Waiver of High School Graduation Credits

The board seeks to provide all students with the opportunity to complete graduation requirements without discrimination and without disparate impact on groups of students. In so doing, the board acknowledges that circumstances may arise that prevent a student from earning all twenty-four credits required for high school graduation. Such circumstances may include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Homelessness;
  • A health condition resulting in an inability to attend class;
  • Limited English proficiency;
  • Disability, regardless of whether the student has an individualized education program or a plan under Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973;
  • Denial of an opportunity to retake classes or enroll in remedial classes free of charge during the first four years of high school;
  • Transfer during the last two years of high school from a school with different graduation requirements;
  • In or have been released from an institutional education facility; and
  • Other circumstances (e.g., emergency, natural disaster, trauma, personal or family crisis) that directly compromised a student’s ability to learn.

The board delegates to the superintendent or his/her designee discretion to grant a waiver of a maximum of two elective credits required for graduation. A student’s parent/guardian or an adult student must file the district’s Application for Waiver of High School Graduation Credits (Form 2418F) with the superintendent’s office no later than thirty days prior to the student’s scheduled graduation date. In order to graduate, students granted a waiver must earn seventeen required subject credits (four English, three Math, three Science, three Social Studies, two Health and Fitness, one Arts, one Career and Technical Education) which may be by satisfactory demonstration of competence as provided by WAC 180-51-050.

Legal References

RCW 28A.230.090 High school graduation requirements or equivalencies—High school and beyond plans—Career and college ready graduation requirements and waivers—Reevaluation of graduation requirements—Language requirements—Credit for courses taken before attending high school—Postsecondary credit equivalencies

RCW 28A.345.080 Model policy and procedure for granting waivers of credit for high school graduation.

WAC 180-51-068 State subject and credit requirements for high school graduation—Students entering the ninth grade on or after July 1, 2015.

WAC 180-51-050 High school credit—Definition.

Cross References

2410 – High School Graduation Requirements

Management Resources

2021 – June Issue

2015 – April Policy Issue

Adoption Date: 01/2020
Classification: Essential
Revised Dates:

Policies and Procedures