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New Law Nixes Washington Graduation Testing Requirements

Washington high school students no longer have to pass state assessment tests in order to graduate.

Governor Jay Inslee this week signed into law a bill that takes away the testing graduation requirement. It will apply to students who graduate beginning next year.

Scott Kerwien is the director of technology and information for Spokane Public Schools. He says students still have to take the state tests, but they’ll mean much less than they have.

“So that students don’t have one test hanging them up if they want to go be a C-and-C machinist or go into engineering or go into the military," Kerwien said. "There’s got to be an opportunity for students to express their readiness through different methods than just an English-language arts-and-math test.”

He says students will have still have to pass a state-specified number and type of classes. They’ll still have to complete what’s known as their “High School and Beyond” plans. And they’ll have to complete at least one of eight “graduation pathway options,” as spelled out by the state.