Waiver request approved

State approves district request for high school graduation requirements
Walla Walla Public Schools has received written notification from the Washington State Board of Education stating the district's request for a temporary waiver of Career and College Ready graduation requirements has been approved. Under the waiver granted, the district will implement the graduation requirements set forth in WAC 180-51-068 for students who enter the ninth grade on July 1, 2017 rather than on July 1, 2015.

The State Board of Education is increasing the number of credits required to graduate to 24, up from the previous state requirement of 20 credits. Walla Walla Public Schools currently requires 22 credits to graduate. The waiver will allow the school board time to explore and implement more opportunities for students to earn high school credit. These include options such as College in the High School, adoption of new courses, offering high school level courses in the middle school, as well as time to further develop Career and Technical Education equivalencies within our high school curricula.

“Delaying the implementation will also allow our district to provide professional development to our teaching and counseling staff as it relates to the 24 credit graduation requirement,” said Jordan. “The additional time provided by this waiver allows us to develop a comprehensive communication plan to share the new graduation requirements with students, families and the community.”