HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2864

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

As Reported by House Committee On:

Education

Appropriations

Title: An act relating to establishing a running start summer school pilot program.

Brief Description: Establishing a running start summer school pilot program.

Sponsors: Representatives Paul, Morgan, Valdez, Bergquist, Lekanoff and Santos.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Education: 1/30/20, 2/3/20 [DPS];

Appropriations: 2/8/20, 2/10/20 [DP2S(w/o sub ED)].

Brief Summary of Second Substitute Bill

  • Establishes, subject to state funding, the Running Start Summer School Pilot Program (Pilot Program).

  • Directs the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, in consultation with the State Board of Community and Technical Colleges (College Board), to establish the Pilot Program and to select three applicant institutions of higher education to participate in the Pilot Program.

  • Directs the College Board to report findings and recommendations on the Pilot Program to the Legislature by November 10, 2022.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 13 members: Representatives Santos, Chair; Dolan, Vice Chair; Paul, Vice Chair; Bergquist, Caldier, Callan, Harris, Ortiz-Self, Rude, Stonier, Thai, Valdez and Ybarra.

Minority Report: Without recommendation. Signed by 3 members: Representatives McCaslin, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Volz, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Corry.

Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 1 member: Representative Steele, Ranking Minority Member.

Staff: Megan Wargacki (786-7194).

Background:

Running Start Program.

Established in 1990, the Running Start Program (Program) allows students in grades 11 and 12 to enroll in college courses at certain institutions of higher education and to simultaneously earn both high school and college credit. Students choosing to participate in the Program are responsible for applying for admission to the institution of higher education. Students in the Program do not pay for tuition, but do pay for educational materials, course fees, and transportation costs.

There are a number of funding-based limitations on Program enrollment.  For example, in general, state funding during the regular school year is limited to a combined high school and college enrollment of 1.20 full-time equivalent (FTE).  In addition, state funding is not available for a student to enroll in summer college courses.  However, a student in the Program can exceed the 1.20 FTE maximum enrollment or enroll in a summer college course by self-paying any additional college tuition and fees.  Finally, students are limited in the amount of time during which they may enroll in college courses while participating in the Program.

The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (College Board), and the Washington Student Achievement Council are jointly responsible for developing and adopting rules governing the Program.

The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges.

The College Board is the state agency charged with coordinating and advocating on behalf of the state's 34 community and technical colleges (CTCs). The CTCs have open-door policies, and their purpose is to provide comprehensive education and training that meets the needs of the community, basic skills and literacy education, and apprenticeship opportunities. The College Board also establishes guidelines for the disbursement of funds and allocates funding to each of the colleges.

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Summary of Substitute Bill:

Subject to the availability of state funding, the Running Start Summer School Pilot Program (Pilot Program) is established in the College Board. The Pilot Program expires December 31, 2022.

The purpose of the Pilot Program is to provide any student who has completed grade 10 or 11, and who will be eligible to enroll in grade 11 or 12 in the subsequent school year, with the opportunity to apply to a participating institution of higher education to enroll in and complete courses or programs offered by the institution during its summer academic term.

The College Board, in accordance with an application process developed by it for this purpose, and in consultation with the OSPI, must select three applicant institutions of higher education to participate in the Pilot Program. In making the selections, the College Board must consider geographic diversity and efforts to serve a diversity of students, including those underserved by institutions of higher education.

Students participating in the Pilot Program must be able to enroll in a course or program offered by a participating institution of higher education during a summer term that is no later than after the conclusion of the 2020-21 school year of the applicable high school. Institutions of higher education participating in the Pilot Program must agree to do so for a period of time that includes two consecutive summer academic terms.

The College Board must report findings and recommendations from the Pilot Program, including recommending whether the program should be extended, to the Governor and the Legislature by November 10, 2022.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

Compared to the original bill, the implementation, reporting, and expiration dates in the substitute bill are delayed by one year.

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Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) The Program is tremendously successful. Running Start Program students are more likely to be successful than the average college student; they are high performing students who do very well.

The idea for a summer Program has been around for a long time. Summer classes at colleges are more likely to have open seats. This Pilot Program will allow high school students to try the Program, even just one class, before the start of their junior or senior year, without having the pressure of trying a college class for the first time during the regular school year.

Increasing equitable access to dual credit opportunities is a priority for the OSPI. This bill will allow students who are ready for dual credit to get those college level experiences. It will help students who are in need of additional high school credits to graduate on time.

Running Start Program students are not able to participate during the summer term because the funding for the Program is connected to the high school year. The state policy limits total high school and Running Start Program enrollment within an academic year. The Program funding limit will likely need to be looked at to ensure that the students taking advantage of the Pilot Program are not inadvertently left with tuition charges later in the year.

Running Start Program students are unable to participate in the Program after graduation because they are no longer basic education students. If this were to happen, it would have to be set up as a different program.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: Representative Paul, prime sponsor; and Jason Boatwright, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Majority Report: The second substitute bill be substituted therefor and the second substitute bill do pass and do not pass the substitute bill by Committee on Education. Signed by 25 members: Representatives Ormsby, Chair; Robinson, 1st Vice Chair; Bergquist, 2nd Vice Chair; Rude, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Caldier, Chopp, Cody, Corry, Dolan, Fitzgibbon, Hansen, Hudgins, Kilduff, Macri, Mosbrucker, Pettigrew, Pollet, Ryu, Senn, Springer, Sullivan, Sutherland, Tarleton, Tharinger and Ybarra.

Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 7 members: Representatives Stokesbary, Ranking Minority Member; Chandler, Dye, Hoff, Kraft, Schmick and Steele.

Staff: Jordan Clarke (786-7123).

Summary of Recommendation of Committee On Appropriations Compared to Recommendation of Committee On Education:

The second substitute bill makes the following changes:

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Preliminary fiscal note available.

Effective Date of Second Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) None.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: None.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.