All students need a solid foundation of reading, writing and math skills for whatever career path they follow after high school. Several statewide graduation requirements are designed to ensure that students have this foundation.
For the graduating classes of 2009-2012, students must pass the high school Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) in reading and writing, a state-approved alternative to the WASL or an assessment for students in special education. Students can meet the state’s math requirement by passing the high school math WASL, a state-approved alternative or an assessment for students in special education, OR, continue to earn math credits and annually take an appropriate math assessment until they graduate.
Students in the Class of 2013 will be first to be required to pass the science and math high school WASLs, a state-approved alternative or an assessment for students in special education. The Class of 2013 will have an additional option to choose math end-of-course exams. Beginning in 2014, the existing high school math WASL will be replaced by math end-of-course exams, which will be required for graduation. For more information on graduation issues, please visit: http://www.k12.wa.us/GraduationRequirements/default.aspx.
Board of Directors Position Statement on 2008 Graduation
Washington State Graduation Requirements
(Determined when a student first enters ninth grade)
Classes of 2009-2012
(Students in grades 9-12 in 2008-09) |
Class of 2013
(Students in grade 9 in 2010-11) |
Class of 2014
(Students in grade 9 in 2011-12) |
LINKS: |
READING AND WRITING |
READING AND WRITING |
READING AND WRITING |
OSPI - GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS |
| Pass reading and writing high school WASL or assessment for students in special education. |
Pass reading and writing high school WASL or assessment for students in special education. |
Pass reading and writing high school WASL or assessment for students in special education. |
5th Year Seniors |
| OSPI - WASL |
--OR-- |
--OR-- |
--OR-- |
WASL - Test Questions |
| Pass reading and writing Certificate of Academic Achievement Option (state-approved alternative).* |
Pass reading and writing Certificate of Academic Achievement Option (state-approved alternative).* |
Pass reading and writing Certificate of Academic Achievement Option (state-approved alternative).* |
|
| |
| |
MATH |
MATH |
MATH |
|
| Pass math high school WASL or assessment for students in special education. |
Pass math high school WASL, or end-of-course exams or assessment for students in special education. |
Pass math end-of-course exams or assessment for students in special education. - |
|
--OR-- |
--OR-- |
--OR-- |
|
| Pass math Certificate of Academic Achievement Option (state-approved alternative).* |
Pass math Certificate of Academic Achievement Option (state-approved alternative).* |
Pass math Certificate of Academic Achievement Option (state-approved alternative).* |
|
--OR-- |
SCIENCE |
SCIENCE |
|
| Earn two math credits (or career and technical course equivalent) after 10th grade AND retake the WASL or a state-approved math assessment annually. (Students are required to pass math classes, not assessment, to earn diploma.) |
Pass science high school WASL or assessment for students in special education. |
Pass science high school WASL or assessment for students in special education. |
|
--OR-- |
--OR-- |
|
| Pass Certificate of Academic Achievement Option (state-approved alternative).* |
Pass Certificate of Academic Achievement Option (state-approved alternative).* |
|
OTHER REQUIREMENTS |
OTHER REQUIREMENTS |
OTHER REQUIREMENTS |
|
| Meet all other state and school district graduation requirements: Culminating Project, High School and Beyond Plan and local credit requirements. |
Meet all other state and school district graduation requirements: Culminating Project, High School and Beyond Plan and local credit requirements. |
Meet all other state and school district graduation requirements: Culminating Project, High School and Beyond Plan and local credit requirements. |
|
* Students must take the high school WASL once before using a state-approved alternative unless they are newly enrolled in 11th and 12th grade. Updated May 2008
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