Background: Washington State has several dual enrollment/credit programs enabling high school students to simultaneously earn high school and college credit, including Running Start, College in the High School, Advance Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and Tech Prep.

Running Start. Through this program 11th and 12th grade students take college courses at Washington’s 34 community and technical colleges; Washington State, Eastern Washington, and Central Washington Universities; The Evergreen State College; and the Northwest Indian College. Students earn both high school and college credits for these courses. Tuition is waived but the student pays lab fees, textbooks, and transportation. Colleges receive funds from the school district, although the district may retain up to 7 percent of the full-time equivalent (FTE) allocation to offset Running Start program-related costs.

College in the High School (CHS). This program provides college level academic courses in high schools to serve qualified high school students. CHS programs are established through a contract between a high school and a college or university. The high school and college or university together define the criteria for student eligibility. CHS courses must be taught by teachers meeting faculty appointment criteria established by the appropriate college or university department. The college or university provide CHS instructors with training and orientation that includes course curriculum, assessment criteria, course philosophy, and CHS administrative requirements. Students usually pay tuition and textbooks.

AP and IB. Both of these programs allow students to take standardized courses to prepare for examinations while staying on their high school campuses. With AP, identified courses prepare high school students to take advanced placement tests, allowing advanced placement and/or credit at the postsecondary level. In 2009 the fee per AP examination is $86; however, qualifying low-income students may receive a fee reduction. IB is a program which offers college credit for students completing a standardized curriculum and culminating exam. In 2009 students must pay a one-time examination registration fee of $129 and $88 for each subject in which they take an IB exam; however, qualifying low-income students may receive a fee reduction.

Tech Prep. This program enables students to remain in the high school and begin a vocational/technical program that leads to a two-year degree or certificate program. The courses are taught by high school instructors. The instructors work with local colleges to assure the courses are taught at the college level and articulate to the college program. Each of the state's 22 Tech Prep consortia have developed competency-based articulation agreements between high schools and colleges that help students transition from high school into postsecondary professional technical programs. Through Tech Prep articulation agreements, colleges award credit to students who successfully complete college-equivalent courses and programs. Articulation agreements between the individual college and school define the criteria for equivalency and the granting of credit.

According to a May 2008 report by the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges on dual enrollment programs, in the 2006-07 school year 16,826 students were served in Running Start; the CHS program had over 2,400 student participants; and more than 19,400 high school students earned over 121,000 college credits through Tech Prep. The School District Financial Reporting Summary produced by the office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) shows that the state revenue provided per pupil in 2007-08 was $6,632.13.