On February 25, beginning at 1:00 p.m., the State Board of Education (SBE) will host a special meeting where the Board will review and discuss a draft of emergency rules about the emergency graduation requirements waiver program. The draft is available to the public. The Board will receive public comment, scheduled for 2:00 p.m. SBE will also collect written public comment (email SBE@k12.wa.us).
Student Board Members are valued voices on the State Board, and are able to participate in SBE's Student Voice Committee which explores ways students can have a more active role in education policy issues. Each year the Association of Washington Student Leaders (AWSL) selects a sophomore student to serve through their senior year on the AWSL Student Voice & Advocacy Board who will also represent Washington students on the State Board of Education (SBE). This year, we are seeking a passionate sophomore and student leader to represent Eastern Washington at a state-level!
The Washington State High School Diploma is comprised of three parts: the High School and Beyond Plan, credit and subject area requirements, and new graduation pathway options. Use any of the developed graphics in this shared folder to communicate about it! Reach out to us if you have suggestions for more content.
SBE and the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) hosted a webinar last week featuring Linda Drake (SBE Director of Career- and College Readiness) and Jerry Price (OSPI Social Studies Program Supervisor) about new graduation requirements around social studies. Please find a video recording of the presentation here: Webinar Recording.
SBE hosted a public forum in Bremerton on November 5 regarding the equity and adequacy of the new graduation pathway options. This was the second forum on pathways at that time.
The goal was to gather feedback from community members, parents, students and partners on new laws and their impact for students.
To meet the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) graduation pathway option, students must meet the minimum score on the Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) to be eligible to serve in a branch of the armed services at the time the student takes the test. The AFQT is a component of the ASVAB (not a separate test). Satisfying this graduation pathway option meets requirements in both English and math.
Legislation passed in the 2019 session (HB 1599) established multiple graduation pathway options. In 2023, HB 1308 passed establishing the performance-based pathway.
The Washington State Board of Education annually collects private school enrollment data. Participation in enrollment reporting is not required for private school approval, although enrollment data may be used to verify information used in the approval process. Enrollment data is used in distribution of federal funds.
If you are a student or family member of a student, see the Families and Students page. Students are assigned an expected graduation year at the time they enter ninth grade (WAC 180-51-035). They are held to the graduation requirements of that graduation year regardless of the year they actually complete high school.
