Frequently Asked Questions

• 23 credits
• A Culminating Project
• A High School and Beyond Plan
• Passing the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) in reading, writing, and math, OR completing an approved WASL alternative

State lawmakers recently made changes to the state’s high school graduation requirements. This booklet is a series of questions and answers on what it all means for students and families.

Beginning with the class of 2008, students who pass the high school reading, writing, and math WASL will earn a Certificate of Academic Achievement (CAA) or a certificate of Individual Achievement (CIA), which is for special education students and determined by their IEP team.

For the graduating classes of 2008-2012, students may earn a diploma and graduate without a Certificate of Academic Achievement or a Certificate of Individual Achievement even if they do not pass the high school math WASL, if they:

1. Pass the high school reading and writing WASL.
    
2. Meet all other state and school district graduation requirements, including 23 credits, a Culminating Project, a High School and Beyond Plan, and:
   
   
   1. For the graduating classes of 2009-2012, earn two math credits after the student's 10th grade year. The student must also continue to take the WASL at least once a year until graduation.

Note: Graduation requirements are determined by the date students start 9th grade.

Did the Legislature postpone the requirement that high school students pass the high school math WASL to graduate?
Yes. The graduating class of 2013 – this year’s 7th graders – will now be the first class expected to pass the high school math WASL, one of the CAA options, or an approved alternative assessment for students in special education. But, students in the classes of 2008-2012 still need to show their math skills to be eligible to graduate. (See next question.)

If students in the classes of 2008-2012 have not passed the high school math WASL, what do they need to do to be eligible to graduate?
Students in the classes of 2009-2012 who have not passed the high school math WASL must:

1. Earn two math credits (as described above) after 10th grade;
    
   AND
   
2. Take the WASL at least once a year until graduation.

If students in the classes of 2008-2012 earn the additional math credits until graduation but do not pass the high school WASL or an alternative assessment, will they earn a CAA or CIA?
No, but they can still graduate. Students who fulfill the math requirement by earning math credits do not receive a CAA or CIA but may earn a diploma and graduate from high school.

Is the WASL the only assessment students can take to meet the new graduation requirements?
No. All high school students are required to take the WASL, but if students do not pass the WASL, other assessments are available to meet the graduation requirements.

Are students in special education programs also required to earn additional math credits if they have not passed the math WASL, one of the CAA options, or a special education alternate assessment?
Yes.

Will all math courses count toward meeting or exceeding the math standards measured on the WASL?
No. Math courses need to be pre-approved, so you will need to check with your counselor to make sure which courses count.

Are all Career and Technical Education (CTE) credits equivalent to a math credit?
Some CTE courses will count for a math credit. Please see your counselor.

Can correspondence courses and/or online courses in math count toward the additional math credit requirement?
Yes. District policy provides for credit to be awarded to students taking appropriate correspondence and/or online courses. These courses would count toward the additional math credit requirement.

Can summer school math courses count toward the additional math credit requirement?
It is possible, depending on the class taken. Please see your counselor.

If a student passes the high school math WASL in August, will this student still be required to take a math course to earn the additional math credit?
Students would not be required to take additional math courses once they pass the high school math WASL. However, students should be advised about the possible risks of delaying their enrollment in a math course if they took the August high school WASL retake, since these scores are not returned until late October.

Can students who have never taken the WASL still graduate?
There are many opportunities for students to take the WASL, including spring and summer each year. Students who have passed an approved test in another state and students who enroll after March 1st of their senior year do not need to take the WASL to graduate.

Are the CAA and CIA separate documents or part of the diploma?
The CAA and CIA are separate documents, and they also will be noted on the student’s transcript, demonstrating that the student has met state standards in reading, writing, and math.

If a student takes the high school WASL for the first time as a senior and does not pass reading, writing, or math, can this student use the alternative options to graduate?
Yes, but the student will not be able to graduate on time.

Do Running Start students who did not pass the math WASL need to take a math course to meet this graduation requirement?
Yes. A student’s school counselor or administrator can explain how credits from Running Start classes are determined. See your high school counselor to determine which courses qualify.
 
Also, certain courses for full-time Running Start students can satisfy the requirements for the Culminating Project or the High School and Beyond Plan.