The Michigan Department of Education last week offered some clarification regarding implementation of the World Language graduation requirements in the Michigan Merit Curriculum. In a memo dated May 4, 2012, State Superintendent Mike Flanagan offered the following guidance:

• The determination of what constitutes a credit and when credits will be awarded (whether it is in elementary, middle or high school) is solely determined by the local district.
• There is no specific test or assessment required by the state to determine when a student is awarded credit; rather it is determined locally.
• Credits can be earned at any level of the K-12 experience, in or outside of, the classroom.

It is MDE's hope that this guidance will help clarify that each district is to make local decisions about how to configure the World Language credit requirements in a way that will best meet the needs of each district and the students it serves. 
 
If you have questions regarding this clarification, please contact Linda Forward at forwardL@michigan.gov or 517-241-3147.