Career- + College-Ready study, webinar on grades, graduation pathways, + waivers, Running Start pilot program 🍎

Weekly Update | October 13

Implementation of Career- and College‑Ready Requirements for High School Graduation in Washington

SBE recently developed career- and college-ready (CCR) graduation credit requirements that are more aligned with career pathways and with admissions standards at the state’s universities. The requirements took effect for the class graduating in 2019, though some districts implemented them earlier and others received waivers to delay implementation until the class of 2021. Education leaders asked Regional Educational Laboratory Northwest to conduct a study of districts’ progress toward implementing the CCR graduation credit requirements from 2018 to 2019.

Partner Highlights

A Listening Session with Voices from the African-American Community, Part 2 (League of Education Voters)
The Time for Action on Racial Equity Is Now - Recap of Virtual Event (League of Education Voters)
Student Loan Education Site (Washington Student Achievement Council)
High School and Beyond Planning: What's New for 20-21 (Ready Washington)
Preliminary Enrollment Numbers Show Families Delaying Kindergarten Start; More Alternative Learning (OSPI)
One Out of Five: Disability History and Pride Project (Office of Education Ombuds)

Around Washington

October 14, Election 2020 - The Youth Vote (KNKX)
Kindergarten enrollment is way down in WA. What does it mean for kids and families? (Tacoma News Tribune)
Prepped for hurricanes, Miami pivoted quickly to online classes. Could Seattle learn from the experience? (Seattle Times)
Kindergartners return to Spokane schools (Spokesman-Review)
Hundreds of Tri-Cities students didn’t show up to school this fall. Where are they? (Tri-City Herald)

Webinar - Spring 2020: Grades, Graduation Pathways, and Waivers

On Thursday, October 15 from 3:30-4:30, SBE will host panelists Deb Came, OSPI Assistant Superintendent, Assessment and Student Information, Dr. Andrew Parr, SBE Research Director, and Linda Drake, SBE Director of Career- and College-Ready Initiatives for a discussion on grades, graduation pathway options, and waivers with data from Spring 2020.

Summer Running Start Pilot Program

In partnership with SBCTC, OSPI is now accepting Letters of Interest (LOIs) to participate in the Summer Running Start 2021 pilot program (HB 2864). Three selected colleges will collaborate with their partner districts to offer Running Start courses (limited to 5 credits per summer) to incoming 11th and 12th grade students in Summer '21 and Summer '22. Additionally, seniors who are one class short of receiving their AA may take 5 credits.

OSPI encourages you to reach out to partner colleges now so they can submit by the October 27, 2020 deadline. LOI’s will be submitted by colleges only.

For questions or more information please contact Program Supervisor, Multiple Pathways and Dual Credit, Jason Boatwright.

The SBE Vision:

An education system where students are engaged in personalized education pathways that prepare them for civic engagement, careers, postsecondary education, and lifelong learning.