The most meaningful learning experiences are relevant, engaging, and hands-on. These experiences should prepare students for graduation and their next steps. For some students, a new, performance-based graduation pathway option can align with post-high school goals, inspire greatness, and recognize real-world experiences. To make this new pathway the most meaningful it can be, we need your help designing rules for it.
The Legislature passed House Bill 1308 creating a new performance-based graduation pathway option. Download the one-pager. Watch the recording of a recent update given by Director of Advocacy and Engagement, J. Lee Schultz, at an OSPI/WSAC webinar.
The Washington State Board of Education and the Association of Washington Student Leaders is proud to announce the future addition of Castulo Gonzalez as Western Washington Student Representative on the Board. Castulo is currently a sophomore at W.F. West High School in Chehalis.
After three years of research, and with support from communities across Washington, lawmakers in the State House passed House Bill 1308 to add a performance-based option to the graduation pathways requirement.
Our students are capable of exceeding standards—and showing us how they do it. We see this in learning environments like Gibson Ek in Issaquah. Gibson Ek requires students to document their learning in a “portfolio” that shows their best, most impactful work, and their journey to get there. Students shadow and intern with real companies or organizations, develop problem-solving solutions for their community, and meet standards in all subjects with evidence-based projects. These learning experiences are all analyzed and documented, usually online.
This month, SBE welcomes Indiana Hilmes (Selah) and Star Mendoza (Puyallup) as student interns - the first SBE Communicators to join the team! Both are juniors, passionate communicators, and storytellers.
On December 1, the Board met to discuss reports on educational system health and graduation requirements. The Board also considered approving proposed rules for high school graduation requirements, to address recent legislation on the role of computer science courses in meeting graduation requirements.
The Board has received several public comments about a potential “vote on ethnic studies” over the past few days. This is not accurate. Please read on to find out what will actually be discussed at this week’s meeting.
In partnership with the Association of Washington Student Leaders (AWSL), SBE student communicators get the opportunity to work with state government professionals, community organizations, and state-wide peers.
Who they are
In January 2023, SBE welcomed Indiana Hilmes (Selah) and Star Mendoza (Puyallup) as student interns! Both are juniors, passionate communicators, and storytellers. Read more about them on SBE's blog post announcing their start.
The Washington State Board of Education and the Association of Washington Student Leaders is proud to announce the future addition of Castulo Gonzalez as Western Washington Student Representative on the Board. Castulo is currently a sophomore at W.F. West High School in Chehalis.
After three years of research, and with support from communities across Washington, lawmakers in the State House passed 
