Washington State Learning Standards Review

Learning standards define what all students need to know and be able to do at each grade level. As required by state law (RCW 28A.655.070), OSPI develops the state’s learning standards and periodically revises them based on the student learning goals in RCW 28A.150.210.

Update to the Learning Standards Review Project: October 2026: Bulletin No. B035-26.

Standards Review Project

OSPI has launched the Washington State Learning Standards Review project to:

  • Establish a process to periodically review the state learning standards, and how those standards are used at a classroom, school, and district level to support student learning. 
  • Refine and prioritize the learning standards with a lens of clarification, integration, and understandability. 
  • Develop wrap-around guidance that clarifies for educators the opportunities within the learning standards for cultural responsiveness, inclusionary practices, universal design, support for multilingual learners, social-emotional learning, cross-content integration, and standards-based assessment practices. 
  • Develop an implementation plan for the following two to five years to help educators learn about and use the new resources and tools. 

Learning Standards Review FAQs

This page contains frequently asked questions about the Learning Standards Review and Revision Project. It will be updated periodically. 

Below are links to key documents that provide more information about the project:

Learning Standards

Science Learning Standards

Learning standards for Science are now in the Initial Adoption and Implementation phase.  The learning standards will be available in Word, PDF, and an Excel format.  The Excel file contains a crosswalk to the 2013 Next Generation Science Standards.  Other documents released with the initial adoption of the learning standards are the “What’s New in the K-12 Learning Standards for Science” and “Key Experiences with the K-12 Learning Standards for Science”.  Feedback can be provided on the initial adoption of the learning standards for science through the survey open from October 15 to December 13, 2026.  The learning standards for science are set to be formally adopted in Spring/Summer of 2027.

Office Hours

OSPI Science Office Hours: Getting Started with the Updated Science Standards 

Join the OSPI Science Team for an overview of the newly updated Science Standards. During this office hours session, we'll highlight what's new, explore key student experiences, and unpack important pedagogical shifts and clarification statements. We'll also share implementation resources and support documents designed to help districts, schools, and educators get started. The session will conclude with dedicated time for questions and discussion.

  • Tuesday, October 20, 3:30–4:30 pm
  • Wednesday, October 22 10–11 am
  • Monday, October 26, 3:30–4:30 pm
  • Tuesday, October 27, 10–11 am

OSPI Science Office Hours: Exploring the New Environmental and Sustainability (ESE) Standards in Science

Join the OSPI Science Team for an introduction to Washington's new Environment and Sustainability Education (ESE) Standards and their integration within the updated Science Standards. During this session, we'll explore each ESE standard and domain, examine how the standards bundle with the NGSS, and discuss the opportunities they create for meaningful, locally relevant science learning. Participants will also learn about available support resources and have time for questions and discussion.

  • Tuesday, November 3, 3:30–4:30 pm
  • Wednesday, November 4, 9–10 am
  • Monday, November 9, 3:30–4:30 pm
  • Tuesday, November 10, 10–11 am

OSPI Science Office Hours: Elementary Science Standards in Practice: Content Integration and High-Quality Instructional Materials

Join the OSPI Science Team to explore what effective implementation of the updated science standards looks like in elementary classrooms. This session will highlight strategies for integrating science across the elementary curriculum, examine the role of high-quality instructional materials (HQIM), and discuss how science can support literacy, mathematics, and student engagement. Participants will leave with practical considerations for strengthening science instruction while advancing broader school and district goals. Time will be provided for questions and discussion.

  • Monday, November 30, 3:30–4:30 pm

Secondary Science Standards in Practice: Course Sequencing and High-Quality Instructional

Join the OSPI Science Team to explore key considerations for implementing the updated science standards at the secondary level. This session will examine course sequencing options, discuss how districts can create coherent K-12 science pathways, and highlight the role of high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) in supporting equitable, standards-aligned instruction. Participants will learn about available guidance and resources and have time to ask questions and discuss implementation in their local context.

  • Wednesday, December 2, 3:30–4:30 pm

Physical Education Learning Standards

Learning standards for Physical Education are now available for Public Comment review.  The draft learning standards are available for public comment and feedback through the linked survey. The learning standards are available in Word, PDF, and an Excel file. The Excel is a crosswalk to the current 2016 learning standards for physical education. A brief description of the updates to the standards is in the “Summary of Changes in Physical Education” document.  The survey will be available from October 15 to December 13, 2026.  The next stage of the learning standards revision is Initial Adoption planned for late Spring/Summer of 2027.

Educational Technology and Computer Science Learning Standards

The Learning Standards for Educational Technology and Computer Science are beginning the review and revision process.  Before standards are revised OSPI is seeking the input of educators on the current set of learning standards.  Educational Technology and Computer Science were last revised in 2018.  Please take a moment to give your input on the current set of learning standards.  The survey will be available from October 15 to December 13, 2026.

World Languages and Health Learning Standards

Washington adopted learning standards for World Languages in 2015 and Health Education in 2016 are currently in the Engagement and Revision step.  Public Comment on draft standards is anticipated for Fall of 2026.

Financial Education Learning Standards

Learning standards for Financial Education (FE) are now in the Initial Adoption and Implementation phase. The learning standards will be available in a Word, PDF, and an Excel format.  The Excel file contains a crosswalk to the 2016 Financial Education learning standards. Another document released with the initial adoption of the learning standards is the What’s New in the FE Standards. The Financial Education standards are set to be formally adopted in the Fall of 2026.

English Language Arts (ELA) Learning Standards

The revision of the ELA standards was completed with Bulletin No. B026-26. Please access the new learning standards and supporting resources on the English Language Arts Learning Standards page.

Mathematics Learning Standards

The revision of the mathematics standards was completed with Bulletin 023-26. Please access the new learning standards and supporting resources on the Mathematics K–12 Learning Standards page.

Updates and materials will be posted as the project progresses.