High School Graduation Credit Requirements
Questions & Answers
The State Board of Education at its last meeting clarified the rule for minimum requirements for high school graduation (WAC 180-510-061).
In 2001, the SBE adopted the rule (WAC 180-51-061) defining the minimum requirements for high school graduation.
The rule requires the essential content of the state required credits. However, there was concern that it was not clear to some districts that credits that do not align with the standards cannot count as credits toward the 19 minimum state requirements as defined by the State Board of Education.
For the Class of 2008 and beyond credits earned must be aligned with Washington standards, which include the essential academic learning requirements through “benchmark three plus content that is district determined beyond benchmark three.”
and grade level expectations for grades 9 and 10.
The intent of this communication is to clarify and make sure that students’ required credits in high school are earned by completing classes that are, at a minimum, aligned with 9th and 10th grade level expectations. Here is a link to the state’s academic standards and grade level expectations: http://www.k12.wa.us/CurriculumInstruct/EALR_GLE.aspx.)
The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction has also communicated this to school districts and educational service districts through MEMORANDUM NO. 023-07M on the OSPI Web site:
http://www.k12.wa.us/BulletinsMemos/memos2007/M023-07.doc
Click on a question to jump down to the answer
1. Who establishes high school graduation credit requirements?
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The State Board of Education is responsible for establishing the minimum state high school graduation requirements (WAC 180-51-061). These include 19 credits in a number of content areas.
Local districts have the option of requiring more than 19 credits. Local school districts are also responsible for the courses and curriculum to meet the state graduation requirements. For more information visit the graduation requirements page.
Also see OSPI Web site regarding Secondary Education requirements at http://www.k12.wa.us/graduationrequirements/CreditReq.aspx
2. What does this rule clarification mean for students?
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To earn the minimum 19 high school credits required under state law, students must take high school level courses.
Students must take classes whose content is aligned with our state’s academic content standards defined by Essential Academic Learning Requirements with Grade Level Expectations (GLEs) for ninth and tenth grade in Mathematics, Reading, Communication, Writing, and Science.
Social Studies, the Arts, and Health and Fitness state standards for high school are currently defined as Benchmark 3 (High School) standards. Grade Level Expectations for those content areas will be available in 2008 and 2009.
3. What are Grade Level Expectations (GLEs)?
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Grade Level Expectations provide greater specificity of the Essential Academic Learning Requirements (EALRs) describing what students should know and be able to do at each level.
The GLEs are aligned from kindergarten through grade 10 (except mathematics which now includes grades 11 and 12) so that parents, students and educators can see how skills and knowledge build from one year to the next.
The Grade Level Expectations for each grade and content area are on OSPI’s Web site: http://www.k12.wa.us/CurriculumInstruct/EALR_GLE.aspx .
4. Which students are affected by this clarification?
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The students in the classes of 2008 and beyond are subject to these graduation requirements.
5. Is this a change in requirements?
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No, the State Board of Education is clarifying the rules under WAC 180-51-061 that have been in place since in 2001. The clarification is a reminder that students are expected to learn the state Essential Academic Learning Requirements which have been either at Benchmark 3 (High School) or at grades 9/10 in the subjects that have Grade Level Expectations.
6. What happens if the EALRs/GLES change?
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The State Board of Education is undertaking an independent review of the mathematics and science standards this year. Any revisions to the standards will then be incorporated into OSPI revised EALRs with Grade Level Expectations.
However, while the content in these standards may become narrower in focus and may include some higher level mathematics content, the topic areas in the current standards are important for our high school students to master. We do not want to lose ground in the skills and knowledge for these students over the next few years.
7. How are students receiving special education affected by these clarifications?
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Students receiving services through special education will meet graduation requirements as determined by their Individualized Education Program (IEP) team and defined in their IEP.
UPDATED: 4/18/07
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