Title: An act relating to public tribal colleges participating in the running start program.

Brief Description: Authorizing public tribal colleges to participate in the running start program.

Sponsors: Representatives Quall, McCoy, Cox, Blake, Sells, Skinner, Fromhold, Clements, Appleton, Morris, Linville, Hunter, Darneille, Ormsby, Morrell, Murray, Roberts, Campbell, Chase, P. Sullivan, Santos, Haigh, Dunn and Simpson.

Brief History: Passed House: 3/15/05, 95-1.

Committee Activity: Early Learning, K-12 & Higher Education: 3/30/05 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING, K-12 & HIGHER EDUCATION

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators McAuliffe, Chair; Pridemore, Vice Chair; Weinstein, Vice Chair; Schmidt, Ranking Minority Member; Berkey, Carrell, Delvin, Eide, Kohl-Welles, Pflug, Rasmussen, Rockefeller, Schoesler and Shin.

Staff: Brian Jeffries (786-7422)

Background: The Running Start program was established by the Legislature in 1990 as part of the Learning By Choice Act (Chapter 9, Laws of 1990, First Extraordinary Session) to provide students a program option consisting of attendance at public institutions of higher education and the earning of dual high school and college/university credit. Under current law, students in the eleventh and twelfth grades who have not yet received their high school diplomas and who meet entrance criteria established by participating public colleges and universities may participate in the Running Start program.

Northwest Indian College currently is the only public tribal college in the state, and is funded primarily through federal appropriations. The college participates in Washington's Work First and Adult Basic Education programs, and students may use state financial aid at the college.

Summary of Bill: A public tribal college authorized by the Higher Education Coordinating Board is eligible to participate in the Running Start program.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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

Testimony For: There are Native American students who have the skills to attend and benefit from attending institutions of higher education through Running Start. There are also such Native American students attending public high schools who do attend the Northwest Indian College following high school graduation and would benefit from participation in Running Start.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Representative Dave Quall, prime sponsor; Representative John McCoy; Mike Moran, Food Lifeline and Second Harvest.