The Board received a presentation from Board and OSPI staff on how students with disabilities are supported to meet grade-level standards and state graduation requirements. The presentation included a brief history of important changes in legislation over the past five years, an explanation of the flexibility available to support all students in meeting graduation requirements, and state guidance on how to effectively implement comparable content substitution, as required in WAC 180-51-115. 

In 2020, the Board updated WAC 180-51-115 to address systemic inequities and problematic practices that prevented students from accessing grade-level standards. Comparable content course substitution allows, in limited circumstances, for a required course to be substituted with coursework aligned to the same grade-level standards to ensure that students can access and demonstrate learning through appropriately designed instruction and supports. 

The Board was provided an update by staff on the development of its Centennial Accord Plan for Tribal Consultation, which outlines formal and informal consultation processes with Washington’s federally recognized Tribes and those outside Washington State that have Tribal interests. 

The purpose of the plan is to clarify how the Board will conduct consultation when Board actions, policies, or initiatives may impact Tribal Nations, Tribal students, or Tribal education interests. The plan will also ensure the Board’s work aligns with the principles of both the Centennial Accord and the Millennium Agreement. 

To date, the Board’s Tribal Liaison has consulted with 17 of the 29 federally recognized Tribes in Washington. Consultation has taken place through individual meetings, including virtual meetings and listening sessions, as well as collaboration with Tribal Education Departments, individual meetings with Tribal education leaders, and ongoing communication through email and phone calls. 

The Board voted to renew a waiver of credit-based graduation requirements for Chelan School of Innovation (Lake Chelan School District). 

WAC 180-18-055, adopted in 1999, authorizes the Board to grant a waiver of credit-based graduation requirements to schools submitting an application request. This credit waiver allows enrolled students to earn a high school diploma by demonstrating mastery of state learning standards in required subject areas, rather than by earning the needed subject area credits outlined in Chapter 180-51 WAC.