Personal Curriculum Requirements

Purpose of a Personal Curriculum:

The personal curriculum (PC) is a tool for modifying the MMC in order to individualize the rigor and relevance of the state graduation requirements. All students are eligible for a Personal Curriculum with different populations of students falling under different rules for modifications allowed.  Certain modifications to the Michigan Merit Curriculum cannot be made.

The PC is a process to modify specific credit requirements and/or content expectations based on the individual learning needs of a student. It is designed to serve students who want to accelerate or go beyond the MMC requirements and students who need to individualize learning requirements to meet the MMC requirements.

Decision Making and Implementation Steps:

A parent or guardian of a student who has completed 9^th grade (or the student is at least 18 years of age or emancipated) or a student’s teacher or counselor, may request a personal curriculum by contacting the student’s counselor.  The counselor will develop a PC agreement that includes alignment with the Educational Development Plan (and IEP if applicable). The PC must be approved by the district superintendent or designee, the student’s parent/guardian, and the student if over age 18.

While every request to modify a student’s graduation requirements should be considered, the school district or public school academy may deny a PC request if:

• The request does not comply with state statute.
• Other options for meeting the student’s educational needs have not been documented.
• It is not in the best interest of the student.
• The members of the PC development team cannot reach agreement