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.

Standards Review Project

Standards Review Project Summary

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. 
  • Washington Learning Standards Review Timeline

English Language Arts (ELA), Mathematics, and Science

Washington adopted learning standards for English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics in 2011 and for Science in 2013, which are now being reviewed. The Group 1 Expanded Timeline provides details on the review phases.

Phase 1: Reflection
  • 12/1/22 Consultation with Dual Language Steering Committee
  • 12/9/22 Consultation with Multilingual Education Advisory Committee
  • 2/8/23–2/22/23 Teachers surveyed about ELA, SLA, math, and science standards
  • Late February 2023, District curriculum directors surveyed about ELA, SLA, math, and science standards.
Phase 2: Review Standards

Phase 2 is a review of ELA, SLA, Math, and Science Standards (March 2023–July 2024).

OSPI teams develop a professional learning plan to share the resources developed.

Phase 3: Adoption

Phase 3 ends with formal adoption of the learning standards by the Superintendent of Public Instruction. 

World Languages, Health Education, Physical Education, and Financial Education

Washington adopted learning standards for World Languages in 2015, for Health Education and Physical Education in 2016, and for Financial Education in 2016, are now being reviewed. The Group 2 Expanded Timeline provides details on the review phases.

Phase 1: Reflection

Phase 1 is a review of the previously adopted standards and how they are working in schools (February 2024–July 2024).
•    May 2024, Teachers of World Languages, Health, PE, and Financial Education surveyed about the learning standards.

Previous Webinar Materials

Updates and materials will be posted as the project progresses.