BILL REQ. #:  S-5086.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/03/06.   

     AN ACT Relating to a college in the high school program that is distinct from the running start program; amending RCW 28A.150.275, 28A.225.290, 28A.600.160, and 28A.600.300; 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) The economy of the state of Washington requires a well-prepared work force. To meet the need, more Washington students must be prepared for postsecondary education and training. Further, the personal enrichment and success of Washington citizens increasingly relies on their ability to use the state's postsecondary education and training system. To accomplish those ends, the legislature desires to increase the number of students who begin earning college credits while still in high school.
     (2) Not all Washington high school students realize that they are capable of college-level work, nor do all students have ready and affordable access to college-level courses. The legislature finds that an effective means of increasing the number of students earning college credit in high school is to bring the college courses to the students. The legislature believes the ability to earn college credit during the regular high school day and on the high school campus may greatly expand students' willingness and ability to attempt college-credit-bearing courses.
     (3) 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 or participating universities; 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; and some students who would like to earn college credits are unable to afford the cost of books, fees, transportation and other costs not covered by running start.
     (4) Some high schools are currently working with colleges and universities to offer college credit courses on high school campuses to serve those students. However, since there is no established statewide program or funding provided, rules governing these programs vary and high school students pay varying amounts to cover the colleges' and universities' costs of working with high schools to offer the classes.
     (5) 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, colleges, and universities 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 public baccalaureate institutions 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) College in the high school programs shall each be governed by a local contract in compliance with the guidelines adopted by the superintendent of public instruction, the state board for community and technical colleges, and the public baccalaureate institutions.
     (3) The college in the high school program shall provide that:
     (a) To the extent funds are appropriated for this purpose, the superintendent of public instruction may distribute to school districts an incentive allocation equivalent to seven percent of the basic education allocation for each student enrolled in a five credit college in the high school course. The amount of the actual incentive allocation generated by each student enrolled in a five college credits in the college in high school program shall be calculated as seven percent of the statewide average basic education amount generated for a 1.0 average annual full-time equivalent position, pursuant to RCW 28A.150.260, excluding small high school enhancements. School districts shall report no student for more than 1.0 full-time equivalent combining both their high school enrollment and college in the high school courses.
     (b) The institution of higher education shall not require the student to pay any other fees. The funds received by the institution of higher education from the school district shall not be deemed tuition or operating fees and may be retained by the institution of higher education. A student enrolled under this subsection shall not be counted for the purpose of determining any enrollment restrictions imposed by the state on the institution of higher education.
     (c) A school district shall grant high school credit to a student enrolled in a program course if the student 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 student enrolls in the course. The credits shall be applied toward graduation requirements and subject area requirements. Evidence of successful completion of each program course shall be included in the student's secondary school records and transcript.
     (d) Eleventh and twelfth grade students or students 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.
     (e) Participating school districts shall provide general information about the college in the high school program to all students in grades ten, eleven, and twelve and the parents and guardians of those students.
     (4) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section.
     (a) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning in RCW 28B.10.016 and also includes a public tribal college located in Washington and accredited by the Northwest commission on colleges and universities or another accrediting association recognized by the United States department of education.
     (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 advising guidelines to ensure that students and parents understand that college credits earned in high school dual credit programs may impact eligibility 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.
     (4) The booklet may be distributed in an electronic format.

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.

Sec. 7   RCW 28A.600.300 and 2005 c 207 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The program established in this section through RCW 28A.600.400 shall be known as the running start program.
     (2) For the purposes of RCW 28A.600.310 through 28A.600.400, "participating institution of higher education" or "institution of higher education" means:
     (((1))) (a) A community or technical college as defined in RCW 28B.50.030;
     (((2))) (b) A public tribal college located in Washington and accredited by the northwest commission on colleges and universities or another accrediting association recognized by the United States department of education; and
     (((3))) (c) Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University, Washington State University, and The Evergreen State College, if the institution's governing board decides to participate in the program in RCW 28A.600.310 through 28A.600.400.