HB 6520 Summary

• Creates a 12-member Commission on Climate Education in K-12 Instruction within the Department of Education, with members appointed by the Governor, superintendent of public instruction, and director of the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.

• Commission must include representatives from eight public universities (University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Wayne State University, Grand Valley State University, Western Michigan University, Northern Michigan University, Central Michigan University, and Michigan Technological University) who are experts in climatology, meteorology, environmental sciences, or sustainable technology.

• Commission must review current academic curriculum standards and provide recommendations to the state board and legislature within 365 days on age- and grade-appropriate climate education instruction covering fossil fuels versus clean energy, energy governance, environmental justice, climate impacts on agriculture and communities, freshwater ecosystems, water infrastructure, and climate solutions.

• State board must update recommended model core academic curriculum content standards within 2 school years to incorporate the commission's recommendations, and beginning in 2025-2026 school year, all school districts and public school academies must provide climate change instruction at all grade levels.

• Michigan merit examination and M-STEP science assessments must include questions related to climate change learning objectives starting in 2025-2026 school year; commission dissolves 2 years after the bill's effective date.