Science FAQs

Sherman STEAM student smiling in lab with goggles

The Board provides advocacy and strategic oversight of public education RCW 28A.305.130, and establishes state credit requirements for high school graduation. The Board also sets the scores on the state science assessments to establish the level of proficiency students are expected to attain.

The state science graduation requirement is three credits of high school science, including at least two laboratory sciences.

Yes. Districts may set graduation requirements that exceed the state requirements.

The State Board of Education does not specify required science courses. All science courses offered by schools and districts should align with high school science learning standards.

E2SHB 6552, passed by the Legislature in 2014, specifies that the content of the third credit of science for students in the Class of 2019 may be chosen by the student based on the student's interest and their high school and beyond plan, with the agreement of the student's parent or guardian or agreement of the school counselor or principal. Rules adopted by the State Board of Education, WAC 180-51-068 and WAC 180-51-210, clarify that the school must give precedence to the direction of the parents or guardian, if provided, and that the request for agreement should be made in the predominant language of the parents or guardian to the extent feasible.

Sherman STEAM student wearing goggles in science lab

Rules adopted by the State Board of Education, WAC 180-51-210, defines laboratory science:

"Laboratory science" means any instruction that provides opportunities for students to interact directly with the material world, or with data drawn from the material world, using the tools, data collection techniques, models and theories of science. A laboratory science course meeting the requirement of subsection (4) of this section may include courses conducted in classroom facilities specially designed for laboratory science, or course work in traditional classrooms, outdoor spaces, or other settings which accommodate elements of laboratory science as identified in this subsection

This definition allows districts flexibility in offering science laboratory courses. Laboratory courses do not need to be offered in a dedicated laboratory facility, but could also be conducted in a traditional classroom, outdoors, or in a combination of settings.

RCW 28A.230.010 requires that boards of directors must provide high school students with the opportunity to access at least one CTE course that is considered equivalent to a mathematics course or at least one CTE that is considered equivalent to a science course as determined by OSPI. Students may access such courses at high schools, inter-district cooperatives, skill centers or branch or satellite skill centers, or through online learning or applicable running start vocational courses.

School boards of districts with fewer than 2,000 students may apply to OSPI for a temporary waiver from the requirements of RCW 28A.230.010.

A computer science course may substitute for a third credit of science based on the student's interest and their high school and beyond plan, with the agreement of the student's parent or guardian or agreement of the school counselor or principal. Rules adopted by the SBE, WAC 180-51-068 and WAC 180-51-210, clarify that the school must give precedence to the direction of the parents or guardian, if provided, and that request for agreement should be made in the predominant language of the parents or guardian to the extent feasible. The school counselor must also provide written notification to the student and the student’s parents or guardians of the consequences of the substitution on postsecondary opportunities.

Page last updated: June 2024

The Washington State 2013 K-12 Science Learning Standards (WSSLS) are the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). You can view the standards on OSPI’s website.  Additionally, SBE has a web page devoted to resources for the Washington State Science Learning Standards.