More Info on High School Math Graduation Requirements
Source: Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction
Questions: Contact Brian Jeffries, Special Assistant for OSPI Governmental Relations, at brian.jeffries@k12.wa.us or (360) 725-6020.
Frequently Asked Questions
High School Mathematics Graduation Requirements
Changes to Washington’s Mathematics Graduation Requirements made by the 2007 Legislature
State lawmakers recently made changes to the state’s high school graduation requirements. The changes can be found in Engrossed Substitute Bill 6023 (ESSB 6023). Below is a series of questions and answers on what changed, what didn’t and what it all means for students and schools as they relate to mathematics.
Beginning with the class of 2008, students who meet the reading, writing and mathematics high school standards will earn a Certificate of Academic Achievement (CAA) or Certificate of Individual Achievement (CIA). Students in the graduating classes of 2008-2012, however, can still earn a high school diploma without earning a certificate. The graduating class of 2013 will now be the first class required to meet the state’s reading, writing, mathematics and science standards and earn a certificate.
For the graduating classes of 2008-2012, students may graduate without a Certificate of Academic Achievement or Certificate of Individual Achievement if they:
(1) Do not meet the mathematics standard on the High School WASL, an approved objective alternative assessment, or an assessment for students in special education;
(2) Meet the reading and writing standards;
(3) Meet all other state and school district graduation requirements; and
(4)(a) For the graduating class of 2008, earn one mathematics credit (or career and technical course equivalent, including appropriate courses offered at skill centers,) after the student's 11th-grade year.
The student must also continue to take an appropriate mathematics assessment at least once annually until graduation. (For most students in the class of 2008 who will graduate on time, this means they need to earn one more mathematics credit and take one more assessment before graduation.); and
(b) For the graduating classes of 2009-2012, earn two mathematics credits (or career and technical course equivalent, including appropriate courses offered at skill centers) after the student's 10th grade year. The student must also continue to take the appropriate mathematics assessment at least once annually until graduation.
Note: A student’s graduation requirements are determined by the date they start ninth grade. Graduation requirements remain the same for the student regardless of whether they graduate early or need more than four years to graduate.
Q1. Did the Legislature postpone the requirement that high school students pass the mathematics WASL, one of the CAA Options, or an assessment for eligible students in special education to graduate?
Yes. The graduating class of 2013 – this year’s sixth-graders – will now be the first class expected to pass the mathematics High School WASL, one of the CAA Options or an assessment for students in special education. But, students in the classes of 2008-2012 still need to show their mathematics skills to be eligible to graduate (see next question). The State Board of Education, however, may shorten the duration of the postponement. If the Board decides to do so, it must make its decision before the affected graduating class starts ninth grade.
Q2. If students in the classes of 2008-2012 have not met the mathematics standard, what do they need to do to be eligible to graduate?
Students in the class of 2008 who have not met the mathematics standard must:
1) Earn one mathematics credit after 11th grade. The course(s) taken to earn the credit must be intended to increase the student’s mathematics proficiency toward meeting or exceeding the mathematics standards measured on the WASL. The mathematics credits may be earned in certain career and technical education courses, including courses offered at skill centers, if the courses have been determined at the local district to be equivalent to a mathematics course; and
2) Take the “appropriate mathematics assessment” at least once annually until graduation.
Students in the classes of 2009-2012 who have not met the mathematics standard must:
1) Earn two mathematics credits (as described above) after 10th grade; and
2) Take the “appropriate mathematics assessment” at least once annually until graduation.
Q3. (Updated 6.1.07) What is “the appropriate mathematics assessment” students must take to meet the new math credit graduation requirement?
Students must take the High School WASL or, if they are students in special education, students may take the Developmentally Appropriate WASL, WASL-Modified, or the WAAS-Portfolio.
Q4. Are students in special education programs also required to earn additional mathematics credits if they have not met the mathematics standard on the WASL, one of the CAA options, or on a special education alternate assessment?
Yes.
Q5. What mathematics courses meet the definition of increasing the “student’s mathematics proficiency toward meeting or exceeding the mathematics standards measured on the WASL”?
The purpose of this requirement is to keep struggling mathematics students enrolled in rigorous mathematics courses, so that they can improve their skills. Students should be in courses that will move them toward or beyond the standards measured on the High School WASL. The content of these courses must be aligned to the 9/10 grade level expectations. The courses at the local high school that meet this requirement are made at the local district according to local school board policy. According to State Board of Education rules (WAC 180-51-025), the “content of courses and the determination of which courses satisfy particular subject area requirements and whether a particular course may satisfy more than one subject area requirement shall be determined locally in accordance with written policies adopted by boards of directors of districts.” A credit is defined in State Board of Education rules (WAC 180-51-050) as “one hundred fifty hours of planned instructional activities approved by the district” or “satisfactory demonstration by a student of clearly identified competencies established pursuant to a process defined in written district policy.”
ESSB 6023 clearly spells out that a career and technical education (CTE) course that meets the above criteria delineated in State Board of Education rules and that has been deemed equivalent to a mathematics course by the local district will meet this additional mathematics credit requirement.
Q6. Which career and technical education (CTE) courses are equivalent to a mathematics credit and could then be counted as the additional mathematics credit needed for graduation?
See the answer to Q5 to determine under which conditions districts may award credit. Districts currently have the authority to determine course equivalencies within certain conditions. RCW 28A.230.097 requires each school board to adopt an approval process for academic course equivalencies for CTE courses. These CTE courses must (1) provide content that would increase student's mathematics proficiency toward meeting or exceeding that mathematics standards on the high school WASL and (2) be aligned to the 9/10 grade level expectations for it to count toward the new mathematics credit requirements.
Q7. Do extension courses and/or online courses in mathematics count toward the additional mathematics credit requirement?
See the answer to Q5 to determine under which conditions districts may award credit. The authority to award high school credit resides with the school district. If the district policy provides for credit to be awarded to students taking extension and/or online courses, these courses would count toward the additional mathematics credit requirement.
Q8. If a student in the class of 2008 meets the mathematics standard on the High School WASL in August 2007, will this student still be required to take a mathematics course as a senior to earn the additional mathematics credit?
No. This student would be eligible to earn a CAA or CIA if the student also met standard in reading and writing. Also, students in the class of 2009-2012 would not be required to take additional mathematics courses once they meet the mathematics standard on the High School WASL. However, students should be well advised about the possible risks of delaying their enrollment in a senior mathematics course if they took the August High School WASL retake. Scores for the August High School WASL are returned to students in late October.
Q9. How might a student in the class of 2008 who has not met the mathematics standard and did not take the mathematics High School WASL in spring 2007 meet the requirement to take an appropriate assessment at least once a year?
These students may take the High School WASL or another appropriate assessment either in the summer of 2007 or in the spring of 2008. Students in special education may take the WASL at these times or, if they’re eligible, they may take the WAAS-Portfolio or the Developmentally Appropriate WASL in November 2007 or in the spring of 2008.
Q10. If students in the classes of 2008-2012 earn the additional mathematics credits until graduation but do not pass the High School WASL or an alternative assessment, will they earn a Certificate of Academic Achievement or Certificate of Individual Achievement?
Neither. ESSB 6023 allows students to earn a high school diploma without earning a Certificate of Academic Achievement or Certificate of Individual Achievement. Students who fulfill the mathematics requirement by earning mathematics credits do not receive a certificate but may earn a diploma.
The following FAQs were added 6.1.07
Q11. Will the newly designed “segmented math course” count toward the additional math credit requirement?
Yes. This course will be designed by OSPI to meet the criteria stated in the answer to Q5 above.
Q12. Will the newly designed “segmented math assessment,” which accompanies the segmented math course, meet the requirement for students to take the “appropriate assessment” at least once a year?
No. The 2007 Legislature did not approve the segmented math assessment as an objective alternative assessment. During the 2008 legislative session, OSPI will seek the Legislature’s approval of the segmented math assessment as a CAA Option.
Q13. If a student in the graduating class of 2008 takes the High School WASL for the first time as a senior and does not meet the math standard, does this student have the option of accessing the new math credit requirements to graduate?
Yes.
Q14. Did the 2007 Legislature appropriate funds specifically for use by districts to add new math courses to meet the new math credit requirements?
No. The Legislature funded the additional student FTE associated with part-time students adding courses to meet the new math requirement. Districts can use PAS funds to add math courses; I-728 funds are also appropriate.
Q15. May a district use PAS funds to make the segmented math course available to students?
Yes. PAS funds are intended for use to support students who did not pass the WASL. It is assumed that students who take the segmented math course did not meet the math standard on the High School WASL and use of PAS funds is entirely appropriate to support students in gaining math skills necessary to meet state math standards.
Q16. Do Running Start students need to take a math course every quarter, every semester, or just once to meet this math requirement?
The new requirement for an additional math credit adopted by the 2007 Legislature is about students earning one math CREDIT for the class of 2008 and two math CREDITS for the graduating classes of 2009-2012. Therefore, the way a school district converts Running Start classes to math credits answers the question. For instance, if a student takes Math 105 at a college and the high school grants the student one math credit for this class, then Math 105 would meet the requirement. However, if a student takes Math 105 and the high school grants the student half a math credit and half an elective credit for this class, then the student would still be required to earn an additional half math credit in that school year.
Q17. Do “summer credit retrieval” math courses count toward the additional math credit requirement?
ESSB 6023 specifically states that one credit must be earned after 11th grade for students in the class of 2008 and two credits be earned after 10th grade for students in the graduation classes of 2009-2012. For example, if a student in the class of 2008 earned partial credit in the 11th grade and partial credit after 11th grade for the same class, this would not meet the letter of the law. The full credit must be earned AFTER 11th grade. Therefore, if a student earned partial credit in the summer between the 11th grade and 12th grade and earned partial credit in the 12th grade for the same class that in total earned the student one credit of math after 11th grade, this credit would count toward the additional math credit requirement.
MORE INFORMATION
As questions arise, please contact Brian Jeffries, Special Assistant for OSPI Governmental Relations, at brian.jeffries@k12.wa.us or (360) 725-6020.
For more information on Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6023, go to: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=6023
For more information on the graduation requirements, including the alternative assessments, go to: http://www.k12.wa.us/GraduationRequirements/default.aspx
