# Washington's New ELA and Math Standards (2026): What Teachers Need to Know

[Teaching standards](/teaching-standards/)

Washington adopted brand-new English and math learning standards in 2026. You have the 2026-27 school year to learn them; they are required with students starting fall 2027. Here is what actually changed.

  **Check your state.** Teaching standards and education policies change often and vary by state and district. Always confirm dates, requirements, and details with your state department of education or district office. This site is for general information, not professional or legal advice.

## The timeline

- **2026:** both sets of standards formally adopted (math via Bulletin 023-26).

- **2026-27 school year:** exploration year. Learn the standards, try them out, no requirement yet.

- **2027-28 school year:** required use with students.

## Math: WA Math 2025/2026

The revision reorganizes math into four domains of related concepts across all grades:

- **Data Analysis:** asking questions, collecting and analyzing data, interpreting results.

- **Quantity:** reasoning with quantities.

- **Relationships:** understanding real-world patterns.

- **Spatial Reasoning:** exploring spatial relationships.

Two big shifts to know:

- **New data science standards.** Data science now runs through every grade, from basic statistical questions in early grades to complex analysis in high school, designed for real-world application across subjects.

- **Fluency redefined.** Research convinced the state that fluency is not speed or memorization. The standards now say students work **efficiently, flexibly, and accurately**: choosing strategies that make sense, adjusting when needed, and getting correct answers.

## ELA: 2026 learning standards

The revised ELA standards are organized into domains: reading, writing, language, speaking/listening/digital forums, and research and media literacy. The state ran open office-hour webinars on each domain plus key shifts, and the initial standards went through public survey rounds (version 2.0 released April 2026).

## What to do now

- Download the standards (Word, PDF, or the Excel spreadsheet with the Common Core crosswalk) from OSPI's mathematics and ELA pages.

- Compare your current units against the four math domains; most units will map, but data tasks may need building up.

- Watch for district professional development in 2026-27; the state is posting materials as the rollout progresses.

## Sources

- Washington OSPI, Mathematics K-12 Learning Standards (2026); ELA Learning Standards Review

- OSPI Bulletin 023-26 (math adoption)

Related: check [which standards your state uses](/which-standards-does-my-state-use/), and generate [printable worksheets](/worksheet-generator/) for your grade.