OSPI, the State Board of Education, and the Washington Student Achievement Council held a webinar this week where they shared updates on new legislation related to graduation, as well as career and college readiness. 

These groups provided updates on changes coming to graduation pathways, the High School and Beyond Plan, the Washington College Grant, Mastery-Based Learning, and more. Here are some highlights.

The State Board of Education explained HB 1308, which establishes another graduation pathway that districts can choose to use for their students. This performance-based pathway is an opportunity for students to demonstrate knowledge and skills in a real-world context, providing evidence that the student meets or exceeds state learning standards in English and mathematics.

The new performance-based pathway:

• May take a variety of forms (e.g., project, practicum, work-related experience, community service, cultural activity) and may result in a variety of products that can be evaluated (e.g., performance, presentation, portfolio, report, film, exhibit)

• Must meet state requirements set in rule regarding:

• Safety and quality of learning experience

• Assessment criteria for determining whether the student has demonstrated the learning standards

• Evaluation of the student’s performance must include at least one certificated teacher with an endorsement in each relevant subject area (or other applicable qualifications permitted by PESB)

• The State Board, in collaboration with OSPI, will develop tools to support implementation, including proficiency targets and rubrics

• School district board adopts policy before offering this pathway

OSPI discussed SB 5243, which will move our state to one common High School and Beyond Plan online platform. This won’t change anything for the next school year, and once the state selects a common platform, districts will have two years to transition to it. The state will cover the cost of this platform so districts may save money.

OSPI also highlighted two dual credit bills. SB 5048 eliminates College in the High School costs for students. The state will send funding directly to higher education institutions, and students will no longer have to pay for these courses. 

HB 1316 raises the FTE limit for Running Start from 1.2 to 1.4 and requires OSPI to adopt rules to fund eligible students' enrollment in the summer quarter for a maximum of 10 postsecondary credits. 

Several participants in the webinar had questions about Running Start for this summer. A separate OSPI bulletin related to Running Start was released today. In it, OPSI said:

The 2023 summer quarter Running Start opportunity is available at all postsecondary institutions offering Running Start for 11th-grade students who will be considered 12th-grade students in fall 2023 (“rising seniors”) and non-graduating 12th-grade students with available AAFTE capacity under the existing 1.2 AAFTE limit. 

At community and technical colleges only, graduating 12th-grade students who met their Running Start enrollment limits and are within 15 credits of earning an associate degree may participate in summer Running Start solely to complete their degree.

There will also be more office hours in the next few weeks for a chance to ask questions about the emergency waiver program rules. 

Graduation Requirement Emergency Waiver (GREW) Office Hours

The State Board of Education and OSPI will once again collaborate to provide office hours to share out guidance about the emergency waiver program rules. Join us as much as you'd like using this Zoom link to hear a short presentation and engage in a Q&A session.

• Wednesday, May 31st, from 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

• Wednesday, May 31st, from 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

• Tuesday, June 6th, from 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Additional pieces of information about graduation, and career and college readiness were shared. Here is the slide deck and the recording if you are interested in all of the details.