BILL REQ. #:  Z-0399.2 

Read first time 01/12/2005.   Referred to Committee on Early Learning, K-12 & Higher Education.

     AN ACT Relating to college in the high school; amending RCW 28A.150.275, 28A.225.290, and 28A.600.160; adding new sections to chapter 28A.600 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that:
     (1) Many high school students who wish to earn college credits are unable to participate in the running start program because they live in areas that do not have local colleges; and some students who would like to earn college credits while in high school do not participate in running start because they do not want to leave their high school campus in order to do so.
     (2) Some high schools are currently working with colleges to offer dual credit courses on high school campuses to serve those students. However, there is no established statewide program or funding provided, so rules governing these programs vary and high school students pay varying amounts to cover the colleges' costs of working with high schools to offer the classes.
     It is the intent of the legislature to establish the college in the high school program as a statewide option for high school students. high schools and colleges that wish to work together to offer this option are encouraged to do so.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 28A.600 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The superintendent of public instruction, the state board for community and technical colleges, and the higher education coordinating board shall jointly develop and adopt rules governing the college in the high school program. The rules shall be written to encourage the maximum use of the program and shall not narrow or limit the enrollment options.
     (2) The college in the high school program shall provide that:
     (a) Institutions of higher education participating in the program are authorized to charge two hundred eighty dollars per pupil per five-credit program course. For each program course, the superintendent of public instruction shall distribute to school districts an amount of one hundred forty dollars per pupil per course, except the allocation shall be two hundred eighty dollars per pupil per course for pupils who are eligible for free or reduced price lunch. School districts shall transfer the program course amount to the appropriate in-state institution of higher education to offset pupils' participation fees.
     (b) A school district shall grant high school credit to a pupil enrolled in a program course if the pupil successfully completes the course. If no comparable course is offered by the school district, the school district superintendent shall determine how many credits to award for the course. The determination shall be made in writing before the pupil enrolls in the course. The credits shall be applied toward graduation requirements and subject area requirements. Evidence of the successful completion of each program course shall be included in the pupil's secondary school records and transcript.
     (c) Eleventh and twelfth grade pupils or pupils who have not yet received a high school diploma or its equivalent and are eligible to be in the eleventh or twelfth grades may participate in the college in the high school program. Participating school districts and institutions of higher education may establish standards for admission to program courses.
     (d) Participating school districts shall provide general information about the college in the high school program to all pupils in grades ten, eleven, and twelve and the parents and guardians of those pupils.
     (3) For the purposes of this section:
     (a) "Institution of higher education" means the state universities, the regional universities, The Evergreen State College, the community colleges, and the technical colleges.
     (b) "Program course" means a college course offered in a high school under the college in the high school program.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 28A.600 RCW to read as follows:
     The superintendent of public instruction shall develop counseling guidelines that ensure that pupils and parents understand that college credits earned in high school dual credit programs count toward the total number of credits allowed for financial aid.

Sec. 4   RCW 28A.150.275 and 1995 c 77 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
     The basic education allocation, including applicable vocational entitlements and special education program money, generated under this chapter and under state appropriation acts by school districts for students enrolled in a technical college program established by an interlocal agreement under RCW 28B.50.533 shall be allocated in amounts as determined by the superintendent of public instruction to the serving college rather than to the school district, unless the college chooses to continue to receive the allocations through the school districts. This section does not apply to students enrolled in the running start program established in RCW 28A.600.310 or the college in the high school program established in section 2 of this act.

Sec. 5   RCW 28A.225.290 and 1990 1st ex.s. c 9 s 207 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The superintendent of public instruction shall prepare and annually distribute an information booklet outlining parents' and guardians' enrollment options for their children.
     (2) Before the 1991-92 school year, the booklet shall be distributed to all school districts by the office of the superintendent of public instruction. School districts shall have a copy of the information booklet available for public inspection at each school in the district, at the district office, and in public libraries.
     (3) The booklet shall include:
     (a) Information about enrollment options and program opportunities, including but not limited to programs in RCW 28A.225.220, 28A.185.040, 28A.225.200 through 28A.225.215, 28A.225.230 through 28A.225.250, ((28A.175.090)), 28A.340.010 through 28A.340.070 (small high school cooperative projects), and 28A.335.160.
     (b) Information about the running start - community college or vocational-technical institute choice program under RCW 28A.600.300 through ((28A.600.395)) 28A.600.400 and about the college in the high school program under section 2 of this act; and
     (c) Information about the seventh and eighth grade choice program under RCW 28A.230.090.

Sec. 6   RCW 28A.600.160 and 1998 c 225 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     Any middle school, junior high school, or high school using educational pathways shall ensure that all participating students will continue to have access to the courses and instruction necessary to meet admission requirements at baccalaureate institutions. Students shall be allowed to enter the educational pathway of their choice. Before accepting a student into an educational pathway, the school shall inform the student's parent of the pathway chosen, the opportunities available to the student through the pathway, and the career objectives the student will have exposure to while pursuing the pathway. Parents and students dissatisfied with the opportunities available through the selected educational pathway shall be provided with the opportunity to transfer the student to any other pathway provided in the school. Schools may not develop educational pathways that retain students in high school beyond the date they are eligible to graduate, and may not require students who transfer between pathways to complete pathway requirements beyond the date the student is eligible to graduate. Educational pathways may include, but are not limited to, programs such as work-based learning, school-to-work transition, tech prep, vocational-technical education, running start, college in the high school, and preparation for technical college, community college, or university education.