Math WASL to remain in place until 2014
End-of-course exams will replace math WASL as graduation requirement

OLYMPIA - April 2, 2008 - We have learned that readers and viewers of recent news headlines are reaching erroneous conclusions about high school graduation requirements related to math.

Nothing has changed the math graduation requirements for students through the Class of 2012. The Class of 2013 will have an additional option to choose end-of-course math exams. Beginning in 2014, the existing WASL will be phased out and math end-of-course exams will be required for graduation.

We are sending you the math requirements for students in current and future classes. Please feel free to use this document in communication to other educators, students, parents and community members in your district.

Math graduation requirements for the Class of 2008
Students in the Class of 2008 (defined as those students who started ninth grade year in 2004-05) will meet the math graduation requirement by this June by:

  • Passing the math high school WASL/WAAS (see definition of assessments for students receiving special education services at bottom) OR
  • Meeting standard on a math Collection of Evidence OR
  • Submitting a score of 19 or higher on the math ACT, 47 or higher on the math PSAT, 470 or higher on the math SAT, or 3 or higher on calculus or statistics Advanced Placement course exams OR
  • Earning one credit of math after the 11th grade and taking (not necessarily passing) the high school math WASL/WAAS, submitting a complete math Collection of Evidence , or taking the math ACT, math PSAT, math SAT, a calculus or statistics AP exams.

Math graduation requirements for the Classes of 2009-2012
Students in the Classes of 2009-12 will meet the math graduation requirement by:

  • Passing the math high school WASL/WAAS OR
  • Meeting standard on a math Collection of Evidence OR
  • Submitting a score of 19 or higher on the math ACT, 47 or higher on the math PSAT, 470 or higher on the math SAT, or 3 or higher on calculus or statistics Advanced Placement course exams OR
  • Earning two math credits after 10th grade and annually taking (not necessarily passing) the high school math WASL/WAAS, submitting a complete math Collection of Evidence, or taking (not necessarily passing) the math ACT, math PSAT, math SAT, or a calculus or statistics AP exam.

Math graduation requirements for the Class of 2013
Students in the Class of 2013 will meet the math graduation requirement by:

  • Passing the math high school WASL/WAAS OR
  • Meeting standard on a math Collection of Evidence OR
  • Submitting a score of 19 or higher on the math ACT, 470 or higher on the math SAT, or 3 or higher on calculus or statistics Advanced Placement course exams OR
  • Passing end-of-course exams in Algebra I and Geometry or end-of-course exams in Integrated Math I and II.

Math graduation requirements for the Class of 2014
The high school math WASL/WAAS will be eliminated as a graduation requirement or option for students in the Class of 2014. Students in this class will fulfill the math graduation requirement by:

  • Passing end-of-course exams in Algebra I and Geometry or end-of-course exams in Integrated Math I and II OR
  • Meeting standard on a math Collection of Evidence OR
  • Submitting a score of 19 or higher on the math ACT, 470 or higher on the math SAT, or 3 or higher on calculus or statistics Advanced Placement course exams.

Students receiving special education services Classes of 2008-2013
Students receiving special education services may use the following assessments to meet the state testing graduation requirements:

  • High school math WASL with or without accommodations OR
  • WASL-Basic with or without accommodations OR
  • WAAS-Portfolio

The following additional options are available only to students receiving special education in grades 11 and 12 who still need to meet the state testing graduation requirement. They will graduate by:

  • WAAS-Developmentally Appropriate WASL (WAAS-DAW) OR
  • Locally Determined Assessments

For detailed information regarding high school graduation requirements for students in the Class of 2008, please visit: http://www.k12.wa.us/Communications/2008GradToolkit.aspx.

Please contact us if you have questions about our state’s K-12 coursework and graduation requirements.