SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SHB 1977

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

                 Education, February 24, 1998

Title:  An act relating to high school students' options.

Brief Description:  Allowing arrangements for running start students to attend out‑of‑state community colleges.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Honeyford, Boldt and Dunn).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Education:  2/20/98, 2/24/98 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Hochstatter, Chair; Finkbeiner, Vice Chair; Goings, Johnson, McAuliffe, Rasmussen and Zarelli.

Staff:  William Bridges (786-7424)

Background:  Under the Running Start program, qualified 11th and 12th grade students earn high school and college credits for successfully completing courses in Central, Eastern, or Washington State universities, or any of the state's community and technical colleges.

Running Start students are not charged tuition, but they must provide their own transportation, books, and class materials.  School districts reimburse colleges and universities for their students' participation in the program.  In 1996, the reimbursement  rate was about $79 per credit for academic programs and $95 for vocational programs.  Generally, colleges receive 93 percent of the state aid per FTE for educating Running Start students, while high schools retain 7 percent for counseling and administrative overhead.

Summary of Bill:  School districts in Washington may enter agreements with community colleges in Oregon and Idaho to let Washington students enroll for concurrent high school and college credits.  The Running Start laws apply to the agreements except that a school district may agree to pay less than the Running Start rate so long as students are not required to pay tuition and fees.  At no time may a school district agree to pay more than the Running Start rate. 

Agreements may require students to pay some tuition and fees, but the agreements must  not allow the out-of-state colleges to charge nonresident tuition rates.  The agreements must also ensure that participating students enroll in courses that transfer to a public college or university in Washington.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  For some Running Start students in rural areas, it is difficult to attend Washington colleges.  Some communities in border counties are within easy commuting distance of out-of-state community colleges.  By attending these out-of-state colleges, students can avoid moving away from home or enduring long and hazardous commutes.  This bill will create additional educational opportunities for high school students living in border counties.  Because distance learning programs have limited subject matter and funding, Running Start is often the only means a high school student can obtain college credits. 

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Representative Honeyford, prime sponsor; Laura Cheney; Tonya Kreps; Lori Kreps.