PERMANENT RULES
Date of Adoption: October 27, 2000.
Purpose: Modification of state minimum graduation requirements to align with the state's ongoing education reform effort.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 180-51-010; and amending WAC 180-51-005 and 180-51-050; and new WAC 180-51-003 and 180-51-061.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 28A.230.090.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 00-19-109 on September 20, 2000.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 4, Repealed 1.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 4, Repealed 1.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 4, Repealed 1; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0. Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.
November 7, 2000
Larry Davis
Executive Director
OTS-4394.2
NEW SECTION
WAC 180-51-003
Intent of graduation requirements.
(1) The state board of education is responsible for establishing minimum high school graduation requirements that appropriately balance:
(a) Statewide public expectations for all graduating students;
(b) High, meaningful, and fair requirements every student can meet;
(c) The unique characteristics of and differing resources among the two hundred ninety-six school districts and over three hundred high schools in Washington; and
(d) Recognition that some students' educational plans may not include college or may include application for admission to a postsecondary institution one year or more after being granted a high school diploma.
(2) In order to support the continuing refinement of the standards and performance-based system of education, encourage and facilitate local innovation, and realize the vision under WAC 180-51-001, it is the intent of the state board of education to enact changes that will:
(a) Align the statewide minimum high school graduation requirements with the goal of the basic education act under RCW 28A.150.210 and the mission of the common school system under WAC 180-40-210;
(b) Allow districts the optional discretion to define and award high school credit based on demonstrated performance that is not tied to a state minimum number of hours of instruction or instructional activities;
(c) Assure that the essential academic learning requirements developed under RCW 28A.655.060 (3)(a) and 28A.655.070(2) are taught in the high school curriculum;
(d) Assure that students are aware of the connection between their education and possible career opportunities as referenced in RCW 28A.150.210(4) and WAC 180-57-090; and
(e) Assure that students are provided the opportunity to effectively prepare for the secondary Washington assessment of student learning and earn the certificate of mastery required under RCW 28A.655.060 (3)(c), recognizing that the certificate of mastery, along with other state and local requirements, represents attainment of the knowledge and skills that are necessary for high school graduation.
(3) It is the state board's view that the creative development and application of integrated curriculum within existing resources will significantly facilitate the implementation of the graduation requirements under WAC 180-51-061. The board strongly encourages districts to:
(a) Implement curriculum that includes courses that incorporate the best applied, theoretical, academic or vocational features as authorized under RCW 28A.230.010;
(b) Emphasize the integration of academic and vocational education in educational pathways as required under RCW 28A.655.060 (3)(c); and
(c) Consider using the model curriculum integrating vocational and academic education as it is developed by the superintendent of public instruction under RCW 28A.300.235.
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OTS-4346.4
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 93-04-115, filed 2/3/93,
effective 3/6/93)
WAC 180-51-005
Authority and purpose.
(1) The authority for this chapter is RCW 28A.230.090 which authorizes and requires the state board of education to establish high school graduation requirements or equivalencies for students.
(2) The purpose of this chapter is to establish high school graduation requirements, including policies and procedures for equivalencies, for students who commence the ninth grade or the equivalent of a four-year high school program subsequent to July 1, 2004. Graduation requirements and policies and procedures for equivalencies for students who commence the ninth grade or the equivalent of a four-year high school program prior to July 1, 2004, are codified in WAC 180-51-060 and shall remain in effect for such students pursuant to WAC 180-51-035.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.230.090 and 28A.230.100. 93-04-115, § 180-51-005, filed 2/3/93, effective 3/6/93. Statutory Authority: 1990 c 33. 90-17-009, § 180-51-005, filed 8/6/90, effective 9/6/90. Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.05.062. 86-20-053 (Order 11-86), § 180-51-005, filed 9/29/86. Statutory Authority: Chapter 28A.05 RCW. 84-11-049 (Order 7-84), § 180-51-005, filed 5/17/84.]
OTS-4419.1
REPEALER
The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed:
| WAC 180-51-010 | Purpose. |
OTS-4400.2
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 99-10-093, filed 5/4/99,
effective 6/4/99)
WAC 180-51-050
High school credit -- Definition.
As used in this chapter the term "high school credit" shall mean:
(1) Grades nine through twelve or the equivalent of a
four-year high school program((s.)), and grades seven and eight
under the provisions of RCW 28A.230.090 (4) and (5):
(a) One hundred fifty hours of planned instructional activities approved by the district; or
(b) Satisfactory demonstration by a student of clearly identified competencies established pursuant to a process defined in written district policy.
(2) College and university course work. At the college or university level, five quarter or three semester hours shall equal 1.0 high school credit: Provided, That for the purpose of this subsection, "college and university course work" means course work that generally is designated 100 level or above by the college or university.
(3) Community college high school completion program - Diploma awarded by community college. Five quarter or three semester hours of community college high school completion course work shall equal 1.0 high school credit: Provided, That for purposes of awarding equivalency credit under this subsection, college and university high school completion course work includes course work that is designated below the 100 level by the college and the course work is developmental education at grade levels nine through twelve or the equivalent of a four-year high school program.
(4) Community college high school completion program - Diploma awarded by school district. A minimum of .5 and a maximum of 1.0 high school credit may be awarded for every five quarter or three semester hours of community college high school completion course work: Provided, That for purposes of awarding equivalency credit under this subsection, college and university high school completion course work includes course work that is designated below the 100 level by the college and the course work is developmental education at grade levels nine through twelve or the equivalent of a four-year high school program.
(5) Each high school district board of directors shall adopt a written policy for determining the awarding of equivalency credit authorized under subsection (4) of this section. The policy shall apply uniformly to all high schools in the district.
(6) Each high school district board of directors shall adopt a written policy regarding the recognition and acceptance of earned credits. The policy shall apply to all high schools in the district. The policy may include reliance on the professional judgment of the building principal or designee in determining whether or not a credit meets the district's standards for recognition and acceptance of a credit. The policy shall include an appeal procedure to the district if it includes reliance on the professional judgment of the building principal or designee.
(7) A student must first obtain a written release from their school district to enroll in a high school completion program under subsection (3) of this section if the student has not reached age eighteen or whose class has not graduated.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.230.090. 99-10-093, § 180-51-050, filed 5/4/99, effective 6/4/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.230.090 and 28A.305.130. 97-08-020, § 180-51-050, filed 3/25/97, effective 4/25/97; 96-09-027, § 180-51-050, filed 4/9/96, effective 5/10/96. Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.230.090, 28A.305.130 and 1994 c 222. 95-16-063, § 180-51-050, filed 7/27/95, effective 8/27/95. Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.230.090(1) and 28A.305.130 (8) and (9). 94-13-017, § 180-51-050, filed 6/3/94, effective 7/4/94. Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.230.090. 94-03-100 (Order 1-94), § 180-51-050, filed 1/19/94, effective 9/1/94. Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.05.060. 85-12-041 (Order 12-85), § 180-51-050, filed 6/5/85. Statutory Authority: Chapter 28A.05 RCW. 84-11-049 (Order 7-84), § 180-51-050, filed 5/17/84.]
OTS-4418.3
NEW SECTION
WAC 180-51-061
Minimum requirements for high school
graduation.
(1) The statewide minimum subject areas and credits required for high school graduation, beginning July 1, 2004, for students who enter the ninth grade or begin the equivalent of a four-year high school program, shall be as listed below.
(2) State board of education approved private schools under RCW 28A.305.130(6) may, but are not required to, align their curriculums with the state learning goals under RCW 28A.150.210 or the essential academic learning requirements under RCW 28A.665.060.
| Subject Area | Essential Content | Minimum State Credits1 | Assessment Includes |
| English • Reading • Writing • Communications (Student Learning Goal 1) |
The Essential Academic Learning Requirements through benchmark three, plus content that is determined by the district to be beyond benchmark three level content | 3 | Secondary WASL2 (beginning 2008) |
| Mathematics (Student Learning Goal 2) |
The Essential Academic Learning Requirements through benchmark three, plus content that is determined by the district to be beyond benchmark three level content | 2 | Secondary WASL2 (beginning 2008) |
| Science • Physical • Life • Earth (Student Learning Goal 2) |
The Essential Academic
Learning Requirements
through benchmark three,
plus content that is
determined by the district
to be beyond benchmark
three level content At least one credit in laboratory science, which shall be defined locally |
2 | The assessment of achieved competence in this subject area remains at the local level5 |
| Social Studies • Civics • History • Geography (Student Learning Goal 2) |
The Essential Academic
Learning Requirements
through benchmark three,
plus content that is
determined by the district
to be beyond benchmark
three level content U.S. history and government, Washington state history and government, and including study of the U.S. and Washington state Constitutions3 Contemporary world history, geography, and problems4 |
2.5 | The assessment of achieved competence in this subject area remains at the local level5 |
| Health and Fitness6 (Student Learning Goal 2) |
The Essential Academic Learning Requirements through benchmark three, plus content that is determined by the district to be beyond benchmark three level content | 2 | The assessment of achieved competence in this subject area remains at the local level5 |
| Arts (Student Learning Goal 2) |
The Essential Academic
Learning Requirements
through benchmark three,
plus content that is
determined by the district
to be beyond benchmark
three level content May be satisfied in the visual or performing arts |
1 | The assessment of achieved competence in this subject area remains at the local level5 |
| Occupational Education "Occupational education" means credits resulting from a series of learning experiences designed to assist the student to acquire and demonstrate competency of skills under student learning goals three and four, and which skills are required for success in current and emerging occupations. Programs meeting the vocational-technical education program approval standards adopted by the superintendent of public instruction meet this definition | "General work skills": Student competencies aligned with learning goals three and four and, as appropriate, the program approval standards adopted by the superintendent of public instruction for exploratory or preparatory vocational-technical education courses | 1 | The assessment of achieved competence in this subject area remains at the local level5 |
| Electives7 | See footnote #7 | 5.5 | The assessment of achieved competence in this subject area remains at the local level5 |
| TOTAL | 19 | ||
| Culminating Project8 | See footnote #8 | The assessment of achieved competence in this subject area remains at the local level5 | |
| High School + Education Plan9 | See footnote #9 | The assessment of achieved competence in this subject area remains at the local level5 |
| 1 | See WAC 180-51-050 for definition of high school credit. |
| 2 | See WAC 180-51-063 for effective date. |
| 3 | The study of Washington state history and government is encouraged to include information on the culture, history, and government of the American Indian people who were the first inhabitants of the state. The study of the U.S. and Washington state Constitutions shall not be waived, but may be fulfilled through an alternative learning experience approved by the school principal pursuant to written district policy. Secondary school students who have completed and passed a state history and government course of study in another state may have the Washington state history and government requirement waived by their principal. For purposes of the Washington state history and government requirement only, the term "secondary school students" shall mean a student who is in one of the grades seven through twelve. |
| 4 | Courses in economics, sociology, civics, political science, international relations, or related courses with emphasis on current problems may be accepted as equivalencies. |
| 5 | Locally determined assessment means whatever assessment or assessments, if any, the district determines are necessary. |
| 6 | The fitness portion of the requirement shall be met by course work in fitness education. The content of fitness courses shall be determined locally pursuant to WAC 180-51-025. Suggested fitness course outlines shall be developed by the office of the superintendent of public instruction. Students may be excused from the physical portion of the fitness requirement pursuant to RCW 28A.230.050. Such excused students shall be required to substitute equivalency credits in accordance with policies of boards of directors of districts, including demonstration of the knowledge portion of the fitness requirement. "Directed athletics" shall be interpreted to include community-based organized athletics. |
| 7 | Study in a world language other than English or study in a world culture may satisfy any or all of the required electives. |
| 8 | Each student shall complete a culminating project for graduation. The project consists of the student demonstrating both their learning competencies and preparations related to learning goals three and four. Each district shall define the process to implement this graduation requirement, including assessment criteria, in written district policy. |
| 9 | Each student shall have an education plan for their high school experience, including what they expect to do the year following graduation. |
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