SENATE BILL REPORT
SHB 1302
As Reported by Senate Committee On:
Early Learning & K-12 Education, March 17, 2021
Title: An act relating to college in the high school programs.
Brief Description: Concerning college in the high school programs.
Sponsors: House Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Berg, Ybarra, Johnson, J., Sutherland, Eslick, Morgan, Bergquist, Paul and Callan).
Brief History: Passed House: 2/23/21, 97-0.
Committee Activity: Early Learning & K-12 Education: 3/10/21, 3/17/21 [DP].
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Allows ninth-grade students to participate in College in the High School (CiHS) programs.
  • Requires specified fee and credit information about CiHS program courses to be included in the high school catalogue or equivalent.
  • Sets the maximum per college credit tuition fee for a CiHS program course at $65, annually adjusted for inflation.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING & K-12 EDUCATION
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Wellman, Chair; Nobles, Vice Chair, K-12; Wilson, C., Vice Chair, Early Learning; Hawkins, Ranking Member; Dozier, Hunt, McCune, Mullet and Pedersen.
Staff: Benjamin Omdal (786-7442)
Background:

College in the High School (CiHS) programs provide college level courses in high schools or high school environments to qualified students who are in or are eligible for enrollment in grades 10, 11, and 12.
 
Students who participate in a CiHS program are able to earn both high school and postsecondary credit by completing postsecondary level courses with a passing grade.  Programs are established in individual agreements between the schools and colleges or universities.  The institution of higher education participating in a CiHS program may charge tuition fees per credit to participating students.
 
State statute permits school district to offer CiHS programs, while state rule permits charter schools and state tribal compact schools to offer CiHS programs.
 
State funding for CiHS programs does not include funding for students who are in or eligible for enrollment in grade 10.  For students in grades 11 or 12, funding is prioritized according to statute, with subsidies for eligible students.  The maximum per credit fee may not exceed the amount of the per credit subsidy.
Summary of Bill:

Ninth grade students are eligible to participate in CiHS programs.  A high school that offers a CiHS program must provide general information about the program to all students in grades eight through 12 and to the parents and guardians of those students.
 
A high school that offers a CiHS program must include the following information about program courses in the high school catalogue or equivalent:

  • there is no fee for students to enroll in a program course to earn only high school credit and fees apply for students who choose to enroll in a course to earn both high school and college credit;
  • a description and breakdown of the fees charged to students to earn college credit; and
  • a notification that paying for college credit automatically starts an official college transcript with the institution of higher education offering the course regardless of student performance, and college credit earned upon successful completion of a course may count only as elective credit if transferred to another institution of higher education.

 
Charter schools and state-tribal compact schools are allowed to offer CiHS programs, to the same extent as school districts.
 
The maximum per college credit tuition fee an institution of higher education may charge for a CiHS course is set at $65, to be annually adjusted for inflation.  The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction must calculate and post the maximum fee on its website, by July 1st annually.  Language specifying that the minimum CiHS program allocation and subsidy is $65 per quarter credit and that specified entities must review funding levels for the program every 4 years and recommend changes is removed.
 
Cross-references are corrected and other terminology changes are made.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

PRO:  Students should not be penalized for their grade level when it comes to earning college credit.  Students want more opportunities to access dual credit opportunities; allowing more students these opportunities allows them to be in charge of their own education.  Some students have been taking these courses since seventh grade and have been unable to earn college credit even though they have performed the same work as older students.
 
OTHER:  CiHS has led to greater access to college credit for students in Washington State.  The current process of stakeholder review and recommendation should remain in place to receive feedback from various groups.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Representative April Berg, Prime Sponsor; Natalya Yudkovsky, Washington State PTA; Jason Boatwright, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction; Lucinda Young, Washington Education Association; Lily Villa, Washington Legislative Youth Advisory Council; Angela Jones, Washington STEM; Vivian Tidwell.
OTHER: Ruben Flores, Council of Presidents; Pam LeMay, Edmonds College; Tim Stetter, UW.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.