Dear PTA and PTSA members,
We do not normally forward letters from other organizations, but the Washington State Board of Education is proposing new graduation requirements and it needs your input before final action. The proposal is prompted by sobering statistics and has fiscal implications. The following is taken from the state board's monthly newsletter.

Thanks so much for your time and attention to this matter.

- Ramona Hattendorf, Seattle Council PTSA president

Greetings!
 
The Washington State Board of Education (SBE) is proposing new career and college-ready high school graduation requirements.
 
Why?
 
Simply put - our current high school graduation requirements do not meet the expectations of careers, education, and citizenship.
 
Consider this:

• 45 states do a better job preparing students for college and careers.
• 42 states have better college participation rates from low-income families.
• 67 percent of Washington jobs will require some education beyond high school.
• 45 states require more English classes in high school.
• 39 states require more social studies classes in high school.
• 38 states require more science classes in high school.
• 54 percent of our graduates (from 2008) require remediation upon entering community or technical colleges.
• Sources

Clearly, what we are asking of our students is not enough.
 
And in our current economy, we must do all we can to ensure our graduates have every opportunity for success.
 
I hope you take the time to review our graduation requirements overview webinar and then provide feedback to SBE through our online survey (open through October 31, 2010).
 
SBE will review all suggestions and then finalize and adopt the new graduation requirements at the Novermber 9-10 meeting .
 
The Legislature has the opportunity to act on proposed SBE changes to the high school graduation requirements before SBE adopts its administrative rule. Changes that have a fiscal impact on school districts will have a fiscal analysis conducted by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). Graduation requirements that have a fiscal impact change shall take effect only if formally authorized and funded by the Legislature. SBE is committed to no additional, unfunded mandates, and will develop its administrative rule based upon Legislative action in 2011.
 
In these tough economic times, there will be resistance to incurring any additional costs that are inherent in SBE's proposal. But the cost of inaction, as the numbers above demonstrate, is greater still. We cannot afford to let class after class graduate unprepared for the challenges that lie ahead in life, careers, and education.
 
The Board's proposal is designed to reverse that trend and get Washington students moving in the right direction.
 
Cheers!
 
Edie Harding, executive director, State Board of Education