LANSING – As the first group of students under the Michigan Merit Curriculum begins its high school career this fall, many school districts are preparing for the yet-unfelt effects of the new requirements.

The 2006 law mandated new graduation requirements for students, including four years of math and science and an online learning experience.

Jan Ellis, a state Department of Education press officer, said the curriculum change is aimed at ensuring students have the resources and skills to succeed in the workplace “and get something more than a minimum-wage job.”

Imlay City Community Schools Superintendent Gary Richards said while no major changes are needed in his district this year, he’s anticipating what’s to come.

“It won’t impact the teaching staff for a couple of years,” he said. Eventually, more teachers will have to be added in core areas such as math and science.

“They expect us to be creative and find solutions to make it work,” Richards said.

If the district doesn’t receive more financial support, one option would be to cut back on electives such as psychology, sociology or yearbook. Richards said he’s hoping for more financial support from the state so that doesn’t happen.

He said another option his district is looking into is a switch to a trimester system because it would allow him to use his existing staff, fulfill the requirements and keep electives.

“We still don’t know how much money we’ll get this year,” he said of state school aid.

Richards said the district is brainstorming and sharing ideas with other districts.

Lapeer West High School Principal Kevin Walters said the reform law is the “most widespread” issue he’s had to deal with.

He said there are some difficulties in preparing for the change, but the model put forth is excellent.

“The challenge is in self-preparation,” he said.

Walters said his school will switch to a trimester system next fall, as opposed to its traditional two-semester year. The school year will consist of three 12-week periods, with students taking five classes a day instead of six.

“Electives are critically important to me,” Walters said, and the trimester system will allow flexibility for students to meet all requirements and take electives as well.

Iris Salters, president of the Michigan Education Association (MEA), said the new requirements necessitate some enhancements but districts receive no additional funding to comply.

The MEA is the state’s largest union of teachers and other school staff.

Salters said the law is a financial liability for school districts.

For example, she said, teachers will be required to have a degree in the subject they teach, and adding staff is hard for small schools.

“It really doesn’t matter if we embrace it or not,” she said. “We’re gearing up to meet these requirements.”

However, Ellis said many school districts already had similar requirements before the curriculum change was passed.

Schools that aren’t up to Michigan Merit standards have “had to look at how they can realign their resources,” Ellis said.

Ellis said the department has provided a tremendous number of resources to help schools meet the requirements.

For example, in partnership with districts, the department has put together thousands of hours of professional development for teachers and thousands of pages of documents to clarify information to make it easier for teachers to teach, Ellis said.

Ellis said the department has no control over additional funds to meet those changes. That is up to the Legislature.

Districts can request a “phase-in” plan that allows them more time, but Ellis said to her knowledge no districts have asked for help yet.