TRAVERSE CITY -- Tuesday is the first day of MEAP testing in schools, and this year Michigan students are going to be held at a higher standard than the rest of the country.

The Michigan Department of Education has approved a tougher grading scale for the assessment test. In years past, students had to pass between 30% and 40% of questions to be considered proficient. This year they'll have to between 50% and 70% of questions in each subject.

Michigan, New York, and Tennessee are the only three states that approved a tougher grading scale on their assessment test.

The test measures yearly progress of third through ninth graders in reading, writing, math, science, and social studies.

There is some risk for schools in the state by making testing standards higher, districts could lose funding if a certain number of students don't do well.

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