LANSING - Michigan’s newly-enacted high school graduation requirements have been deemed rigorous enough by U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings to qualify students for the new federal Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) - a post-secondary financial aid program to complement federal Pell Grants.

“We are seeing the first real benefit of our new high school graduation requirements,” said Governor Jennifer M. Granholm. “More federal financial aid and more educational opportunity is good news for Michigan students and good news for Michigan’s economy.

“Michigan students will be receiving the rigorous education, with some additional financial support, to prepare themselves for the competitive 21st Century global marketplace and place Michigan in a key position to draw in more high-tech industries with good-paying jobs.”

The U.S. Department of Education notified Michigan that its new Michigan Merit Curriculum has been recognized and accepted as a rigorous secondary school program of study for the purposes of student eligibility for the ACG program. In addition, students who complete a State Scholars Initiative; Advanced Placement; or International Baccalaureate program also qualify for the ACG.

“We are proud of the collaborative, bi-partisan drive of the Governor, State Board of Education, and state Legislature to pass the new high school requirements and put Michigan in a position to qualify for this new federal college grant program,” said state Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan.

“Our new, rigorous high school graduation standards are a tremendous benefit to Michigan students on many levels,” he added.

An ACG will provide up to $750 for the first year of undergraduate study and up to $2,300 for the second year to full-time students enrolled in a two- or four-year degree program; who are eligible for a federal Pell Grant; and who had successfully completed a rigorous high school program, as determined by the state and recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. Second-year students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0. The ACG award will be in addition to the student’s Pell Grant award.

Flanagan explained that even though the Michigan Merit Curriculum does not go into effect until the graduating Class of 2011, Michigan students who can show they have taken the same requirements will be able to qualify for the ACG now.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, 41,303 Michigan students currently receiving federal Pell Grants are being notified of their eligibility for Academic Competitiveness Grants. To qualify, these students will have to meet all other program requirements, including identifying (via the Federal Student Aid web site at www.ed.gov/fsa) their completion of a program of rigorous high school coursework.

The Michigan Merit Curriculum requires:

• Four credits of English;
• Four credits of math (including Algebra I, Algebra II, and one credit in the Senior Year);
• Three credits of science (including biology, chemistry or physics, and one additional science credit);
• Three credits of social studies;
• One credit of health/physical education;
• One credit of visual, performing, applied arts;
• One on-line learning experience; and
• Two credits of a world language (by the graduating Class of 2016)

For more information on the Academic Competitiveness Grant, link to the U.S. Department of Education website at: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/ac-smart.html

In addition to the Michigan Merit Curriculum, the other approved program options for ACG eligibility for a student from Michigan are:

• The State Scholars Initiative requirements. This program, currently offered in Michigan and twenty-one other States and patterned after the recommendations of the National Commission on Excellence in Education, requires at least:
  
  • Four years of English;
  • Three years of math (including Algebra I, Algebra II and Geometry);
  • Three years of lab science (biology, chemistry, physics);
  • Three-and-one-half years of social studies; and
  • Two years of a language other than English.
• A set of courses similar to the State Scholars Initiative. This program of study requires passing grades in the following:
  • Four years of English;
  • Three years of Math (including Algebra I and a higher level course such as Algebra II, Geometry, or Data Analysis and Statistics);
  • Three years of science (including at least two courses from biology, chemistry or physics);
  • Three years of social studies; and
  • One year of a foreign language.
• Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses and test scores. This program requires a minimum of two Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses in high school and a minimum passing score on the exams for those classes. Students must score 3 or higher on AP exams and 4 or higher on IB exams.