The State Board of Education (SBE) collects compliance information annually online (through igrants, form package 600) from each school district in Washington. See the message sent to district superintendents in August of 2021 about the process for the 2021-22 school year: Basic Education Compliance Memo.

The State Board of Education (SBE), which is responsible for ensuring district compliance with the program of Basic Education, annually conducts a survey that allows districts to affirm compliance. For the 2021-2022 school year, the survey application and format have been changed to accommodate new reporting requirements for an emergency waiver program in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and to address the evolving need to collect information from districts to help improve the state’s K-12 educational system.

The number of questions about credit graduation requirements have been reduced and new questions have been added about the emergency waiver program, and about state-mandated and state-recommended educational elements. The purpose of these questions are to 1) help inform districts of requirements and recommendations in current law, and 2) gather information that helps the Board to promote a system that best meets the goals of Basic Education for all students.

Per WAC 180-16-195, annual reporting on this form gives assurance to the Board that school districts are in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Basic Education Act under RCW 28A.150.220, as well as related requirements determined by the SBE.

What the does Basic Education Compliance and District Survey Contain?
The survey includes questions regarding minimum access to the program of basic education that allow the state to ensure that students are offered the full breadth of the goals of the program of basic education, specific required or encouraged offering, and the full breadth of  the state learning standards. Focuses of the new and improved basic education survey are described first:

• Instructional hours, days, and school schedules
• State-mandated and state-recommended educational offerings and activities
• Mastery-based learning
• Emergency waiver administration and data from last spring.
• Continuity of Operations Plan to ensure transition to modalities other than in-person in the event of an emergency

A summary of the four following time-related accessibility questions is that they cover the minimum access to time for students to engage in instructional hours or school days. This is the basic entitlement of time to all students. 

For questions or if your school district is out of compliance with any of the requirements, please contact:
Parker Teed (parker.teed@k12.wa.us)
Basic Education Manager

• Kindergarten Minimum 180-day School Year (RCW 28A.150.203 / RCW 28A.150.220 / RCW 28A.150.315) –Implementation of all-day kindergarten programs must be achieved in the 2017-18 school year.  All-day programs must consist of no fewer than 180 days.
• Kindergarten Total Instructional Hour Offering (RCW 28A.150.203 / RCW28A.150.220 / RCW 28A.150.315) - Implementation of all-day kindergarten programs must be achieved in the 2017-18 school year.  All-day programs must consist of no fewer than 180 days, comprising no fewer than 1,000 hours of instruction.
• Grades 1-12 Minimum 180-Day School Year (RCW 28A.150.220 / RCW 28A.150.203) - The school year is accessible to all legally eligible students and consists of at least 180 school days for students grades 1-12, inclusive of any 180-day waivers granted by the State Board of Education.
• Grades 1-12 Total Instructional Hour Offering (RCW 28A.150.220 / RCW 28A.150.205 / WAC 180-16-200) - The district makes available to students enrolled in grades 1-12 at least a district-wide average 1,000 instructional hours in grades 1-8 and a district-wide average 1,080 instructional hours in grades 9-12, which may be calculated as a district-wide average of 1,027 instructional hours in grades 1-12.

The following is the student’s entitlement to coursework to complete graduation requirements such subject areas and credits, graduation pathway options, the High School and Beyond Plan, and local graduation requirements:

• State High School Graduation Minimum Requirements (RCW 28A.150.220 / RCW 28A.230.090 / WAC 180-51-066) All subject areas are aligned with the state’s high school learning standards and essential academic learning requirements, at a minimum meet grades 9-10 grade level expectations. District high schools meet or exceed all state minimum graduation requirements.