Board approves Michigan Merit diploma option for River Valley Academy to help credit‑deficient students graduate

The Rockford Public Schools Board unanimously approved a new diploma option on March 19 that allows River Valley Academy and the district’s adult‑education program to offer a Michigan Merit curriculum variant totaling 19.5 credits, rather than the district’s standard 27.5‑credit Rockford High School diploma.

Administration and River Valley staff framed the option as voluntary: students at River Valley who qualify or who choose the pathway may opt for the 19.5‑credit Michigan Merit diploma, which includes the state minimum (18 credits) plus a 0.5‑credit college‑and‑career readiness requirement created with grant support, district leaders said. River Valley students would still have the option to pursue the full Rockford High School diploma if they prefer.

Jenny Thompson, director of River Valley Academy, told the board River Valley serves students who frequently arrive credit deficient and sometimes need an alternative pathway to graduation. She said River Valley currently has 34 seniors; 21 of those (62 percent) need at least a trimester’s worth of electives to meet Rockford’s full diploma requirements, and 16 seniors have 10 or more credits to earn, the presentation said. The new diploma option is intended to provide an on‑ramp to a recognized high‑school diploma for students who might otherwise be unlikely to finish under the higher elective requirement.

The board was shown a county comparison showing other districts’ practice: most Kent County districts with alternative high‑school programs require 18 credits (Michigan Merit), while a small number require 19, 20 or the district’s 19.5 proposal. Proponents said offering the option could reduce dropout risk while preserving access to Rockford’s more comprehensive diploma for students who want it.

Trustees asked about how the option would affect coursework, transfers back to comprehensive high school and the program’s alignment with the district’s standards. Thompson and district staff said the option is intended to preserve rigorous, standards‑based work while allowing a different elective mix and a focused college‑and‑career readiness unit. Board members voted unanimously to approve the recommendation; administration said students who select the pathway would still be invited to participate in commencement with classmates and that implementation would begin immediately for interested students.

The motion was moved by Christie Ramsey and seconded by Andrea (last name not specified in the record). The board approved the change and asked administration to report implementation details and numbers back to the board.