January 5, 2011
Dear High School and Grade School Principals, Academic Deans and Junior High Academic Personnel:
On November 9, 2010 the Washington State Board of Education (SBE) approved new high school graduation requirements for 2016, pending funding approval by the legislature. Below is the link to a PowerPoint explanation of the new requirements, which I found helpful:
http://www.sbe.wa.gov/default.html#corequestions
There are many elements to these graduation requirements which the PowerPoint presentation covers. I am focusing the attention of our Catholic schools here in the Archdiocese of Seattle around a few key features.
- I am drawing attention to our high school leaders around what SBE and OSPI refer to as "CORE 24”. These are the core twenty four credits required of students in all high schools for college readiness.
- I am noting the freshman science requirement.
- I am focusing attention on the World Language requirement, which is now reappearing as part of our state's college readiness efforts.
In light of these three areas, I am also working with our Catholic school leaders in the following areas:
First, I am asking our school leaders to review how junior high math and science skills sets prepare students for the newly-established freshman science requirements. Both the executive principal group, as well as the high school principal leadership group, have had very robust discussions about better articulation in these two areas. We should have some direction of how we are proceeding in this area by the end of this current academic year.
Second, I am beginning discussions regarding Spanish. Spanish is the most commonly offered language in our grade schools. I would like us to be clearer about what key language vocabulary and grammar knowledge is essential for a junior high student to know
in order to test into second year high school Spanish. All of the public universities in
Washington State now require two years of World Language as part of their admission requirements. Having greater clarity of junior high Spanish will allow our students to have greater academic scheduling flexibility for other CORE 24 requirements, as well as additional elective possibilities in their high school years. Once we have clarified math/science articulation in junior and senior high school levels, I will be pursuing the question of Spanish.
I realize that because these requirements from November 9, 2010 are not currently funded and therefore the 2016 date may not be firm, and since our own schools are site-based managed, it will be important for each school to keep these emerging state requirements in their own long-range school plans.
I am also keenly aware that our site-based managed system for our Catholic schools means that there are a variety of competing priorities in each of our buildings. I hope that by giving you this kind of early warning, and drawing attention to the state's own work, that you will begin to see the specific areas our CSD will be supporting in the run-up to these new high school graduation requirements. You may also wish to discuss with your principal/dean other areas that we might review as a communion of schools.
Finally, as we move forward in better academic articulation, I hope we can anchor our academic efforts in the rich Catholic intellectual heritage. The way in which we teach Spanish can better anchor our students in the rich Catholic culture in so many of our Spanish-speaking countries. Similarly, I hope we can find ways to anchor our math and our science back into the Catholic intellectual heritage out of which scientific methodology grew.
My thanks to all of you for all you give in opening the minds of our students to the wonders of the world, and therefore, the great gifts of creation that God has placed before us.
With every best wish and blessing,
Yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Joseph J. Tyson
Auxiliary Bishop
Superintendent and Vicar General
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