Teaching
and Learning

Washington State Graduation Requirements

In 1993, Washington launched a major effort to better prepare children for life in a challenging and complex twenty-first century world. The past decade’s work is often referred to as education reform, but it might better be described as education “refocus.” Parents, educators, and business and community leaders all have embraced the reality that today’s students must have stronger basic skills in reading, writing, mathematics and science, They need to be able to think and apply their learning in much broader ways than ever before in order to lead productive, successful lives as adults.

As part of this “refocusing” effort, the Washington State Board of Education has adopted and the state legislature has affirmed new public high school graduation requirements that take effect in 2008. Individual school districts can continue to set graduation requirements beyond these state minimums.

Beginning with the Class of 2008, all Washington graduates must fulfill the following four requirements:

• Earn a Certificate of Academic Achievement
• Complete a culminating project
• Meet class credit requirements
• Craft a high school and beyond plan