. Amends sec. 104b of 1979 PA 94 (MCL 388.1704b).

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Tom Kunse and 7 co-sponsors

HB 4836 adds a formal opt-out option for the workforce readiness portion of the Michigan Merit Examination starting in 2025-2026.

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Bill Summary · HB 4836

Summary of HB 4836 (Education: examinations; opt-out option for the workforce readiness assessment portion of the Michigan merit examination)

Overview

HB 4836, introduced March 13, 2025 and electronically reproduced September 4, 2025, would amend section 104b of the Michigan Merit Examination statute (1989 PA 94, MCL 388.1704b) to add an opt-out option for the workforce readiness component of the Michigan Merit Examination (MME). The bill is sponsored by Rep. Paquette and colleagues and referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce.

What the bill would change

  • Reforms the composition and administration of the Michigan Merit Examination, which currently comprises:
    • A college entrance test
    • A work skills/workforce readiness assessment
    • The M-STEP (the summative assessment)
  • Specifically introduces a waiver-based opt-out for the workforce readiness component starting with the 2025-2026 school year.
  • Requires the department to prepare an informational letter about the purpose and benefits of the workforce readiness assessment, developed with input from business, manufacturing, and skilled trades representatives.

Opt-out mechanism (key details)

  • Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, a pupil may elect not to take the workforce readiness test via a waiver.
  • Waiver requirements:
    • Developed by the Department of Technology, Management, and Budget (DTMB)
    • Available on the department’s website
    • Signed by the pupil’s parent or legal guardian
    • Submitted to the pupil’s school district, intermediate school district, or public school academy by February 28 of the school year in which the test is administered
  • Informational letter:
    • The department must consult with industry representatives to develop the informational letter
    • The district/ISD/PSA must provide the informational letter to the pupil and parent/guardian no later than December 31 of the school year in which the test is administered

Other substantive provisions

  • The MME must continue to include:
    • ELA, mathematics, reading, science components (and possibly writing) aligned to state standards and college entrance expectations
    • A component that assesses ability to apply reading and mathematics skills for potential employment decisions
    • Compliance with federal standards (No Child Left Behind/ESSA) and the Joint Committee on Testing Practices fairness guidelines
  • Scoring and reporting:
    • Contractors must provide individual reports showing whether the pupil met or did not meet expectations for each standard
    • Contractors must meet quality management standards, initially at Level 2 of the CMMI model and, in subsequent years, at Level 3
    • Deadlines established in contracts for scoring, distributing materials, and returning results; penalties for noncompliance
    • The department and superintendent must ensure scaling and merging of items for subject-area scores as needed; publish a document explaining scoring and score ranges
  • Transcript and attendance data:
    • High school transcripts must include scaled scores for each subject area and the number of days attended each school year
  • Administration and timing:
    • The MME must be administered in the last 12 weeks of the school year
    • Scores must be returned to students, parents/guardians, and districts by the beginning of the student’s first semester of grade 12

Who would be affected

  • Michigan public school districts, intermediate school districts, and public school academies administering the MME
  • Students in grade 11 (and grade 12 for those who did not take the full MME in grade 11)
  • Parents/guardians who would sign opt-out waivers
  • Employers and industry representatives who participate in advising the workforce readiness component

Timelines and procedural notes

  • 2025-2026 school year: opt-out option becomes available via waiver
  • Waiver deadline: February 28 of the test year
  • Informational letter to pupils/parents: by December 31 of the test year
  • Administrative and scoring deadlines tied to MME administration and reporting (contractual requirements and penalties apply)

Bottom line

HB 4836 adds a formal opt-out path for the workforce readiness portion of the MME, while preserving the integrated assessment framework and ensuring continued alignment with state and federal testing standards, enhanced reporting, and clear implementation timelines.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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