HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2621

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Summary of Bill

Adds 10th grade students and students who have not yet received a high school diploma or equivalent but are eligible for 10th grade to the list of students who are eligible for College in the High School (CHS) programs.
Adds 9th grade students to the list of students who must be provided general information about the CHS programs.

Background:

College in the High School (CHS) programs provide college level courses in high schools to qualified 11th and 12th grade high school students, or students who have not yet received a high school diploma or equivalent but are eligible for 11th or 12th grade. The CHS programs are defined in contract between a high school and a college or university. The CHS program contracts must, among other things, define the criteria for a student's eligibility for the program, specify whether the student or the high school pays for tuition fees, state that students who successfully complete a CHS program course receive both high school credit and college credit, and provide general information about the CHS program to students in grades 9 through 12.

In the 2011-12 school year, 112 schools and 12,742 students participated in the CHS programs.

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Summary of Bill:

High school students in the 10th grade, and students who have not yet received a high school diploma or equivalent but are eligible for 10th grade, are added to the list of students who are eligible for the CHS programs.

Students in the 9th grade, in addition to students in the 10th through 12th grades, must be provided general information about the CHS programs.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) The CHS programs give students the opportunity to earn college and high school credits. These courses are taught by high school teachers, so students do not have to leave the high school campus. Some middle schools prepare students to take upper level classes in their freshman and sophomore years so they can take even more advanced courses while still in high school. All high school graduates should be on the same level. The CHS program is great because 10th graders taking pre-calculus could receive college credit for this course. In some CHS programs, parents pay CHS course tuition, which is much less than it would be in a college, so their children can receive college credit. Many 10th grade students are taking classes that are in the CHS program, but are not eligible for college credit under current law. The CHS program allows students to take rigorous classes at the appropriate level. In the CHS programs, parents, students, and taxpayers save money because the students do not have to pay for these classes in college. Most state colleges and some out-of-state colleges are honoring the CHS course credits. Students often prefer taking CHS courses over Advanced Placement (AP) courses because they know that they will receive college credit if they complete the CHS course, rather than having college credit hinge on a single AP test. The CHS program is one of several paths to college credit. This bill would help student awareness about the CHS program and would encourage them to pursue college credit if higher education is part of their personal plan. It would good to expand the CHS programs to more students.

(Opposed) None.