Provides that, 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, shall conduct a study of student performance on the high school Washington assessment of student learning and subsequent performance at institutions of higher education for students participating in the running start program. The study shall include: (1) Correlations between student scores on the high school Washington assessment of student learning and placement tests used at the state community and technical colleges and the baccalaureate institutions;

(2) Correlations between student scores on the high school Washington assessment of student learning, placement tests used at the state community and technical colleges and the baccalaureate institutions, and student performance in courses taken under the running start program;

(3) Completion rates of courses taken by running start students at institutions of higher education when students have met the proficiency standard on the high school Washington assessment of student learning;

(4) Causes for students not completing courses under the running start program; and

(5) The current running start funding formulas and any recommendations for changes to the distribution of funds between school districts and institutions of higher education.

Requires the study to be completed 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.