Brief Description: Studying performance and funding of running start students.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Early Learning, K-12 & Higher Education (originally sponsored by Senators Brandland, Sheldon, Fairley, Berkey, Delvin, Benson and Rockefeller).

Hearing Date: 2/17/06

Staff: Jennifer Thornton (786-7111).

Background:

Running Start
In 1990 the Legislature created the Running Start dual-enrollment program as part of the Learning By Choice Act. Running Start provides 11th and 12th grade students with the option to attend courses at participating institutions of higher education for the purpose of earning dual high school and college/university credit. Students must meet entrance criteria established by the participating colleges and universities and may earn the equivalent of up to two academic years of college credit in the program.

Certificate of Academic Achievement (CAA)
Beginning in 2008, graduates from public high schools in Washington must earn a CAA in order to receive a diploma. The CAA is evidence a student has met the state's academic standards in reading, writing and mathematics on the 10th-grade Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL). In 2010, meeting standards on the science WASL will also become a requirement for earning a CAA.

Summary of Bill:

Within current budgets, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, with the assistance of the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges and the Higher Education Coordinating Board, are directed to conduct a study of public school student performance on the high school WASL and subsequent performance participating in college-level courses under the Running Start program. The study must include:

• correlations between student scores on the WASL and placement tests used at two-year and four-year colleges and universities;
• correlations between student scores on the WASL, placement tests, and performance in courses taken under Running Start;
• completion rates of courses taken by Running Start students who met the proficiency standard on the WASL;
• causes for students not completing Running Start courses; and
• the current Running Start funding formulas and any recommendations for changes to the distribution of funds between school districts and institutions of higher education.

The study must be competed by January 15, 2007, and the results reported to the Governor, the State Board of Education, and the fiscal and education committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

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