RCW ch. 28A.255 — Revised Code of Washington Chapter 28A.255 RCW — Competency-Based Education

RCW 28A.255.010 Definitions. The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (1) "Competencies" mean the rigorous, shared expectations for learning that encompass knowledge, skills, and abilities across grade levels. Competencies are broader than learning standards and may encompass multiple learning standards. Competencies are transparent, measurable, relevant, and transferable to multiple contexts. (2)(a) "Competency-based education" means education that includes the following elements: (i) Students are empowered daily to make important decisions about their learning experiences, how they will create and apply knowledge, and how they will demonstrate their learning; (ii) Assessment is a meaningful, positive, and empowering learning experience for students that yields timely, relevant, and actionable evidence; (iii) Students receive timely, differentiated support based on their individual learning needs; (iv) Students progress based on evidence of mastery, not seat time; (v) Students learn actively using different pathways and varied pacing; (vi) Strategies to ensure equity for all students are embedded in the culture, structure, and pedagogy of schools and education systems; and (vii) Rigorous, common expectations for learning, including knowledge, skills, and dispositions, are explicit, transparent, measurable, and transferable. (b) "Mastery-based learning" has the same meaning as "competency-based education." [ 2025 c 278 s 1.] RCW 28A.255.020 Enrollment funding—Rule making. (1) By September 1, 2025, the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall adopt rules to authorize full-time enrollment funding for students enrolled in competency-based education programs identified by the state board of education based on: (a) School membership in the mastery-based learning collaborative established in section 502(2), chapter 334, Laws of 2021 or the school having a current waiver from credit-based graduation requirements granted by the state board of education under RCW 28A.300.750; or (b) The process developed by the state board of education under RCW 28A.255.030. (2) Rules adopted pursuant to this section must permit school districts to report full-time equivalent students in eligible competency-based education programs for general apportionment funding. [ 2025 c 278 s 2.] RCW 28A.255.030 Implementation process and competencies creation—Reports. (1) The state board of education shall design and recommend a process to identify and designate schools and school districts that are implementing competency-based education and identify costs associated with this process. This process must consider the extent to which competency-based education is being implemented as compared to the seven elements of the definition in RCW 28A.255.010. The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall consult with the state board of education on how this designation can be displayed on the Washington state report card website. (2) The office of the superintendent of public instruction, in consultation with the state board of education, shall develop and recommend a process for the office of the superintendent of public instruction to create competencies aligned with the state learning standards and identify costs associated with this process. This process must incorporate relevant materials and guidance developed through the mastery-based learning collaborative established in section 502(2), chapter 334, Laws of 2021. The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall submit the recommendations and associated costs developed in accordance with this subsection to the state board of education by December 1, 2025. (3) The state board of education shall include the recommendations and associated costs developed in accordance with this section in the report required by section 502(2), chapter 475, Laws of 2023 that is due December 31, 2025. [ 2025 c 278 s 3.] RCW 28A.255.040 Equitable access to interscholastic activities—Rule making. The Washington interscholastic activities association shall include in its rule adoption process a review of whether the rule would create any potential barriers related to students participating in competency-based education in order to ensure continued equitable access to interscholastic activities for those students. [ 2025 c 278 s 4.]