The Implementation of the Michigan Merit Curriculum: An Examination of Course Titles Versus Course Content

• In Event: 26.080 - Roundtable Session 8
  In Roundtable Session: 26.080-8 - Teachers and Teaching

Abstract

In the spring of 2006, the Michigan Department of Education announced that all high school students had to complete the Michigan Merit Curriculum (MMC) with the aim of having all students career and college ready upon graduation. We conduct a rigorous examination of course content in schools across Michigan to learn more about what students are actually taking. We compare the course content implied by the course title to the content indicated in the course descriptions. For 64% of the courses, the content in the title and description align, with significantly higher percentages for science than for math. We also see significant differences in matching before and after the MMC. Implications and significance of these findings are discussed.

Authors

• Soobin Kim, Michigan State University

• Rachel C Troutman, Michigan State University

• Elizabeth Covay Minor, National Louis University

• Kenneth A. Frank, Michigan State University

• Barbara Schneider, Michigan State University