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The Washington State Board of Education hosted two public webinars in July to share draft recommendations for modernizing Washington's high school graduation requirements.
These proposed changes were developed as part of the Board's FutureReady initiative, a multi-year effort to update Washington's graduation requirements so they better equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive after high school. Since launching in 2025, the Board and its FutureReady Task Force have worked with students, families, educators, employers, higher education partners, Tribes, and community organizations to identify the knowledge and skills students need to succeed after high school and where the current system could be improved.
The draft recommendations are designed to create a graduation framework that gives every student the opportunity to explore their interests, build real-world skills, and prepare for life after high school while supporting schools in offering relevant, authentic, and interdisciplinary learning opportunities. The recommendations also maintain strong academic expectations intended to keep multiple postsecondary options open as students' goals evolve.
These webinars mark the beginning of the next phase of the initiative, which focuses on gathering feedback and refining recommendations ahead of developing a proposal for consideration during the 2027 legislative session.
Click here to view a copy of the slide deck used in this presentation
During the webinars, participants:
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Learned how the Board has engaged communities across Washington to identify the knowledge and skills students need to succeed after high school—and where Washington's current graduation framework falls short.
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Explored the FutureReady proposal, including potential changes to graduation requirements designed to create more flexible, relevant, and meaningful learning experiences while maintaining strong academic expectations.
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Learned about the implementation and decision-making process ahead, including how the Board is identifying the supports schools will need and the timeline for refining recommendations in preparation for the 2027 legislative session.
Accommodations
The Washington State Board of Education is committed to ensuring that individuals with disabilities are provided equal access to participate in the Board’s programs and services. To request accommodation, or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact us at sbe@k12.wa.us or 360-764-0522. Requests should be made as soon as possible but at least seven business days prior to the event, if possible.