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: March 2026: Bulletin No. B006-26

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

English Language (ELA)

Learning standards for English Language Arts (ELA) 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 Common Core State Standards adopted in 2011. Other documents released with the initial adoption of learning standards are the Key Shift in the Standards and What's New in the Standards. A feedback survey is open through May 3 2026. Please use the initial standards in your local context and then respond to the survey.

Washington State K-12 Standards for ELA

2026 ELA Learning Standards Open Office Hours 

Join open office hours to ask questions and discuss the ELA Learning Standards. You can find the different subjects, dates and times and meeting links below. 

March 19, 4 p.m. – What’s New and Key Shifts in the 2026 ELA Learning Standards

March 24, 9 a.m. – The Reading Domain in the 2026 ELA Learning Standards

March 31, 4 p.m. – The Writing Domain in the 2026 ELA Learning Standards

April 9, 4 p.m. – The Language Domain in the 2026 ELA Learning Standards

April 15, 4 p.m. – The Speaking, Listening, and Digital Forums Domain in the 2026 ELA Learning Standards

April 22, 3 p.m. – The Research and Media Literacy Domain in the 2026 ELA Learning Standards

World Languages, Health Education, Physical Education, and Science

Washington adopted learning standards for World Languages in 2015, for Health Education and Physical Education in 2016, and for Science in 2013. These standards are in the Engagement and Revision step.

Washington State K-12 Learning Standards for World Languages, Health and Physical Education

The Center for Strengthening the Teaching Profession is currently taking applications to be involved in providing feedback and completing an equity and bias screening on the learning standards for World Languages, Health, and Physical Education. To be considered, interested applicants should complete the application for the content area that they have current experience teaching or supporting.

Complete the World Languages, Health, and Physical Education application survey - survey will be open until 4 p.m. on March 30th

Washington State K-12 Learning Standards for Health Education

SHAPE WA is hosting educator feedback events on the drafted K-12 Health Learning Standards.  The feedback events will focus on the priority standards identified at each grade band and supports needed for educators to implement the standards once finalized.  Both meetings will be the same content, so educators only need to attend one.

March 31, 7–8 p.m. – Join the Zoom meeting

April 14, 7–8 p.m. – Join the Zoom meeting

Both sessions use the same Zoom link.

Washington State K-12 Learning Standards for Science

K-5 Educators: Science Standard Feedback Sessions

This session is specifically for the Elementary standards. Your insights as an elementary teacher will help ensure the standards reflect the foundational knowledge and skills our earliest learners need for success in science. Even if you don't always have the opportunity to teach science as much as you'd like, your feedback is invaluable. Join us and make an impact!

Thursday, March 12, 2026, 4 pm - Zoom Registration | Clock hours: 1 Equity Clock Hour

Mathematics

Learning standards for Mathematics are now in the Initial Adoption and Implementation phase. The initial learning standards are available in a Word, PDF and an Excel format. The Excel file contains a crosswalk to the Common Core State Standards adopted in 2011. Other documents released with the initial adoption of learning standards are the Key Shift in the Standards and What's New in the Standards. A feedback survey was open from December 2025 - February 2026.

Washington State K-12 Learning Standards for Math

Resources

Topic Focused Math Learning Standards Webinars

These will be recorded and posted on the website the following week for those that can't attend live.

Financial Education

Learning standards for Financial Education are currently in the Engagement and Revision phase. The draft learning standards are available in a Word, PDF, and Excel formats. The Excel file contains a crosswalk to the previous standards adopted in 2016. A public comment survey was open December 2025 - February 2026. These standards are now being revised based on public comments received. Initial adoption will be the next step. 

Washington State K-12 Learning Standards for Financial Education

Updates and materials will be posted as the project progresses.