Diploma certification would be first-of-its-kind

Michigan students pursuing an advanced degree or a highly skilled career would have a leg up on their competition thanks to legislation sponsored by state Rep. Amanda Price and state Sen. John Proos.

House Bills 5904 and 5905 – and the accompanying Senate Bills 1109 and 1110 – allow students to earn a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) certification on their high school diploma. The STEM endorsement would also be included on student transcripts as the graduates seek technical training and college admittance.

“Equipping our high school students with the right skills and training to be competitive will help them take the next step in their educational careers,” said Price, R-Park Township. “Whether that next step is college or trade school or any other form of technical training, we need to encourage them to pursue their own brighter futures, and these bills will go a long way in setting our Michigan graduates apart from the crowd.”

Gov. Rick Snyder has called for an increased focus on STEM education in Michigan schools. If enacted, the measures would the first of their kind in the United States.

“This initiative is the next step in ensuring that we are doing all we can to help prepare all Michigan students for success and also meet the skilled workforce needs of a growing economy,” said Proos, R-St. Joseph. “Putting this certification on a student’s diploma and transcript will help improve their college resume and their chances to land a well-paying job.”

HBs 5904 and 5905 and SBs 1109 and 1110 will be formally introduced when the Legislature returns to session.