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Greetings, Kang Families,
What a wonderful time of year. It’s mid-winter break and the days are getting longer. Soon it will be time for our spring season of athletics to begin. This week our PTSA honored staff with a cute Valentine's Day gift. We appreciate you, parents!
In this message I will highlight the opportunities students have to waive credit, to complete outside credits, and to earn credit for proficiency. These opportunities have expanded as a result of the move to the 6-period day and the desire to provide more flexible options for all students.
Our district policies and procedures outline the many options available to our students. Policy and Procedure 2409 explain that students can earn credit for showing proficiency in a world language. Procedure 2409 also defines the way in which showing proficiency on standardized exams can “backfill” credit that was not earned in specific classes. Beginning in 2025-26, students will also earn 1.0 elective credit for completing their High School and Beyond Plan (HSBP) through the Xello platform. Policy 2409 was recently adopted by our School Board and it clearly supports students who need additional opportunities to earn credit.
Policy and Procedure 2410 is our existing graduation policy. This is the policy that provides for waivers and allows for acceptance and transcription of outside (non-LWSD) credit. This policy is particularly useful for students who have limited availability in their schedule. All students who take a full schedule qualify for PE waivers. These students are still required to pass a district-provided PE assessment. Students can waive specific graduation requirements, such as PE, world language and art, by completing and submitting the waiver forms linked at the bottom of the policy page. Students can also access these forms through their counselors.
Under Policy and Procedure 2410, students may complete up to 7 credits by enrolling in non-LWSD courses. Please note that a form needs to be completed, submitted and signed prior to enrollment in those classes. Your student’s counselor can help them connect with programs if this is their intended path. Also note that colleges may require specific elective courses, such as world language. The policy outlines how we handle high school credits earned at the middle level. Most of our students come to high school with a full credit of high school math (algebra). Policy 2410 explains that a student and parent can elect to have that credit removed from their transcript by completing the form linked in the policy. Otherwise, that credit is on their transcript and it counts toward their math graduation requirements.
What is most important now is that our students are considering their four-year plans and that they are consulting with their guidance counselor. Colleges have specific requirements, and students who elect to participate in Running Start need to build a plan for which classes they will need to take to earn their high school diploma. Encourage your student to research their post-secondary options and keep talking with them about their progress. As always, I want to encourage our students to be well-rounded in their high school experiences.
Thank you for taking the time to read through this article. It is important to me that students are aware of their options - and I didn’t touch on all of them here. Other programs, such as credit for work experiences and community service, are also detailed in Policies and Procedures 2409 and 2410. Your student’s counselor is the best equipped to help them navigate these complex pathways. I am also here to help.
Enjoy the rest of your long weekend. Go Kangs!
Christine Bell, Ed.D
Principal, Lake Washington High School
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