Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
Education Committee
HB 1396
Brief Description: Increasing the number of United States history and government credits required for graduation from a public high school.
Sponsors: Representatives Dufault, Chambers, Sutherland and Eslick.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Increases the number of United States history and government credits that students in public schools must earn to meet graduation requirements.
  • Makes the increase effective beginning with students in the graduating class of 2025.
Hearing Date: 2/9/21
Staff: Ethan Moreno (786-7386).
Background:

Graduation Requirements—Overview.
To qualify for graduation from a public high school in Washington, students must satisfy course and credit requirements established by the State Board of Education (SBE), meet any locally established requirements, complete a high school and beyond plan, and meet the requirements of at least one graduation pathway option.
 
Students requiring special education may qualify for graduation by meeting applicable requirements and earning a Certificate of Individual Achievement (CIA).  The requirement that qualifying students earn a CIA as a prerequisite to graduation is discontinued after the graduating class of 2021.
 
Credit Requirements.
Requirements of the SBE obligate graduating students to complete 24 credits in delineated subject areas.  This 24-credit requirement is known as the career and college-ready graduation requirement.  Of these 24 credits, 17 are mandatory and are frequently referred to as "core credits."  Three of the 17 core credits must be social studies credits, and of those three, one must be a United States history and government credit.
Summary of Bill:

Beginning with the graduating class of 2025, graduating students, in addition to meeting other requirements, must earn a minimum of 2.5 credits of United States history and government.
 
The obligation for graduating students to earn 2.5 credits of United States history and government is not intended to increase or otherwise modify the number of credits required to graduate from a public high school.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.