High school seniors in Washington state will no longer need to pass a biology test in order to graduate under legislation signed by Governor Jay Inslee.
Seniors in the class of 2017 who had failed a biology exam but met other diploma requirements would now graduate automatically. The class of 2017 had been the first class required to pass a biology exam – about 3,300 high school seniors failed to do so.
The new legislation, intended to give students more flexibility in meeting graduation requirements, delays until 2021 the mandate that students pass a statewide biology test in order to graduate.
The legislation also moves the state’s standardized English and math assessments from the 11th grade to the 10th grade, and allows school districts to come up with alternative ways for students to demonstrate proficiency. (AP)
