The Office of the Superintendent for Public Instruction has listed the new high school graduation requirements for all public school students in Washington State. It includes a “4 Step Plan,” with one of the steps being tied directly to passing the High School WASL (Washington Assessment of Student Learning). Below are some quotes from the OSPI explaining the new requirements and their reasoning:

Beginning with the graduating Class of 2008, all public high school students will be expected to meet new statewide requirements in order to earn a diploma. The goal: More students better prepared to become responsible citizens, to contribute to their own economic well-being and to that of their families and communities, and to enjoy productive and satisfying lives. [. . .]

Prior to 2008, the state of Washington has only required that students earn 19 credits to graduate (although many local school districts have additional requirements). Discussion of new graduation requirements began more than a decade ago, when legislators passed House Bill 1209 in 1993. This legislation launched Washington’s education reform efforts and created a process by which the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL), which measures the state’s learning standards, would become a graduation requirement. In 2000, the State Board of Education determined the effective date of that requirement – 2008 – and added two other requirements. The 2004 Legislature put all three new graduation requirements and their 2008 effective date into statute.

Beginning with the class of 2008, students will need to meet four statewide graduation requirements:

1. Earn a minimum of 19 credits in core classes. (Many local school districts, however, require students to earn credits beyond the state minimum.)
2. Complete a Culminating Project (often referred to as a senior project) to apply learning in a particular area of the student’s interests.
3. Complete a High School and Beyond Plan that outlines how they will make the most of high school to earn their diploma and prepare for their next steps after high school.
4. Earn the Certificate of Academic Achievement or Certificate of Individual Achievement by meeting state reading, writing and math standards on the High School WASL, an assessment for students in special education or the Certificate of Academic Achievement Options. Until 2013, students can earn a diploma without a certificate if they:
- Meet the state’s reading and writing standards, and
- Earn math credits and test annually until graduation.

The three new graduation requirements are focused on the new “applied learning” skills that students need to be successful. The project allows students to dive into a subject that interests them and demonstrate their skills in a creative way. The plan requires students to begin thinking about career and life options before they leave high school. And the WASL places a strong emphasis on short-answer and essay questions that require students to demonstrate they can understand what they read, write a persuasive essay, and understand how to get the answers to real-life mathematic problems, such as calculating the mileage on a long trip and interpreting simple charts and graphs.

Most students must do far more than fulfill these four basic graduation requirements to achieve their career goals. But these requirements are a solid start to ensure all of our students keep their career and life options open.

There will be a summer WASL testing session available to students who were in grades 10, 11 and 12 during the 2006-2007 school year and did not meet the minimum standards. Registration for this testing ended July 8.

The August WASL testing schedule is:
*Monday, Aug 6 - Reading
*Tuesday, Aug 7 - Math
*Wednesday, Aug 8 - Day 1 Writing
*Thursday, Aug 9 - Day 2 Writing

More information about graduation requirements can be found at:

http://www.k12.wa.us/GraduationRequirements/