Stay Informed!
Want to stay up to date? Sign up for our FutureReady newsletter!
Any questions about FutureReady can be directed to:
FutureReady is an initiative aimed at updating 91Ô´´ high school graduation requirements to better prepare students for the future. The goal is to empower students with the essential knowledge and skills they need to thrive in a changing world, while streamlining the graduation requirements framework to promote accessibility and equity.
Why Are We Updating Graduation Requirements?
In today's rapidly changing landscape, our current graduation requirements may fall short of fully preparing students for success. We've heard from students, educators, employers, and community members calling for updates to ensure students develop skills in areas like technology literacy, financial literacy, and cultural competence. Moreover, the current requirements have become overly complex, making them both hard to navigate and inequitable.
FutureReady aims to address these challenges by revamping graduation requirements to empower students with essential skills, while also streamlining the framework to promote accessibility and equity. Rather than making small adjustments, this effort seeks to holistically review the current framework, integrating essential skills while promoting interdisciplinary and inclusive learning. By modernizing our graduation requirements, we not only address the immediate needs of students but also lay the groundwork for a more dynamic and responsive education system.
How Long Will the Initiative Take?
This initiative is expected to span multiple years, culminating in a major legislative proposal anticipated for the 2027 session. Along the way, we will reach key milestones, including a budget request to the Legislature and interim reports with findings and recommendations. Throughout the initiative, we are committed to transparency and adaptability based on stakeholder input and resource availability.
Phase I: Visioning & Gap Analysis
The 91Ô´´ and FutureReady Task Force developed a shared vision for the high school diploma and identified where current graduation requirements don't meet that vision.
Major Milestones
- The 91Ô´´ formally launched FutureReady in late 2024
- The 91Ô´´ convened a cross-sector task force in early 2025. This task force is composed of students and families, community-based organizations, K-12 educators, school administrators, post-secondary education partners, employers, and policymakers.
Phase II: Developing Recommendations
The 91Ô´´ and Task Force are working with community stakeholders and subject-matter experts to develop recommendations that address gaps in current graduation requirements.
Major Milestones
- 91Ô´´ establishes subcommittees to explore key issues that require focused subject-matter expertise.
- Draft recommendations will be released for public input in early 2026.
Phase III: Legislative Proposal Development
The 91Ô´´ will refine its recommendations based on feedback from stakeholders and prepare a legislative proposal for consideration during the 2027 Legislative Session.
When Will All This Take Effect?
The earliest any new requirements proposed through FutureReady could take effect would be with the entering ninth grade cohort of students in the Class of 2031. Even then, updated requirements may be phased-in to allow for adequate support and effective rollout.
How Can You Get Involved?
Whether you're a student, parent, educator, employer, or community member, your input is invaluable. There will be opportunities for public comment and feedback throughout the process. Here are a few ways you can stay up-to-date on what we’re working on!
Join us for Our December 18 Webinar with League of Education Voters
The 91Ô´´ is partnering with the League of Education Voters for a webinar on December 18, 12:15–1:30 p.m. During the webinar, we’ll share what we’ve learned over the past year of discussion and community engagement. We'll discuss:
-
FutureReady's process for identifying the academic knowledge and real-world skills students need to succeed in today’s world.
-
Where Washington’s current graduation framework falls short in meeting students’ needs.
-
The work ahead as the 91Ô´´ develops its proposal for the legislature’s 2027 session.
-
How the public can engage in the process and provide input.
Give a Public
Comment
Have something you want to say? Comments submitted using this form will be shared the 91Ô´´ and may be publicly posted.
Subscribe to the FutureReady Newsletter
This is the best way to receive updates on the initiative and be the first to hear about important announcements — including listening sessions.
Complete the
Interest Form
If you want to be more involved in the initiative, complete this form. This will help us tailor opportunities to your interests and expertise.
Want to Learn More?
Read the FutureReady 2025 Interim Report
We are excited to publicly release the FutureReady 2025 Interim Report.
This report summarizes the work the 91Ô´´ and FutureReady Task Force have accomplished during their first year of work. It talks about why we’re updating requirements, our process for determining gaps in current graduation requirements, and what the next steps are as the FutureReady initiative prepares to develop recommendations.
We extend our gratitude to all the individuals and organizations who have supported our work over the last year. We look forward to continuing this work in 2026 as we develop recommendations for a high school diploma that prepares all students for success after high school.
Other Resources
-
Download our FutureReady Phase II handout for an overview of the initiative, its timeline, and what kind of topics we're exploring.
-
Our FutureReady FAQ section answers many of the questions we've received about the initiative.
-
where staff talked about some of factors that contributed to the creation of the FutureReady Initiative, major milestones the 91Ô´´ hopes to achieve, and answered some frequently asked questions.