HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 1146
As Passed House:
February 13, 2023
Title: An act relating to notifying high school students and their families about available dual credit programs and any available financial assistance.
Brief Description: Notifying high school students and their families about available dual credit programs and any available financial assistance.
Sponsors: Representatives Paul, Steele, Ramel, Taylor, Callan, Rude, Timmons, Chopp, Lekanoff, Duerr, Ramos, Shavers, Stonier, Pollet, Santos, Riccelli and Ormsby.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Education: 1/23/23, 2/2/23 [DP].
Floor Activity:
Passed House: 2/13/23, 96-0.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Requires public high schools to notify students and their parents about available dual credit programs and any financial assistance available to reduce the cost of these programs.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by 15 members:Representatives Santos, Chair; Shavers, Vice Chair; Rude, Ranking Minority Member; McEntire, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Bergquist, Callan, Eslick, Harris, McClintock, Ortiz-Self, Pollet, Sandlin, Steele, Stonier and Timmons.
Staff: Megan Wargacki (786-7194).
Background:

Dual Credit Programs.
Dual credit programs allow high school students to earn high school and postsecondary credit at the same time.  Dual credit programs can be course-based or exam-based.  Course-based dual credit programs can be offered at:

  • an institution of higher education, for example, the Running Start (RS) program; or
  • a high school, for example, college in the high school (CHS) courses and career and technical education dual credit courses.

 

Exam-based dual credit programs allow students to take an exam and apply to receive postsecondary credit with a score of 3 or better for Advanced Placement course exams, a score of 4 or better for International Baccalaureate course exams, and a score of E or better for Cambridge International course exams.
 
Notifications about Dual Credit Programs.
School districts are required to notify students and their parents or guardians about advanced courses or programs available to students, including dual credit courses or programs. 
 
High schools that offer CHS programs must provide general information about the CHS program to all students in grades 8 through 12 and to their parents and guardians.  In addition, specific information must be included in the high school catalog, for example, a description and breakdown of the fees charged to students who choose to enroll in a CHS course to earn both high school and college credit. 
 
School districts must provide general information about the RS program to all students in grades 10 through 12 and to their parents and guardians, including information about the opportunity to enroll in the RS program through online courses available at institutions of higher education.
Summary of Bill:

Prior to course scheduling or course registration for the next school term, public schools that serve students in any of grades 9 through 12 must provide all students and their parents or guardians with information on each available dual credit program and any financial assistance available to reduce dual credit course and exam costs for students and their families.  The information must be provided via email and other communication methods, and, to the extent feasible, must be translated into the primary language of each parent or guardian. 
 
Public schools are encouraged to include in this notification other information about advanced course-taking that is required to be provided to parents and guardians.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) Washington has great dual credit programs.  These programs help reduce student debt and help students get onto pathways to career and technical training or four-year degrees.  These programs are not equitably distributed.  Middle class families are more likely to access these programs.  This bill requires notification every academic term about the dual credit programs available because not enough students are benefitting from these programs.
 
Anything that gets the word out about dual credit is great.  The state has a goal of 70 percent postsecondary credential attainment for its residents.  Dual credit can make a huge boost towards that goal because the program allows high school students to earn college credit that transfers the same way as any other credit.

 

(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: Representative Dave Paul, prime sponsor; and Jamie Traugott, State Board for Community and Technical Colleges.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.