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 Curriculum and Instruction Unit at 517-241-2219.
Please note: Alternate Content Expectations are intended ONLY for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities.
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
- Visual, Performing and Applied Arts Course/Credit Requirement
- Standards, Benchmarks and Grade Level Content Expectations for Visual Arts, Music, Dance, and Theatre
- Arts Performance Assessments and Resources (MAEIA)
Career and College Ready Skills
- CTE Standards by Program Area
- CTE National Career Ready Practices
- CTE National Standards by Career Cluster and Career Pathways
Computer Science
English Language Arts
- ELA Alternate Content Expectations
- English Language Arts Course/Credit Requirements
- ELA Crosswalks: Claims, Targets, and Standards
- Michigan K-12 Standards for English Language Arts
English Language Development Standards
Health
- Michigan High School Health Credit Guidelines
- Michigan High School Health Standards
- K-8 Grade Level Content Expectations for Health Education
Mathematics
- Math Alternate Content Expectations
- Mathematics Crosswalks: Claims, Targets, and Standards
- K-12 Math Standards
- Math Course Credit
Physical Education
Science
- Science Alternate Content Expectations
- Michigan K-12 Science Standards
- Michigan Science Standards: An Overview for Principals
- Science Course/Credit Requirements
- Model Course Mapping Resource
Social Studies
- Social Studies Alternate Content Expectations
- Social Studies Course/Credit Requirements
- Approved Social Studies Standards – June 2019
Technology
- Michigan K-12 Computer Science Standards
- Michigan Integrated Educational Technology Competencies for Students (MITECS)
World Languages
- Michigan Seal of Biliteracy
- World Languages Standards and Benchmarks
- World Languages FAQ (Updated October 2014)
- World Languages Guidelines (Updated 9/2014)
