High School Graduation Requirements - 2410

Student learning is the critical product of education.  The Federal Way Public Schools Board of Directors has established grade level expectations for student learning to receive a high school diploma from the Federal Way Public Schools.

To be eligible to receive a high school diploma with the class of 2000 and beyond, students shall achieve 23.5 high school graduation credits. All students shall follow requirements established in the Washington Administrative Code 180-51, “High School Graduation Requirements.”

Every student entering a high school in the Federal Way Public Schools will create a 13th Year Plan that will be signed by a parent/guardian.  Parents/guardians must be present at the initial development of the 13th Year Plan and for all subsequent changes to the Plan. For the purposes of this section, the 13th Year Plan is the selection of “Post High School Transition Plan A, B, or C”.  The plans are defined below:

• High School Graduation Plan A: Does not meet four-year college entrance requirements.
• High School Graduation Plan B: Requirements for entry into Washington State public colleges.
• High School Graduation Plan C: Recommendations for entry into Washington private and public colleges and colleges whose requirements exceed the Higher Education Coordinating Board.

To qualify for graduation from high school in the Federal Way School District, students must receive a passing grade in each of the required courses.  All students in the graduating classes of 2000 and beyond must complete required courses with at least a “C” or “C-” grade in order to qualify for graduation.  (The equivalent of 90 class periods of 50 minutes each equals 0.5 credit toward graduation.)

Required Courses/Credits for Graduation

*Commencing in the fall of 2004, all 9th and 10th grade students will be enrolled in the four core classes each semester.  These core classes are Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies.

**Occupational Education includes any course normally approved by the state such as those in Business/Marketing; Family and Consumer Science; Technology Related; Trade and Industry; Work-Based Learning, and any other course designed for career exploration.

***One of these mathematics credits shall be Algebra.  The Algebra credit requirement shall become effective with the class of 2008.

****Fine Arts credits can include any music, art, or drama course.

Upon entering a Federal Way Public Schools high school, individual class standing (9, 10, 11, 12) will be determined by the expected graduation date of each student.  Students will be required to fulfill all graduation requirements outlined in Policy 2410.

Beginning in the spring of 2006, 10th grade students must pass each section of the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) required by the state. District directed and administered course assessments will align with the test development cycles driven by the implementation of State Grade Level Expectations, and will become a requirement to earn credit for core subjects not a part of the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL). The Board will determine the timeline for implementation of this section as assessments created by the FWPS are measured for validity and reliability and/or by the availability of existing assessments that may be purchased.

Civics/Social Studies Examination

The Superintendent shall develop a test to be administered to all students before graduation that will measure their knowledge of the structure and operation of local, state, and national government, different forms of government, as well as the character traits and habits necessary for the exercise of responsible citizenship as set forth in Policy 2130 and as provided by existing curriculum.

Successful passage of this test shall be a prerequisite for graduation for the class of 2012 and every class thereafter.  Students may retake the test until passage is achieved.

The Superintendent shall report to the Board no later than September 2009 regarding recommendations for the specific content and timing of the test.

The Federal Way School District recognizes the need to help students pursue individual career goals as they meet their grade level expectations for graduation requirements.  The district allows students to fulfill a limited number of required credits with equivalent credit from other courses. 

The Superintendent and/or designee will develop procedures for such crossover credits.  A student may use a maximum of two credits for cross-over equivalency for graduation requirements.  Courses considered for crossover are at the discretion of the principal.

Approved Crossover Credits for Career & Technical Education (CTE) Courses

*CTE cross-over credit for Senior English can only be used for .5 credit.  The remaining .5 Senior English credit must be taken within the English department.

** The designation “Post WASL” means the student must have passed the corresponding section of the 10th grade WASL.

High School Credit for Seventh and Eighth Grade Courses
(Seventh and Eighth Grade Choice)

A student who has completed high school courses while in seventh and eighth grade shall be given high school credit which shall be applied to fulfilling graduation requirements if:

The course was taken with high school students and the student has successfully passed by completing the same course requirements and examinations as the high school students enrolled in the class; or

The course would quality for high school credit, because the course is similar or equivalent to a course offered at a high school in the district as determined by the school district Board of Education.

Students who have taken and successfully completed high school courses under the circumstances described in the first paragraph of this policy shall not be required to take an additional competency examination or perform any other additional assignment to receive credit.  This policy shall also apply to students enrolled in high school on the effective date of this policy who took courses while they were in seventh and eighth grade.

Effective with the class of 2008, high school credit for 7th and 8th grade courses will be in effect for mathematics and foreign language courses only.

Cross References:
Board Policy 3520 Student Fees, Fines, Charges

Legal References:
RCW 28A.230.090 (7)     7th & 8th Grade High School Credit
RCW 28A.230.120         Option to receive final transcripts
RCW 28A.600.300 -400    Running Start
RCW 28A.635.060    Defacing or injuring school property--Liability of parent or guardian Ch 9, Laws of 1990 1st Ex. Session
WAC  180-50  Courses of studies and equivalencies
WAC 180-51  High school graduation requirements
WAC 180-57  Secondary Education—Standardized high school transcript
WAC 392-169 Running Start

Adoption Date:    9/8/09