First-ever Student Communicator Interns: At the beginning of the year, SBE made a trailblazing decision to hire two high school student interns to aid in communication strategy to the public and their peers. Indiana Hilmes, now a senior at Selah High School in Selah, and Star Mendoza, now a senior at Governor John R. Rogers in Puyallup have been interning for the Board for one year now. The two have transformed the way the Board engages on social media and brought much-needed content and perspective to SBE communications. You can see most of their work on SBE’s Instagram profile, and you can check out their TikTok where they have a little fun with their fellow students and Board members. In a recent milestone event, the two presented to their peers at the Association of Washington Student Leaders Conference in Tacoma about their experience working for the Board.

Community Engagement: This year saw SBE’s first round of community contracts to authentically engage with communities furthest from educational justice. We partnered with four organizations across the state, The ZoNE in Spokane, Community Center for Education Results in south King county, Elevate in Yakima, and Foundation for Academic Endeavors in the Skagit region. These organizations held community-driven conversations to provide input to the Board about their unique needs. Students and families were compensated for their time and sharing their expertise on what is working well and what needs more attention. Community members also attended the Board retreat in June for a day full of conversation, connection and learning. Activities included community presentations, group chats and an impactful student fishbowl conversation.

The Performance-based Graduation Pathway Option: The 2023 legislature passed House Bill 1308 adding a performance-based pathway option to the graduation pathway requirement in our state. This new option will allow students to show what they know and can do in real-world, hands-on ways that align with their individual goals for after high school. The Board requested this bill in response to students, families, and educators who have been asking for more relevant, engaging, and authentic options for meeting this graduation requirement. SBE talked with students who are currently using performance-based models in Washington schools (like Gibson Ek in Issaquah). SBE also held interactive listening sessions with the public to get insight into this new option. The Board adopted final rules for the performance-based pathway at the December 7 meeting. To implement the performance-based pathway, the Board, in collaboration with the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), is developing required proficiency targets and associated rubrics (scoring guides) that will be available in February 2024.

Mastery-based Learning: SBE invited applications from schools across our state to be part of a new cohort in the Mastery-based Learning Collaborative (MBLC) grant program. These MBLC awards support mastery-based learning (MBL) - sometimes called competency-based education. Mastery-based learning (MBL) is an instructional model where students advance upon mastery of content as measured by meaningful, authentic assessments tied to state learning standards. Students take ownership of their learning, advance at their own pace, and receive differentiated support based on their interests and needs. SBE announced the second cohort of grant recipients December 12. To find out more about the MBLC, visit sbe.wa.gov/mblc.

Private Schools Approval and Enrollment Reporting: With the addition of private schools manager, Nicole Mulhausen, SBE’s private schools approval process is smoother and schools feel supported. With the support of the Washington Federation of Independent Schools (WFIS), her consistent communication with private schools has helped ensure compliance with the law. Approximately five hundred private schools operate in Washington, serving over 80,000 students–SBE approves all these schools. Learn more and watch short explainer videos at sbe.wa.gov/privateschools.

Farewell, Pavan! Pavan Venkatakrishnan joined the Board as a junior in 2021 and quickly became a knowledgeable voice and represented students in Western Washington well. A fervent politico, Pavan brought passion for policy to each meeting. During his time on the Board, he advocated for the passage of SB 5497 (student voting rights on the Board) and was a dynamic presence in testimony. Pavan is attending George Washington University in Washington D.C.

New Student Member: SBE added the bright and personable, Castulo Gonzalez, as a new student Board member, and west-side student representative. Castulo is a junior at W.F. West in Chehalis. His first meeting as a Board member was in June. Since then, he has been vocal about making opportunities like the Seal of Biliteracy available for all students.

Snorkels, the Real SBE Seal: Adopted on behalf of the Board in summer 2022 with 100 percent donated funds, the State Board’s seal, Snorkels, is an educational interactive symbol. Snorkels has their own Instagram account (instagram.com/therealsbeseal) where it documents journeys throughout Washington schools. Snorkels attends Board meetings, reports back, and shares relatable resources. It helps educate the public on what the Board is and what the Board does—all while residing officially in its home: the Old Capitol Building in Olympia. This year and last year, we asked elementary school students all over Washington to submit coloring sheets in honor of Snorkels’ first full year of being the type of engagement tool that “visits” different places. As a result, SBE brought Snorkels to Kent Elementary (Kent) and the Stillaguamish Valley Learning Center (Arlington) to celebrate and hear more about why these students love their schools.

Where has Snorkels been this year? The Silverwood School, Poulsbo, The Washington State Capitol Building, Olympia, ESD 113, Tumwater, Evergreen Forest Elementary, Lacey, Shelton High School, Shelton, Governor John R. Rogers High School, Puyallup, W.F. West High School, Chehalis, the Museum of Flight, Tukwila, Jefferson Elementary, Mount Vernon, Lake Washington High School, Lake Washington (where Snorkels met US Department of Education Secretary Cardona and US Representative DelBene, no big deal), Mt. St. Helens, The Seahawks’ Virginia Mason Athletic Center (no big deal), the Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle, Innovation Lab High School, Bothell, Cowlitz 2 Fire and Rescue, Kelso, The Vancouver Waterfront, Vancouver, Falls, Tumwater, The Yakima Valley Museum, Yakima, West Valley Innovation Center, Yakima, the Hanford Reach National Monument, the SeaLife Rehabilitation Center, Des Moines, Maritime High School, Des Moines, the Olympia Toy Run, Kent Elementary, Kent, the Stillaguamish Learning Center, Arlington, and probably more places!