students-with-jobs

OLYMPIA — High school students 16 and older who have jobs will be able to earn elective credits toward their high school diploma through paid work experience.

That’s the proposal floated Thursday morning by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal, who says nearly 30% of Washington’s high school students are employed.

Currently in Washington, to earn a high school diploma students must earn 17 credits in core subjects and 4 credits in elective subjects.

Under Reykdal’s plan, students could earn credits at a rate of 1 elective credit for 360 hours worked or one half elective credit for 180 hours worked. Students will be allowed to earn all 4 elective credits through work experience, but no more than 2 of those credits may be earned in a year.

Providing students with the ability to earn elective credits for holding down a job would be intended to honor the differing pathways that students choose for themselves, while recognizing the knowledge and skills students acquire through paid employment.

To earn elective credit for their work hours, a student’s school will be responsible for verifying employment and reaching out to employers to monitor student progress.

Reykdal’s office staff are working out the specifics for the new proposal, with the goal of having the program in place by the beginning of the 2023–24 school year. School districts will be required to report student participation and the number of elective credits earned.