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Sammamish students ask Bellevue School District to consider high‑school credit for robotics extracurriculars
Summary
Members of Sammamish High School’s FIRST Robotics team asked the board to explore district policy options and Washington Administrative Codes that allow districts to grant high‑school credit for extracurricular activities such as robotics.
Two members of Sammamish High School’s FIRST Robotics Team (team number stated in testimony) asked the Bellevue School District Board on Feb. 6 to consider creating a district policy to grant high‑school credit for sustained robotics extracurricular work.
Tessa and Sabella, team members representing FIRST Robotics Team 2412 (Sammamish High School), told the board students who participate in competitive robotics can spend 15 hours or more per week on the activity and that more than 400 BSD students participate in FIRST Robotics programs. They said they had met with Krista Fox, OSPI’s CTE director, and were introduced to Washington Administrative Codes describing pathways for districts to grant graduation credit for “nontraditional learning settings” and alternative learning experiences (transcribed WAC references cited: WAC 392‑410‑300 and WAC 392‑410‑340 as stated in testimony).
The students asked the district to review those WAC provisions and to consider adopting a written policy to award credit for robotics extracurriculars, arguing such a policy would recognize technical and “soft” skills built through sustained team participation. They told the board the change would require time and district commitment but not new recurring financial resources.
Board response: The students were heard during public comment. The district did not present a timetable for reviewing robotics‑for‑credit options during the meeting; the request was placed into public record for staff follow up.
