AN ACT Relating to high school graduation requirements; amending RCW 28A.05.060 and 28A.05.040; and adding new sections to chapter 28A.05 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The state board of education shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 34.04 RCW, to implement the course requirements set forth in RCW 28A.05.060. Such rules shall include, as the state board deems necessary, granting equivalencies for and temporary exemptions from the course requirements in RCW 28A.05.060 and special alterations of the course requirements in RCW 28A.05.060. In developing such rules the state board shall recognize the relevance of vocational and applied courses and allow such courses to fulfill in whole or in part the courses required for graduation in RCW 28A.05.060. Such rules may include provisions for competency testing in lieu of such courses required for graduation in RCW 28A.05.060.

Sec. 2. Section 6, chapter 278, Laws of 1984 and RCW 28A.05.060 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The state board of education shall establish high school graduation requirements or equivalencies for students who commence the ninth grade subsequent to July 1, 1985, that meet or exceed the following:

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@h0!tm10,10,4,4,1 !sc ,4@bcsubject@ec!tj1!tc@bccred!ttits((*))@ec!tc@bc((ye!ttars*))@ec

@h2 English!tl((9)) 3!tl((3**))

Mathematics!tl((6)) 2!tl((2**))

Social Studies

!sc ,3United States history

!sc ,5and government!tl((3)) 1!tl((1))

!sc ,3Washington state

!sc ,5history and government!tl((~~1!sc ,0011/2~~)) 1/2!tl((~~1/2~~))

!sc ,3Contemporary world

!sc ,5history, geography,

!sc ,5and problems!tl((3)) 1!tl((1))

Science (((3)) 1 credit((s))

!sc ,3must be in

!sc ,3laboratory science)!tl((6)) 2!tl((2**))

Occupational Education!tl((3)) 1!tl((1))

Physical Education!sc ,002!tr((~~(See RCW 28A.05.040 for~~

!tl~~physical!sc ,1education~~

!tlrequirements.)***)) 2

Electives!tl((~~16!sc ,0011/2~~)) 5 1/2

Total!tl((48)) 18

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(2) For the purposes of this section one credit is equivalent to one year of study.

@id!tr((*!sc ,1Credit means 60 hours of instruction including normal class change passing time. Three credits are the equivalent to a one-year course.

@id!tr**!sc ,1No more than 1 credit per trimester or 1 1/2 credits per semester or 3 credits per year may be applied toward graduation requirements in these subjects. Additional credits in these subjects may be counted as electives.

@id!tr***!sc ,1The state board of education shall establish through rules and regulations clearly defined physical education requirements for the purpose of minimum high school graduation requirements under RCW 28A.05.040.))

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(3) The Washington state history and government requirement may be fulfilled by students in grades seven or eight or both. Students who have completed the Washington state history and government requirement in grades seven or eight or both shall be considered to have fulfilled the Washington state history and government requirement.

(4) A candidate for graduation must have in addition earned a minimum of ((48)) 18 credits ((~~and fulfilled the physical education requirement~~)) including all required courses. These credits shall consist of the state requirements listed above and such additional requirements and electives as shall be established by each district.

(((3) The state board of education shall develop and establish procedures for students to meet equivalencies for courses required for graduation in subsection (1) of this section. Such procedures may include provisions for competency testing in lieu of such courses.

(4) The state board of education shall establish procedures for establishing high school graduation requirements for students with special educational needs, in accord with limitations on their ability to fulfill these high school graduation requirements.

~~(5) The local school districts shall consider the relevance of vocational and applied courses in fulfilling these high school graduation requirements.~~

(5) The state board of education, upon request from local school districts, shall be authorized to grant temporary exemptions from the graduation requirements in subsection (1) of this section for reasons relating to school district size and availability of staff authorized to teach required subjects. The state board of education may adopt reasonable and necessary rules regarding exemptions for students who transfer between districts.

~~(6)~~)) (5) In recognition of the statutory authority of the state board of education to establish and enforce minimum high school graduation requirements, the state board shall periodically reevaluate the graduation requirements and shall report such findings to the legislature in a timely manner as determined by the state board.

Sec. 3. Section 28A.05.040, chapter 223, Laws of 1969 ex. sess. as amended by section 2, chapter 52, Laws of 1984 and RCW 28A.05.040 are each amended to read as follows:

All high schools of the state shall emphasize the work of physical education, and carry into effect all physical education requirements established by rule or regulation of the state board of education: PROVIDED, That individual students may be excused from participating in physical education otherwise required under this section on account of physical disability, employment or religious belief, or because of participation in directed athletics or military science and tactics((~~: PROVIDED FURTHER, That individual high school students shall be excused therefrom upon the written request of parents or guardians~~)) or for other good cause.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The state board of education shall establish for students who commence the ninth grade subsequent to July 1, 1987, an additional one credit elective requirement to be chosen from fine, visual, or performing arts, any of the subject areas as set forth in RCW 28A.05.060, or any combination thereof.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. Sections 1 and 4 of this act are each added to chapter 28A.05 RCW.