High School Students May See Relaxed Graduation Requirements

SEATTLE, WA — The Washington State Board of Education is considering an emergency plan to give schools the ability to waive some graduation requirements for this year's graduating class, according to a report by the Seattle Times.

According to the report, what requirements might be waived and which students would qualify is still being decided. The board says it will likely be seniors who had enrolled in the courses they needed to graduate, but who couldn't complete classes because of the outbreak.

On Monday State Superintendent Chris Reykdal ordered all public schools statewide to begin teaching remotely by Monday, March 30. The concern is that, even with classes resuming remotely, some students who would've normally been able to graduate might not be able to attend or complete those classes. If passed, the waived requirements would not apply to any students except current high school seniors.

Students have been out of class statewide since Gov. Inslee ordered a full K-12 closure on March 13. As the Tacoma News Tribune reports, the education department is hopeful schools can reopen sometime next month, but is preparing for the possibility that this closure will last the rest of the school year.

The education board is expected to vote on the waived graduation requirements by April 8. Until then, the superintendent and other school leaders say they're doing everything they can to make sure remote learning is equitable and accessible to all students.