Washington proposes mandatory life skills course for high school seniors

OLYMPIA — Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal proposed a new yearlong course Tuesday aimed at providing high school seniors with essential life skills before graduation.

The postsecondary launch course would be mandatory for all graduating seniors. It intends to teach financial literacy, resume building, civic engagement, and college or military preparation to close gaps in student readiness.

“Students are graduating from the K-12 system without consistent access to the tools needed to support their independence,” Reykdal said in a statement, noting that many young people take on debt without understanding the consequences.

The proposal would merge the state’s current semester-long civics requirement with a new half-credit focusing on financial and postsecondary readiness. Under the plan, seniors would be required to build a resume, register to vote, and apply for financial aid and a job, college, or the military. Topics would be timed to match the school year, such as teaching financial aid applications in the fall.

The Washington State Board of Education is currently reviewing the plan as part of an ongoing project to update Washington’s graduation requirements. While the board is weighing whether to remove certain credits in career education, the arts, and physical education to make room for new mandates, Reykdal urged officials to retain those programs.

The board is expected to vote on whether to formally adopt its draft recommendations during an August meeting. If approved, Reykdal plans to request that the Washington Legislature officially implement the requirement during the 2027 legislative session.

File photo of Chris Reykdal

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Elkhorn Media Group