RCW 28A.230.090 authorizes SBE to establish the state's graduation requirements. SBE has established essential credit requirements, a culminating project, and a high school and beyond plan (WAC 180-51-061, WAC 180-51-066, and WAC 180-51-067) as requirements to earn a high school diploma. In addition, the Washington State Legislature has established some graduation requirements, including graduation pathway options. SBE is responsible for writing rules to implement the graduation pathway options, and to set scores for meeting standard on state assessments and on some of the assessments used as graduation pathway options. 

Graduation requirement rules (WAC 180-51-067, WAC 180-51-068, and WAC 180-51-210) require three credits of social studies for graduation. The requirement includes one credit of US History, one-half credit of Contemporary World History, Geography and Problems (often referred to as Contemporary World Problems or CWP), one-half credit of Civics, and one credit of social studies elective.

The State Board of Education reduced the required credits in CWP from one credit to one-half credits and increased the social studies elective from one-half to one credit (new and amended rules were adopted at the November 2019 Board meeting, going into effect immediately). The purpose for this change was to provide districts with greater flexibility in meeting social studies requirements, including the civics requirement. It is recommended that one-half credits of a social studies elective remain in world history, to best align with the learning standards. Districts that wish to keep CWP as a one credit course may do so.