Effective January 1, 2019, the administration of waivers from the 180-day requirement transfers to the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. Administration of waivers from graduation requirements remain with the State Board of Education.
The State Board of Education retains rule-making authority over waiver programs. If you have a suggestion to change or create a waiver program, please contact parker.teed@k12.wa.us.
In response to COVID-19 disruptions, the Spring 2020 emergency waiver program allowed school districts to waive certain credit and subject area graduation requirements on an individual student basis for students who were on track to graduate. The authority for this program expired July 31, 2020.
Currently there is no emergency waiver in place to address the credit or pathway graduation requirements. Find the latest announcement about the status of SBE's request legislation about the emergency waiver program for the Class of 2021 on SBE's blog (released February 16, 2021).
Waivers from basic education program requirements (RCW 28A.150.200 through 28A.150.220) may be granted on the basis that they "are necessary to implement successfully a local plan to provide for all students in the district an effective education system that is designed to enhance the educational program for each student." Waivers may also be granted from the requirement for a 180-day school year to a limited number of districts meeting certain enrollment criteria that propose to operate schools on a flexible calendar for purposes of economy and efficiency (WAC 180 18-065; RCW 28A.305.141).
We strongly encourage electronic submission of applications and materials.
What is the definition of a school day?
RCW 28A.150.203 defines a school day: 'School day' means each day of the school year on which pupils enrolled in the common schools of a school district are engaged in academic and career and technical instruction planned by and under the direction of the school. Under this definition, full-day parent-teacher conferences are not considered a school day toward the required 180 days because it is implicit in the statute that all pupils must be engaged in academic and career and technical instruction on that day. A late start, early release, or half day for parent teacher conferences is considered a school day toward the required 180 days. Districts planning full-day parent teacher conferences within a 180-day school year must apply to SBE for a waiver to be in compliance with the Basic Education Act.
What types of waivers are granted?
The State Board of Education has the authority to grant waivers from basic education program requirements (RCW 28A.150.200 through 28A.150.220). This includes:
The State Board of Education’s authority to grant waivers from the basic education program requirements reside in RCW 28A.305.140, RCW 28A.305.141, and RCW, 28A.655.180(1). The rules that govern requests for waivers are in WAC 180-18-030, WAC 180-18-040, WAC 180-18-050, and WAC 180-18-065. The State Board of Education’s authority to establish rules governing minimum high school graduation requirements reside in RCW 28A.230.090.
What is the process to obtain a waiver from the minimum 180-day school year requirement? Option 1 is the regular waiver that may be granted under RCW 28A.305.140 to enhance the educational program for each student. The process for a district application for a waiver and for evaluation of the need for the waiver by SBE is specified in WAC 180-18-040 (1) and WAC 180-18-050 (1) and (2). Under this process, districts may propose the number of days to be waived and the types of activities deemed necessary to enhance the educational program and improve student achievement.
The waiver application, a signed resolution by the local school board, a proposed school calendar, a summary of the collective bargaining contract with the local education association, and all supporting documentation must be received by the State Board of Education at least forty days prior to the State Board of Education meeting at which consideration of the waiver will occur.
Option 2 is a waiver for the purposes of economy and efficiency, authorized in RCW 28A.305.141, for eligible districts to operate one or more schools on a flexible calendar.
SBE may grant five of these waivers to districts with student populations of 500 or fewer students. Two of the waivers must be reserved for districts with student populations under 150.
As of May 2018, all five slots are currently full.
What is the process to obtain a waiver from the minimum high school graduation requirements?
A school may apply for a waiver from the credit-based graduation requirements of WAC 180-51-061 (1)(a) through (h) and WAC 180-51-066 (1)(a) through (h).
Waivers granted from the credit unit graduation requirements of WAC 180-51.
| District | School | # of Years | Granted | Expires |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northshore | Innovation Learning Lab | 4 | May 2020 | 2022-2023 |
| Cle Elum-Roslyn | Swiftwater Learning Center | 4 | May 2020 | 2022-2023 |
| Snoqualmie Valley | Two Rivers School | 4 | September 2019 | 2022-2023 |
| Moses Lake | Moses Lake High School | 4 | September 2019 | 2022-2023 |
| Tonasket | Tonasket Choice High School | 4 | May 2019 | 2022-2023 |
| Soap Lake | RISE Academy | 4 | May 2019 | 2022-2023 |
| Selah | Selah Academy | 4 | May 2019 | 2022-2023 |
| Federal Way |
Career Academy at Truman, Federal Way Open Doors |
4 | May 2017 | 2020-2021 |
| Highline | Big Picture High School | 3 | March 2015 | 2022-2023 |
| Issaquah | Gibson Ek High School | 4 | January 2016 | 2019-2020 |
| Lake Chelan | Chelan School of Innovation | 4 | May 2016 | 2019-2020 |
| Methow Valley | Independent Learning Center | 4 | May 2016 | 2019-2020 |
| Peninsula | Henderson Bay High School | 4 | July 2018 | 2021-2022 |
| Quincy | Quincy Innovation Academy | 4 | July 2018 | 2021-2022 |
Applications for Waiver of Implementation of the 24 Credit Framework
RCW 28A.230.090 (1) provides that school districts, private schools, or community colleges may apply to the State Board of Education for a waiver to implement the Career- and College-Ready Graduation requirements adopted in 2014 beginning with the graduating class of 2020 or 2021 rather than the graduating class of 2019. The SBE is directed to grant such waiver to an applying school district at the next subsequent meeting of the Board after receiving an application. (E2SSB 6552. Chapter 217, Laws of 2014.) WAC 180-51-068 (11) implements this provision. For more information about graduation requirements, visit the Graduation Requirements page.
| School | Granted | Graduating Classes Waived |
|---|---|---|
| Walla Walla Community College | September 2019 | 2019, 2020 |
| South Puget Sound Community College | September 2019 | 2019, 2020 |
| Everett Community College | September 2019 | 2019, 2020 |
| Tacoma Community College | July 2019 | 2019, 2020 |
| Renton Technical College | July 2019 | 2019, 2020 |
| Lake Washington Institute of Technology | July 2019 | 2019, 2020 |
| Edmonds Community College | July 2019 | 2019, 2020 |
| Clover Park Technical College | July 2019 | 2019, 2020 |
| Clark College | July 2019 | 2019, 2020 |
| Cascadia Technical College | July 2019 | 2019, 2020 |
| Bellingham Technical College | July 2019 | 2019, 2020 |
| Bates Technical College | July 2019 | 2019, 2020 |
| Centralia College | May 2019 | 2019, 2020 |
| Columbia Basin College | May 2019 | 2019, 2020 |
| Grays Harbor College | May 2019 | 2019, 2020 |
| Seattle Colleges District | May 2019 | 2019, 2020 |
| Lower Columbia College | September 2018 | 2019, 2020 |
Applications for Waiver of Implementation of the 24 Credit Framework for Up to Two Years
RCW 28A.230.090 (1) provides that school districts may apply to the State Board of Education for a waiver to implement the Career- and College-Ready Graduation requirements adopted in 2014 beginning with the graduating class of 2020 or 2021 rather than the graduating class of 2019. The SBE is directed to grant such waiver to an applying school district at the next subsequent meeting of the Board after receiving an application. (E2SSB 6552. Chapter 217, Laws of 2014.) WAC 180-51-068 (11) implements this provision. For more information about graduation requirements, visit the Graduation Requirements page.
| District | Granted | Graduating Classes Waived |
|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen | July 9, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Auburn | January 8, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Arlington | January 11, 2017 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Battle Ground | January 8, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Bellingham | May 14, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Bethel | January 8, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Blaine | March 12, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Bremerton | March 10, 2016 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Camas | May 14, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Castle Rock | May 14, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Centralia | May 12, 2016 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Central Kitsap | March 12, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Central Valley | March 12, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Chehalis | March 12, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Cheney | March 7, 2018 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Chimacum | July 9, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Clarkston | January 14, 2016 | 2019 and 2020 |
| College Place | September 11, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Concrete | January 8, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Coupeville | May 14, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Crescent | March 10, 2016 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Darrington | July 9, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Deer Park | May 14, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Eastmont | May 14, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| East Valley (Spokane) | May 12, 2016 | 2019 and 2020 |
| East Valley (Yakima) | November 10, 2016 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Eatonville | July 9, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Edmonds | March 12, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Ellensburg | March 12, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Elma | May 14, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Entiat | November 5, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Everett | January 14, 2016 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Evergreen | July 14, 2016 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Fife | September 11, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Finley | May 14, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Franklin | July 9, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Granite Falls | May 14, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Highline | March 12, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Hoquiam | July 9, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Kalama | March 12, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Kennewick | May 14, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Kent | August 9, 2018 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Kettle Falls | May 14, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Kiona-Benton | March 12, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Lake Stevens | July 9, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Lakewood | May 14, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Liberty Christian School of the Tri-Cities | July 14, 2016 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Longview | November 14, 2014 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Lynden | March 12, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Marysville | March 12, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Mead | March 12, 2015 (Class of 2019) and July 12, 2018 (Class of 2020) | 2019 and 2020 |
| Mossyrock | July 9, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Mukilteo | March 9, 2017 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Naches Valley | November 5, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Napavine | May 14, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| North Kitsap | March 12, 2015 | 2019 |
| North Thurston | March 12, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Okanogan | May 12, 2016 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Omak | November 8, 2018 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Olympia | May 14, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Pasco | March 12, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Port Angeles | March 10, 2016 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Prosser | March 12, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Quilcene | May 14, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Raymond | January 11, 2017 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Renton | May 14, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Richland | March 12, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Ridgefield | July 9, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Rochester | July 9, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Seattle | January 8, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Sedro Woolley | March 12, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Shelton | May 14, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Shoreline | March 12, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Snohomish | November 14, 2014 | 2019 and 2020 |
| South Bend | March 12, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Spokane | January 14, 2016 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Stanwood-Camano | January 8, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Sultan | March 12, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Sumner | May 14, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Taholah | May 14, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Tahoma | March 12, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Tenino | July 14, 2016 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Toledo | July 9, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Touchet | May 14, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Toutle Lake | March 12, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Tukwila | May 14, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Tumwater | May 14, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Vancouver | May 14, 2015 | 2019 |
| Walla Walla | May 14, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Washougal | November 5, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Wellpinit | January 8, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Wenatchee | May 14, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| West Valley (Spokane) | July 9, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| White Pass | July 9, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| White Salmon | July 9, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Wishram | November 8, 2018 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Winlock | May 14, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
| Yelm | May 14, 2015 | 2019 and 2020 |
Parker Teed
The Washington State Board of Education
P.O. Box 47206
Olympia, WA 98504-7206
Phone: 360-725-6047
Fax: 360-586-2357
Follow us
