Perhaps at a faster clip than at any time before in history, our economy is undergoing fundamental shifts in the skills and knowledge required for success. As workforce needs evolve, so too must our education systems. To help ensure that every D.C. student graduates ready to thrive in a changing world, the D.C State Board of Education has launched the High School Graduation Requirements Task Force.
Over the coming months, the task force will review and provide feedback on the Office of the State Superintendent of Education’s proposed updates to high school graduation requirements—available here. The task force will meet monthly from October 2025 through May 2026. Their efforts will culminate in a set of recommendations for transmittal to the Office of the State Superintendent for Education. The Office of the State Superintendent for Education will then consider the task force's recommendations before submitting a final proposal of modified high school graduation requirements to the State Board of Education for a formal vote of approval. Ultimately, the work of the task force will contribute to our city’s overarching goal: creating graduation standards that reflect 21st-century realities while advancing equity, opportunity, and stability for all D.C. students.
The Task Force
The task force brings together individuals from across D.C.’s education and workforce landscape, including teachers, parents, students, policymakers, and economic development leaders. Membership was filled by two methods: invitation extended to partner agencies and organizations in the Washington, D.C., education policy ecosystem; and a blind application process open to all members of the city-wide community to ensure diverse representation among selected members.
| Name | Affiliation |
|---|---|
| Robert Henderson, PhD (co-chair) | Ward 5 Representative, DC State Board of Education |
| Eboni-Rose Thompson (co-chair) | Ward 7 Representative, DC State Board of Education |
| Brandon Best | Ward 6 Representative, DC State Board of Education |
| LaJoy Johnson-Law | Ward 8 Representative, DC State Board of Education |
| Sitara Mazumdar | Student Representative, DC State Board of Education |
| Issa Ouarid | Student Representative, DC State Board of Education |
| Elleni Abebe | Teacher, District of Columbia Public Schools |
| Beli Acharya | Executive Director, Construction Trades Workforce Initiative |
| Vanessa Anderson | Director, Early College and Advanced Academics, Friendship Collegiate Public Charter School |
| Tanya Borachi | Director, Education and Workforce Initiatives, Federal City Council |
| Clara Botstein | Chief of Staff, Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education |
| Aniya Coffey | George Mason University Student and D.C. Graduate, Class of 2024 |
| Dan Davis | Chief Student Advocate, Office of the Student Advocate |
| Kristie Dennis | D.C. Public Charter School Board |
| Laura Fuchs | President, Washington Teachers' Union |
| LaTasha Gross | Special Education Teacher, District of Columbia Public Schools |
| Chandra Goodman | Workforce Investment Council |
| Christina Hanson | DCPS Parent, Educator, and Executive Director, CARE Anacostia |
| Arlen Herrell | Senior Deputy Director, Department of Employment Services |
| Bridget Jackson | Chief of Staff, Two Rivers Public Charter School |
| Chimere Jones | Director of Policy and Planning, Postsecondary & Career Education, OSSE |
| Sita Ramamurti | Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, Trinity Washington University |
| Cathy Reilly | Executive Director, Senior High Alliance of Parents, Principals and Educators |
| Sally Schwartz | Executive Director, Globalize DC |
| Yvette Selby-Mohamadu | Board Member, Parents Amplifying Voices in Education |
| Glenn Starnes | Senior Deputy Chief, SEAD Strategy, District of Columbia Public Schools |
| Alexander Ting | Student and Student Advisory Committee Member |
| Emily West | Senior Vice President, Policy & Initiatives, Greater Washington Partnership |
Join Us!
All community members are welcome to attend our task force's meetings virtually. Meeting access information will become available in advance on our events page as well as on OpenDC.
Meeting Dates
- April 23, 2026: Meeting Materials | Watch The Replay
- April 9, 2026: Meeting Materials | Watch The Replay
- March 19, 2026: Meeting Materials | Watch The Replay
- February 19, 2026: Meeting Materials | Watch The Replay
- January 22, 2026: Meeting Materials | Watch The Replay
- December 18, 2025: Meeting Materials | Watch The Replay
- November 20, 2025: Meeting Materials | Watch The Replay
- October 16, 2025: Meeting Materials | Watch The Replay
Engagement sessions
The Task Force has scheduled a series of engagement sessions where community members can share their thoughts about proposed modifications to graduation requirements. Details below. RSVP today!
Scheduled Sessions
- December 16, 2025 | 5:30 - 7:00 pm | Benning/Dorothy I. Height Library, Meeting Room 1
- December 11, 2025 | 7:00 - 8:30 pm | VIRTUAL
- December 8, 2025 | 6:00 - 7:30 pm | MLK, Jr. Library, Conference Room 401-E
Give us your take
Share your thoughts about the requirements proposal by taking our quick, anonymous survey. Your response will help shape our final recommendations before our 2026 vote.
On April 15, 2026, the High School Graduation Requirements Task Force released a preliminary report summarizing their discussion and considerations so far as they continue making final decisions. The preliminary report precedes the final report and recommendations from the task force, which will be released in May 2026.
The State Board's Approval Process
Spring 2026 Timeline
The below table details the remaining activities that will be undertaken by the Task Force and State Board to bring a finalized proposal to a vote this spring. While our best estimate, this timeline is subject to modification as necessary.
| Date | Details |
|---|---|
| April 9, 2026 | Task Force meeting, continues making final decisions about recommendations. |
| April 15, 2025 | Preliminary recommendations released on SBOE website for public to review before Public Meeting. |
| April 22, 2026 | At SBOE public meeting, a panel will discuss preliminary Task Force recommendations. Public witnesses can give testimony related to recommendations. |
| April 23, 2026 | Task Force meeting, makes final decisions about recommendations. |
| April 27 - May 1, 2026 | Task Force reviews final draft and finalizes recommendations. |
| May 6, 2026 | At SBOE working session, CCLR Co-Chairs present Task Force recommendations to State Board. |
| May 6 - 12, 2026 | SBOE reviews Task Force recommendations and compiles their recommendations to OSSE. |
| May 13, 2026 | SBOE sends final recommendations to OSSE. |
| July 1, 2026 | At SBOE working session, OSSE presents final proposal to SBOE. |
| August 19, 2026 | At SBOE public meeting, SBOE votes on final proposal from OSSE. |
Current Graduation Requirements
The District of Columbia's graduation requirements were most recently updated in 2018. According to those requirements, to graduate, students must at minimum successfully complete 24 credit units as delineated below. In addition, students must complete 100 hours of community service.
| Subject | Credits (Carnegie Units) |
|---|---|
| English | 4.0 Credits |
| Mathematics (including Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II at a minimum) | 4.0 Credits |
| Science (must include three lab sciences) | 4.0 Credits |
| Social Studies (must include World History 1 and 2, United States History; United States Government, and District of Columbia History) | 4.0 Credits |
| World Language | 2.0 Credits |
| Art | 0.5 Credits |
| Music | 0.5 Credits |
| Health and Physical Education | 1.5 Credits |
| Electives | 3.5 Credits |
| Total | 24.0 credits |
For additional details about current graduation requirements, visit the website for the Office of the State Superintendent of Education.