MCAN applauds legislative changes to Michigan Merit Exam, transcripts

LANSING, Mich. — Earlier today, the Michigan legislature passed House Bills 4556 and 4557, which make changes to the Michigan Merit Exam and high school transcripts. The bills now head to the governor’s desk, where Gov. Whitmer is expected to sign the bills into law. Michigan College Access Network applauds the legislature for passing these bipartisan bills, which modernize the exam and remove unnecessary barriers for students.

These bills eliminate the SAT Essay section as a Michigan Merit Exam requirement. College Board, which owns the SAT, discontinued the SAT Essay in 2021, but still provides it to the dwindling number of states that require it. The SAT already measures writing through its Reading and Writing sections, meaning student writing skills are still evaluated without the essay. The SAT Essay is a very narrow, timed writing exercise that does not measure the type of writing students are expected to do in college or in the workforce.

The bills also remove the requirement that schools place 11th-grade SAT scores on student transcripts, restoring student and parent control over whether those scores are shared with colleges as part of the admissions process. Because nearly every Michigan college has moved to test-optional applications — including all 15 public universities — forcing high schools to place SAT scores on transcripts can disadvantage Michigan students competing with out-of-state applicants who are not required to submit scores.

“These bills remove outdated mandates and reduce testing time and stress for students, all without eliminating meaningful academic assessment. We’re thankful for our partners at the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals and the Michigan Association for College Admission Counseling, who advocated for these changes alongside us,” said MCAN Executive Director Ryan Fewins-Bliss. “As we make progress toward Sixty by 30, we should always be looking for ways to reduce barriers to college and improve student success. MCAN appreciates the legislature’s attention to this issue, and we look forward to continued collaboration with lawmakers, educators, and partners across the state to ensure that Michigan’s policies reflect today’s realities and expand pathways to college and career success.”