Spokane School Board asks for 24-credit graduation waiver

Spokane Public Schools will join 78 districts around the state asking to be excused from 24-credit graduation requirements.

The graduation requirement has been state law since 2014 although implementation was delayed. The Spokane district has six-period school days, which means for a student to get 24 credits they must take a full credit load, every day for four years.

“There is no place to trip up at all,” said district Chief Academic Officer Steven Gering. “There is no funding or resources or anything.”

The school board unanimously approved the request for a waiver on Wednesday. The request will go before the Washington State Board of Education in January.

Previously district graduation requirements were 22 credits. Gering said the district was trying to figure out a way to make 24 credits possible, however, without additional funding it was difficult.

“Our staff has done everything they can short of changing the school day,” board President Deana Brower said.

Gering and Brower say that options must be available for students who fall behind.

“We agree with the integrity of it,” Brower said. “But, we also don’t want to set students up to not graduate.”

The two-year waiver will allow students to continue to graduate with 22 credits, Gering said. When the waiver expires, Gering hopes the state will have provided more funding.

Additional money could fund summer courses, before-school classes, virtual learning or adding a seventh period.

Currently, Gering said between 2 and 4 percent of students receiving diplomas have between 22 and 24 credits. These students wouldn’t be eligible to graduate under the 24-credit system.

Both Gering and Brower expressed the importance of keeping rigorous standards, while still giving students avenues to graduation. The district’s current four-year graduation rate is 83 percent. In November, the board approved a district-wide graduation rate goal of 90 percent.

According to the law the State Board of Education has to grant districts waivers, said Jack Archer of the Washington State Board of Education.

Deer Park, Mead School District and Central Valley all applied for the waiver earlier this year.

An earlier version of this story reported an incorrect number of districts applying for the waiver.