Class of 2016 Facing Rule Revisions to State Graduation Requirements

Change is coming to Washington state high schools – but not just yet.

On Nov. 10, the Washington State Board of Education approved multiple changes to the state’s high-school graduation requirements. The Class of 2016 will be required to take more English and social studies classes.

That translates to an additional year, or credit, of English and an extra half-credit in social studies, specifically, Civics. An extra credit of science will also be required, and the number of elective credits will fall from 5.5 to two.

The added credits bring Washington more in line with other states’ high-school graduation requirements. Prior to the rule revision, 45 states required more English and 39 states, more social studies than Washington.

The state’s graduating classes through 2015 are required to take three credits of English and 2.5 credits of social studies.

Superintendent Patti Banks said that the changes will not have a major impact on the University Place School District.

“I think that we’re in pretty good shape,” she said. “We already increased our graduation requirements before the state moved in that direction.

“We’ve had a rigorous program for some time.”

Banks said that most students at Curtis, the district’s sole high school, are already taking three years of math and social studies and four of English. The school already offers Civics at the 12th-grade level. The major change for the district would be the science requirement since most students only take two years right now.

“Currently, not all of our students take three years of science, so that would take some adjustment,” she said. “We have the course offerings; it’s just a matter of ensuring that students take those courses.”

The state has mandated that districts be allowed to receive a two-year extension from the new requirements in order to give them additional time to plan for and implement the required changes.

“(The) vote is the culmination of years of diligent and thoughtful work,” said Board Chair Jeff Vincent in a news release. “We are confident that these new requirements will result in more students graduating better prepared for the challenges ahead.”

Per the rule revisions, students are now able to take Washington State History in middle school and have it count toward graduation as a non-credit requirement. Students also may take a Career and Technical Education course and have it satisfy two requirements, such as CTE and fine arts.

Banks said that she personally feels the changes to the state requirements are overdue.

“It’s not just a matter of what your graduation rate is,” she said, “it’s a matter of when you get a diploma, that it shows that you’re well prepared for a post-secondary education, whether that’s in a technical program or a four-year college. The increase in the requirements is in line with that.”

She added that a rigorous program is necessary to ensure that students do well long after they leave high school.

“It’s not just a matter of getting into college; it’s about being successful once you’re there, and that means you have to be well prepared.”