Graduation Pathway Options

A high-level overview and discussion questions from the Washington State Board of Education

White White

The High School Diploma�

2

High School and Beyond Plan (HSBP)

The HSBP helps students, parents, and teachers to guide students through high school and to think about and prepare for their future after high school.

​

New, as a result of E2SHB 1599:

• State assessment scores must inform 11^th grade course-taking.
• For students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP), the HSBP must align with their IEP, and their post-school transition plan, and be updated in a similar manner and with similar personnel as for all other students.
• FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and WASFA (Washington Application for State Financial Aid) information.
• Districts must have an electronic HSBP available to students by Fall 2020.

​

​

​

3

Subject Area Credit Requirements

* For individual students, 2 credits of the flexible credits (electives and Personalized Pathway Requirements) can be waived based on student circumstances, so the student may graduate with 22 rather than 24 credits.

4

At every stage of their education, students are exposed to academically rigorous and personally relevant classes that will help prepare them for life after high school.

Graduation Pathway Options: Background

• HB 1599 (2019) established graduation pathway options that replaced the system of graduation assessments and approved alternatives.
• The State Board of Education (SBE) was directed to write rules to implement the graduation pathway options. Rules were adopted by the Board on November 7, 2019.
• The SBE was also directed to survey interested parties regarding:
• Additional pathways.
• Modifications to existing pathways.
• Barriers to implementation.
• Report recommendations to the Legislature by December 2022.

​

5

Graduation Pathway Options Are For All Students

• For the Class of 2020 and beyond, there are eight graduation pathway options. Student may select one or more options based on their High School and Beyond Plan.
• Students receiving special education supports may use the graduation pathway options.
• Certificates of Individual Achievement are available to students through the Class of 2021.
• WA-AIM remains available for students with significant cognitive challenges.

6

Graduation Pathway Options: State Assessments�

• Meet or exceed the graduation scores in the Smarter Balanced Assessments (SBA) in English language arts (ELA) and mathematics or in WA-AIM (Washington Access to Instruction & Measurement).

7

State Assessments

Graduation Pathway Options: Dual Credit�

• Students must earn at least one high school credit in English and one high school credit in math to meet this graduation pathway option.
• Dual credit programs include:
• College in the High School
• Running Start
• Career and Technical Education (CTE) Dual Credit (must have a state or local course equivalency to meet high school subject area graduation requirements in English or math.)
• Students do not have to pay fees or claim college credit to meet this pathway, but they must meet the state or local program criteria or articulation agreement requirements.

8

Dual Credit

Graduation Pathway Options: AP/IB Cambridge�

• For both ELA and math, earn a 3 or higher on certain Advanced Placement (AP) exams or a 4 or higher on certain International Baccalaureate (IB) exams or an E on certain Cambridge International exams.
• Pass the courses in these programs with at least a C+. 

9

AP/IB Cambridge

Graduation Pathway Options: SAT/ACT�

• Meet or exceed the graduation scores set by SBE in the math and ELA portions of the SAT or ACT.

10

SAT/ACT

Kailee’s pathway

• ^{High School: Eatonville High School, Pierce College Skills Center}
• ^{Post-High School: I plan to spend two more years at Pierce College and I have been accepted to Boise State University.}
• ^{Interests: medical field, anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology}
• ^{Graduation Pathway Option: ACT}

11

Graduation Pathway Options: Transition Course�

• High school English and math courses that, based on their final grade, allow students to place directly into credit-bearing college level courses (courses with college course numbers of 100 or above). Transition courses include:
• Math and English Bridge to College courses
• Math and English courses with local placement agreements between districts and institutions of higher education

​

12

Transition Course

Graduation Pathway Options: Combination�

• Students may use different pathway options to meet the requirements for English and math. The graduation pathway options that may be used in combination are:
• Smarter Balanced Assessment
• WA-AIM
• Dual Credit
• Advanced Placement (AP)
• International Baccalaureate (IB)
• Cambridge
• SAT
• ACT
• Transition Courses

13

Combination

Graduation Pathway Options: ASVAB�

• Meet standard on the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) by scoring at least the minimum score on the Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) established by the military for eligibility to serve in a branch of the armed services.
• The State Board of Education will post the score needed to meet this pathway on its website.
• Students are not required to:
• Enlist
• Meet physical or other military enlistment requirements
• Release score or personal information to the military

14

ASVAB

Graduation Pathway Options: CTE Sequence�

• To meet this pathway students must either:
• Complete a Core Plus program, or
• Complete a 2-credit sequence in a CTE program area or in more than one program areas.
• If the sequence is in more than one program area the sequence must be approved by a local school board or designee or a local district CTE advisory committee and OSPI through an expedited approval process.
• Once approved, a local sequence may be used by other districts upon notifying OSPI (further approval by OSPI is not necessary).

15

CTE Sequence

Gada’s pathway

• High School: Franklin High School, Core Plus Aerospace
• Post-High School: Immediately after finishing Core Plus Aerospace, Boeing offered me a job.
• Interests: aeronautics, aerospace
• Graduation Pathway Option: CTE and Running Start

16

Discussion Questions:

• In your district, are there barriers to implementing the pathways? What are they? What might help reduce the barriers?
• Do you have concerns about the pathways and equity? If so, how could pathways better address the needs of a wider range of students?
• Do you have suggestion for modifications of the pathways, or suggestions for additional pathways?

17

Contact Information

Website: www.SBE.wa.gov

Facebook: www.facebook.com/washingtonSBE

Twitter: @wa_SBE

Email: sbe@k12.wa.us

Phone: 360-725-6025

Web updates: bit.ly/SBEupdates

​

18