State Ann Bollin today joined the Michigan House in approving a plan to better meet the needs of Michigan students by giving local schools greater flexibility to create innovative programs.

For many students, traditional classroom models don’t reflect how they learn best. Michigan’s outdated seat-time requirements, which mandate 1,098 instructional hours over 180 days, make it difficult for schools to offer more personalized, real-world learning opportunities. The bipartisan plan approved by the House today would change that.

“We must recognize that every student learns differently,” Bollin said. “It’s time to move away from a one-size-fits-all model and give schools the freedom to focus on whether students are actually learning and building the skills they need for the future.”

House Bills 5983-5984 would empower school districts to establish innovative programs where students can learn through career and technical education, work-based learning, internships, and apprenticeships.  Students could earn their high school diploma by demonstrating mastery of academic skills, rather than simply logging hours in a classroom.

Under the plan, any innovative program would require approval from the Michigan Department of Education before being offered, and students could participate by opting in with parental consent.

“Right now, students are forced to move at the same pace whether they’ve mastered the material or not, because our system is built around time in a classroom instead of what kids are learning,” Bollin said. “This plan lets students move forward when they’ve proven they understand the material, not just when the clock says it’s time. It gives schools the flexibility to offer more personalized, real-world learning opportunities that better prepare kids for the future.”

House Bills 5983-5984 now advance to the Michigan Senate for further consideration.