Michigan

• Compulsory Attendance Ages: Between 6 and 16. (§ 380.1561)

• Required Days of Instruction: No specific number of days is mandated

• Required Subjects: Must be "comparable to those taught in the public schools" if  operating as a nonpublic school; or reading, spelling, mathematics, science, history, civics, literature, writing, and English grammar if operating under the home school law.
   Home schools have two options. They can either operate under the home school statute or qualify as a non-public school.

   Option I: Home School Statute (§ 380.1561(3)(f))
   1. "A child is not required to attend a public school if: 'The child is being educated at the child's home by his or her parent or legal guardian in an organized educational program in the subject areas of reading, spelling, mathematics, science, history,  civics, literature, writing, and English grammar.'"
   2. There are no requirements to notify, seek approval, test, file forms, or have any certain teacher qualifications. The burden is on the state to prove that the parents are not teaching their children. Teacher certification is unconstitutional.

• Alternative Statute Allowing for Home Schools:

   Option II: Nonpublic School Option. 380.1561(3)(a). "A child who is attending regularly and is being taught in a state approved, nonpublic school, which teaches subjects comparable to those taught in the public schools to children of corresponding age and grade, as determined by the course of study for the public schools within which the nonpublic school is located" is exempt from public school attendance. A home school is considered a nonpublic school. All nonpublic schools must use certified teachers. Even though the home school law above was enacted in 1996, it does not prohibit any parent from choosing this option of operating their home school as a nonpublic school.  If a home school chooses this option, it must do the following:
   1. If requested by the Michigan Department of Education, home schoolers operating as nonpublic schools need to submit records of enrollment of pupils, courses of study (language arts, math, social studies, science, civics, Michigan history, physical  education, art, and health), and qualifications of teachers. (§ 388.555). However,  home schools are not required to furnish the information on the SM-4325 form developed by the Department of Education. Home schools must also furnish the local public school superintendent or the intermediate superintendent with the following information at the beginning of each school year: (a) name and age of each child enrolled at the school, (b) number or name of the school district and the city or  township and county where the parent lives, (c) the name and address of the parent, and (d) the name and age of any child enrolled in the school who is not in regular attendance. (§ 380.1578).
   2. Home schools which do not have a religious objection to teacher certification are required to have all hours of instruction in the home school done by a certified teacher. However, the home school does not have to operate for 180 days.
   3. Home schoolers who are opposed to teacher certification based on sincerely held religious beliefs are exempt from this requirement. Therefore, all families who object  to teacher certification on religious grounds may claim a religious exemption.
   4. Home schools do not need to be approved. The Michigan Department of Education's authority is limited to disapproval of private, nonpublic schools, pursuant to the administrative procedures under § 388.554) based upon a finding of noncompliance with state law by that school.
   5. Also, any "compliance procedures" created by the Dept. of Educ. are only interpretive rules which have no force of law. "The Department of Education is not authorized, explicitly or implicitly, to promulgate rules relating to the Nonpublic School Act"

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Michigan State High School Graduation Requirements

Currently, there is no complete statewide definition for Michigan High School Graduation Requirements. Each local school has defined graduation requirements for its district. These vary from district to district. In 2006, the State passed a statewide graduation requirement which is effective for the graduating class of 2011.

• English units     --
  • Eff. Class of 2011: 4
• Math units     --
  • Eff. Class of 2011: 4, incl. Algebra I, II, geometry. 4th unit chosen from trigonometry, statistics, precalculus, calculus, applied math, accounting, business math or retake of Algebra II. All students must take 1 math course during senior year of high school. Per parental request and counselor approval, student may complete "personal curriculum" with modified math requirements, but only after student has completed 2.5 units math and if student completes 3.5 units math before graduation, including 1 unit during senior year of high school.
• Social studies units: .5. Pre-2011: Students must complete .5 unit civics instruction, which must include "the form and functions of the federal, state, and local governments and shall stress the rights and responsibilities of citizens."
  • Eff. Class of 2011: 3. 1 U.S. history and geography, 1 world history and geography, .5 economics, and civics course. "Personal curriculum" may include modified social studies requirements only if student has completed 2 units social studies, including civics course and modification requires student to complete additional unit English, math, science or foreign language.
• Science units     --
  • Eff. Class of 2011: 3 lab, incl. biology and chemistry or physics. 4th unit science strongly encouraged but not required
• P.E./Health units: Pre- and eff. 2011: Every public school student "who is physically fit and capable of doing so shall take the course in physical education."
  • Eff. Class of 2011: 1. 1 unit health/p.e. This requirement may be modified as part of "personal curriculum" if student completes add'l unit English, math, science or foreign language.
• Arts     --
  • Eff. Class of 2011: 1 unit visual, performing or applied arts. This requirement may be modified as part of "personal curriculum" if student completes add'l unit English, math, science or foreign language.
• Foreign language     --
  • Eff. Class of 2016: 2. American sign language defined as foreign language. May be completed by course work or "other learning experiences" in grades K-12 equivalent to 2 units foreign language, and may be completed wholly or partially through online course work.
• Electives units     --
• Other units     --
  • Eff. Class of 2011: 1 unit visual, performing or applied arts. This requirement may be modified as part of "personal curriculum" if student completes add'l unit English, math, science or foreign language.

TOTAL # units     --
Eff. Class of 2011: 16
Eff. Class of 2016: 18
Other diploma options: State does not offer differentiated diploma pathways. State has policy on awarding proficiency-based credit.

Technical notes and citations:

• Pre-2011: High school graduation requirements set by local boards.
  
• Eff. Class of 2011: The new graduation requirements are referred to as the Michigan merit standard. A parent may request that their child complete modified graduation requirements, although the English and science requirements may not be modified, and math requirements may be modified only according to specific parameters. All students must complete an online course or learning experience. The superintendent of public instruction may designate up to 15 high schools as "specialty high schools." Specialty high schools must meet specified criteria, including that a significant reading and writing component is incorporated throughout the curriculum and the school "uses a specialized, innovative, and rigorous curriculum in such areas as performing arts, foreign language, extensive use of internships, or other learning innovations that conform to pioneering innovations among other leading national or international high schools." If a speciality high school, subsequent to identification as such, fails to meet specified standards, the high school will lose special designation. A district unable to meet a curricular requirement for students entering grade 9 in 2007 may apply to the department for permission to phase in 1 or more requirements.

MICH. COMP. LAWS ANN. § 380.1157b, 380.1166, 380.1278, 380.1278a, 380.1278b, 380.1279, 380.1279b, 380.1279e, 380.1502, 388.1704a, 388.1907

Important Note: State Graduation requirements are not necessarily the best guideline for homeschoolers to use. They have been included here as a guideline for what a typical public school student would need to complete in order to graduate.

A more important guideline may be the College Entrance requirements for where your student would like to attend college. While colleges have differing requirements, there are many colleges that publish requirements for homeschool graduates.