Further, the legislature recognizes the significant investments made in the 2019 legislative session to ensure more Washingtonians have access to postsecondary education and training, including through the expansion of the Washington college grant. The legislature intends to provide earlier access to these grant funds to eligible dual credit students in order to close equity gaps in dual credit access, while also maintaining a focus on financial aid awards for students enrolled in a postsecondary certificate or degree program after high school graduation.
Further, the legislature recognizes that dual credit students are students served at the same time by multiple publicly funded education systems. Solving the challenges driving inequitable access to and success in dual credit courses requires coordination, collaboration, and transparency between these systems.
Sec. 2. RCW
28A.600.310 and 2019 c 252 s 115 and 2019 c 176 s 2 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
(1)(a) Eleventh and twelfth grade students or students who have not yet received the credits required for the award of a high school diploma and are eligible to be in the eleventh or twelfth grades may apply to a participating institution of higher education to enroll in courses or programs offered by the institution of higher education.
(b) The course sections and programs offered as running start courses must also be open for registration to matriculated students at the participating institution of higher education and may not be a course consisting solely of high school students offered at a high school campus.
(c) A student receiving home-based instruction enrolling in a public high school for the sole purpose of participating in courses or programs offered by institutions of higher education shall not be counted by the school district in any required state or federal accountability reporting if the student's parents or guardians filed a declaration of intent to provide home-based instruction and the student received home-based instruction during the school year before the school year in which the student intends to participate in courses or programs offered by the institution of higher education. Students receiving home-based instruction under chapter
28A.200 RCW and students attending private schools approved under chapter
28A.195 RCW shall not be required to meet the student learning goals or to learn the state learning standards. However, students are eligible to enroll in courses or programs in participating universities only if the board of directors of the student's school district has decided to participate in the program. Participating institutions of higher education, in consultation with school districts, may establish admission standards for these students. If the institution of higher education accepts a secondary school pupil for enrollment under this section, the institution of higher education shall send written notice to the pupil and the pupil's school district within ten days of acceptance. The notice shall indicate the course and hours of enrollment for that pupil.
(i) Running start students shall pay to the community or technical college all other mandatory fees as established by each community or technical college and, in addition, the state board for community and technical colleges may authorize a fee of up to ten percent of tuition and fees as defined in RCW
28B.15.020 and
28B.15.041; and
(ii) All other institutions of higher education operating a running start program may charge running start students a fee of up to ten percent of tuition and fees as defined in RCW
28B.15.020 and
28B.15.041 in addition to technology fees.
(b) The fees charged under this subsection (2) shall be prorated based on credit load.
(c) Students may pay fees under this subsection with advanced college tuition payment program tuition units at a rate set by the advanced college tuition payment program governing body under chapter
28B.95 RCW.
(d)(i) Beginning with the 2022-23 school year, mandatory fees, textbooks, supplies, or course fees required for courses in which the student is enrolled must be paid for eligible students through the Washington college grant program as provided in RCW 28B.92.200 and 28B.92.205. (ii) Washington college grant funds may not supplant or duplicate payments for tuition and fees transmitted between the student's school district and the participating institution of higher education under subsection (5) of this section.
(3) The determination of whether the student is competent to benefit from the running start program is within the sole jurisdiction of the institution of higher education. School districts may not apply requirements beyond those of the institution of higher education that have the effect of preventing or delaying a student's enrollment in the running start program. Nothing in the subsection prohibits a district from providing information, guidance, or advising to students considering enrolling in running start.
(4)(a) ((The))Through the 2021-22 school year, institutions of higher education must make available fee waivers for low-income running start students. A student shall be considered low income and eligible for a fee waiver upon proof that the student is currently qualified to receive free or reduced-price lunch. Acceptable documentation of low-income status may also include, but is not limited to, documentation that a student has been deemed eligible for free or reduced-price lunches in the last five years, or other criteria established in the institution's policy.
(b)(i) ((By the beginning of the 2020-21))Through the 2021-22 school year, school districts, upon knowledge of a low-income student's enrollment in running start, must provide documentation of the student's low-income status, under (a) of this subsection, directly to institutions of higher education.
(ii) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the office of the superintendent of public instruction, in consultation with the Washington student achievement council, shall develop a centralized process for school districts to provide students' low-income status to institutions of higher education to meet the requirements of (b)(i) of this subsection.
(c) Institutions of higher education, in collaboration with relevant student associations, shall aim to have students who can benefit from fee waivers take advantage of these waivers. Institutions shall make every effort to communicate to students and their families the benefits of the waivers and provide assistance to students and their families on how to apply. Information about waivers shall, to the greatest extent possible, be incorporated into financial aid counseling, admission information, and individual billing statements. Institutions also shall, to the greatest extent possible, use all means of communication, including but not limited to web sites, online catalogues, admission and registration forms, mass email messaging, social media, and outside marketing to ensure that information about waivers is visible, compelling, and reaches the maximum number of students and families that can benefit.
((
(4)))
(5) The pupil's school district shall transmit to the institution of higher education an amount per each full-time equivalent college student at statewide uniform rates for vocational and nonvocational students. The superintendent of public instruction shall separately calculate and allocate moneys appropriated for basic education under RCW
28A.150.260 to school districts for purposes of making such payments and for granting school districts seven percent thereof to offset program related costs. The calculations and allocations shall be based upon the estimated statewide annual average per full-time equivalent high school student allocations under RCW
28A.150.260, excluding small high school enhancements, and applicable rules adopted under chapter
34.05 RCW. The superintendent of public instruction, participating institutions of higher education, and the state board for community and technical colleges shall consult on the calculation and distribution of the funds. 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 be counted for the purpose of meeting enrollment targets in accordance with terms and conditions specified in the omnibus appropriations act.
Sec. 3. RCW
28A.600.290 and 2015 c 202 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
(1)(a) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose and commencing with the 2015-16 school year, funding may be allocated at an amount per college credit for 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 grade who are enrolled in college in the high school courses under this section as specified in the omnibus appropriations act and adjusted for inflation from the 2015-16 school year. The maximum annual number of allocated credits per participating student shall be specified in the omnibus appropriations act, which must not exceed ten credits. Funding shall be prioritized in the following order:
(i) High schools offering a running start in the high school program in school year 2014-15. These schools shall only receive prioritized funding in school year 2015-16;
(ii) Students whose residence or the high school in which they are enrolled is located twenty driving miles or more as measured by the most direct route from the nearest eligible institution of higher education offering a running start program, whichever is greater; and
(iii) High schools eligible for the small school funding enhancement in the omnibus appropriations act.
(b)(i) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose and commencing with the 2015-16 school year, and only after the programs in (a) of this subsection are funded, a subsidy may be provided per college credit for 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 grade who have been deemed eligible for free or reduced-price lunch and are enrolled in college in the high school courses under this section as specified in the omnibus appropriations act and adjusted for inflation from the 2015-16 school year. The maximum annual number of subsidized credits per participating student shall be specified in the omnibus appropriations act, which must not exceed five credits.
(ii) Districts wishing to participate in the subsidy program must apply to the office of the superintendent of public instruction by July 1st of each year and report the preliminary estimate of eligible students to receive the subsidy and the total number of projected credit hours.
(iii) The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall notify districts by September 1st of each school year if the district's students will receive the subsidy. If more districts apply than funding is available, the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall prioritize the district applications. The superintendent shall develop factors to determine priority including, but not limited to, the number of dual credit opportunities available for low-income students in the districts.
(c) Districts shall remit any allocations or subsidies on behalf of participating students under (a) and (b) of this subsection to the participating institution of higher education and those students shall not be required to pay for the credits.
(d) ((The minimum allocation and subsidy under this section is sixty-five dollars per quarter credit for credit-bearing postsecondary coursework. The office of the superintendent of public instruction, the student achievement council, the state board for community and technical colleges, and the public baccalaureate institutions shall review funding levels for the program every four years beginning in 2017 and recommend changes))(i) The maximum per quarter credit tuition fee for credit-bearing postsecondary coursework is sixty-five dollars per quarter credit adjusted for inflation using the implicit price deflator for that fiscal year, using fiscal year 2019 as the base, as compiled by the bureau of labor statistics, United States department of labor for the state of Washington.
(ii) By July 1st of each year, the office of the superintendent of public instruction must calculate the maximum per quarter credit tuition fee and post the fee on its web site.
(e) Students may pay college in the high school fees with advanced college tuition payment program tuition units at a rate set by the advanced college tuition payment program governing body under chapter
28B.95 RCW.
(2) For the purposes of funding students enrolled in the college in the high school program in accordance with subsection (1) of this section, college in the high school is defined as a dual credit program located on a high school campus or in a high school environment in which a high school student is able to earn both high school and postsecondary credit by completing postsecondary level courses with a passing grade.
(3) College in the high school programs may include both academic and career and technical education.
(4) College in the high school programs shall each be governed by a local contract between the district and the participating institution of higher education, in compliance with the rules adopted by the superintendent of public instruction under this section.
(5) The college in the high school program must
meet the accreditation standards established in RCW 28B.10.035 and also include the provisions in this subsection.
(a) The high school and participating institution of higher education together shall define the criteria for student eligibility. The institution of higher education may charge tuition fees to participating students. If specific funding is provided in the omnibus appropriations act for the per credit allocations and per credit subsidies under subsection (1) of this section, the maximum per credit fee charged to any enrolled student may not exceed the amount of the per credit allocation or subsidy.
(b) The funds received by the participating institution of higher education may not be deemed tuition or operating fees and may be retained by the institution of higher education.
(c) Enrollment information on persons registered under this section must be maintained by the institution of higher education separately from other enrollment information and may not be included in official enrollment reports, nor may such persons be considered in any enrollment statistics that would affect higher education budgetary determinations.
(d) A school district must 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.
(e) A participating institution of higher education must grant college credit to a student enrolled in a program course if the student successfully completes the course. The college credit shall be applied toward general education requirements or degree requirements at institutions of higher education. Evidence of successful completion of each program course must be included in the student's college transcript.
(f) ((Tenth))Ninth, tenth, 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 ninth, tenth, eleventh, or twelfth grades may participate in the college in the high school program.
(g) Participating school districts must provide general information about the college in the high school program to all students in grades ((nine))eight through twelve and to the parents and guardians of those students.
(h) Full-time and part-time faculty at institutions of higher education, including adjunct faculty, are eligible to teach program courses.
(6) The superintendent of public instruction shall adopt rules for the administration of this section. The rules shall be jointly developed by the superintendent of public instruction, the state board for community and technical colleges, the student achievement council, and the public baccalaureate institutions. The association of Washington school principals must be consulted during the rules development. The rules must outline quality and eligibility standards that are informed by nationally recognized standards or models. In addition, the rules must encourage the maximum use of the program and may not narrow or limit the enrollment options.
(7) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section.
(a) "Institution of higher education" has the definition 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. 4. A new section is added to chapter
28A.600 RCW to read as follows:
(1) The office of the superintendent of public instruction may, at its discretion, enter into a state-level contract directly with exam providers for exam fees charged to Washington students.
(2) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, school districts shall pay dual credit exam fees for students.
(3) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall administer a cost-sharing pilot program with select school districts to split the costs of exam fees between the school district and the office of the superintendent of public instruction for all students within the selected districts.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter
28A.600 RCW to read as follows:
(1) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, school districts that offer career and technical education dual credit courses shall pay for per-student costs associated with the course that would otherwise be charged to students.
(2) For purposes of this section:
(a) "Career and technical education dual credit courses" means career or technical courses taught at a high school or skills center through an agreement with community and technical colleges pursuant to RCW
28B.50.531, and that offer high school and college credit to students who successfully complete the course.
(b) "Direct costs" means fees, books, or supplies required for participation in career and technical education dual credit courses.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. (1) A dual credit task force is created.
(2) The task force must be convened by the Washington student achievement council by August 1, 2020.
(3) The task force must consist of, at a minimum:
(a) A representative from each major caucus of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;
(b) A representative from each major caucus of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate;
(c) One representative appointed by the superintendent of public instruction;
(d) One representative appointed by the state board of education;
(e) One representative appointed by the Washington student achievement council;
(f) One representative appointed by the state board for community and technical colleges; and
(g) One representative each from an organization representing the public baccalaureate institutions and an organization representing the independent colleges of Washington.
(4) The task force shall consult with:
(a) Individuals knowledgeable about school district finances, community and technical college finances, and baccalaureate institution finances;
(b) Representatives from the associations representing school principals, school administrators, school counselors, and parent-teacher organizations;
(c) Representatives from a nonprofit organization representing Washington's business communities; and
(d) Other organizations or individuals as determined by the Washington student achievement council.
(5) The task force shall be staffed by the Washington student achievement council.
(6)(a) By January 1, 2021, the task force must provide a report to the appropriate committees of the legislature describing each direct charge incurred by a student when participating in dual credit programs. The report must provide the information disaggregated by each institution of higher education and by each school district providing dual credit programming. Examples of such direct charges include, but are not limited to:
(i) Per credit tuition fees and any other fees charged for college in the high school courses;
(ii) The type of fee and fee amount charged to running start students when enrolling in college courses; and
(iii) Exam fees and other charges to students enrolling in exam-based dual credit courses.
(b) For the purposes of this subsection, "direct cost" means fees, books, or supplies required for participation in a dual credit course or program.
(7) By August 1, 2021, the task force must submit a report to the appropriate committees of the legislature describing recommendations for:
(a) Increasing the number of high school teachers qualified to teach college in the high school courses;
(b) Using existing funding to increase rural, remote, and small school access;
(c) Guidelines for institutions of higher education and school districts to ensure students' earned dual credit is accurately transcribed on high school and college transcripts; and
(d) Increasing awareness, advising, and academic preparation to close equity gaps in dual credit participation.
(8) By August 1, 2022, the task force must submit a report to the appropriate committees of the legislature describing recommendations for expanding access to dual credit opportunities for students in career and technical education pathways, including:
(a) Identifying professional-technical courses offered at community and technical colleges that also meet K-12 learning standards in English language arts, math, science, social studies, or arts, in order to increase the number of running start enrollments in professional-technical programs; and
(b) The ways in which skills center programming can be augmented to increase concurrent enrollment and exam-based dual credit offerings.
(9)(a) By August 1, 2023, the task force must submit a final report to the appropriate committees of the legislature summarizing statutory or rule changes proposed, including whether the proposals have yet been enacted, to ensure the full implementation of the requirements under this act.
(b) As part of this final report, the task force must provide analysis of dual credit students' use of Washington college grant funds, including use of financial aid over time. The task force shall make recommendations to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of dual credit students accessing Washington college grants.
(10) This section expires December 31, 2023.
Sec. 7. RCW
28A.600.290 and 2015 c 202 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
(1)(((a) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose and commencing with the 2015-16 school year, funding may be allocated at an amount per college credit for 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 grade who are enrolled in college in the high school courses under this section as specified in the omnibus appropriations act and adjusted for inflation from the 2015-16 school year. The maximum annual number of allocated credits per participating student shall be specified in the omnibus appropriations act, which must not exceed ten credits. Funding shall be prioritized in the following order:
(i) High schools offering a running start in the high school program in school year 2014-15. These schools shall only receive prioritized funding in school year 2015-16;
(ii) Students whose residence or the high school in which they are enrolled is located twenty driving miles or more as measured by the most direct route from the nearest eligible institution of higher education offering a running start program, whichever is greater; and
(iii) High schools eligible for the small school funding enhancement in the omnibus appropriations act.
(b)(i) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose and commencing with the 2015-16 school year, and only after the programs in (a) of this subsection are funded, a subsidy may be provided per college credit for 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 grade who have been deemed eligible for free or reduced-price lunch and are enrolled in college in the high school courses under this section as specified in the omnibus appropriations act and adjusted for inflation from the 2015-16 school year. The maximum annual number of subsidized credits per participating student shall be specified in the omnibus appropriations act, which must not exceed five credits.
(ii) Districts wishing to participate in the subsidy program must apply to the office of the superintendent of public instruction by July 1st of each year and report the preliminary estimate of eligible students to receive the subsidy and the total number of projected credit hours.
(iii) The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall notify districts by September 1st of each school year if the district's students will receive the subsidy. If more districts apply than funding is available, the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall prioritize the district applications. The superintendent shall develop factors to determine priority including, but not limited to, the number of dual credit opportunities available for low-income students in the districts.
(c) Districts shall remit any allocations or subsidies on behalf of participating students under (a) and (b) of this subsection to the participating institution of higher education and those students shall not be required to pay for the credits.
(d) The minimum allocation and subsidy under this section is sixty-five dollars per quarter credit for credit-bearing postsecondary coursework. The office of the superintendent of public instruction, the student achievement council, the state board for community and technical colleges, and the public baccalaureate institutions shall review funding levels for the program every four years beginning in 2017 and recommend changes.
(e) Students may pay college in the high school fees with advanced college tuition payment program tuition units at a rate set by the advanced college tuition payment program governing body under chapter 28B.95 RCW. (2) For the purposes of funding students enrolled in the college in the high school program in accordance with subsection (1) of this section, college))
College in the high school is ((
defined as)) a dual credit program located on a high school campus or in a high school environment in which a high school student is able to earn both high school and postsecondary credit by completing postsecondary level courses with a passing grade.
The college in the high school program must meet the accreditation standards established in RCW 28B.10.035. (((3)))(2) College in the high school programs may include both academic and career and technical education.
(((4)))(3) High school students who have not yet received a high school diploma or its equivalent and are eligible to be in the ninth, tenth, eleventh, or twelfth grades may participate in the college in the high school program.
(4) College in the high school programs shall each be governed by a local contract between the district and the participating institution of higher education, in compliance with the rules adopted by the superintendent of public instruction under this section. The local contract must include criteria for student eligibility to enroll in a college in the high school course.
(((5) The college in the high school program must include the provisions in this subsection.
(a) The high school and participating institution of higher education together shall define the criteria for student eligibility. The institution of higher education may charge tuition fees to participating students. If specific funding is provided in the omnibus appropriations act for the per credit allocations and per credit subsidies under subsection (1) of this section, the maximum per credit fee charged to any enrolled student may not exceed the amount of the per credit allocation or subsidy.
(b)))(5)(a) Institutions of higher education may charge tuition fees per credit for each enrolled student as established in this subsection.
(i) Beginning with the 2022-23 school year, the per-student tuition fee charge, and any other direct cost charged to students, must be paid for through the Washington college grant program for students who are eligible as provided in RCW 28B.92.200 and 28B.92.205. (ii)(A) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, students not eligible for the Washington college grant program as provided in RCW 28B.92.200 and 28B.92.205 must have their tuition fees, and any other direct cost charged for participation, paid for by the school district in which they are enrolled. (B) For school years in which appropriations are insufficient to meet the entire need, the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall prioritize the receipt of those funds as follows:
(I) Students whose residence or the high school in which they are enrolled is located twenty driving miles or more as measured by the most direct route from the nearest eligible institution of higher education offering a running start program, whichever is greater;
(II) Students attending high schools eligible for the small school funding enhancement in the omnibus appropriations act; and
(III) Students attending high schools identified for improvement through the Washington school improvement framework.
(b)(i) The maximum per quarter credit tuition fee for credit-bearing postsecondary coursework is sixty-five dollars per quarter credit adjusted for inflation using the implicit price deflator for that fiscal year, using fiscal year 2019 as the base, as compiled by the bureau of labor statistics, United States department of labor for the state of Washington.
(ii) By July 1st of each year, the office of the superintendent of public instruction must calculate the maximum per quarter credit tuition fee and post the fee on its web site.
(c) For the purposes of this subsection (5), "direct costs" means fees, books, or supplies required for participation in the college in the high school program.
(d) The funds received by the participating institution of higher education may not be deemed tuition or operating fees and may be retained by the institution of higher education.
(((c)))(6) Enrollment information on persons registered under this section must be maintained by the institution of higher education separately from other enrollment information and may not be included in official enrollment reports, nor may such persons be considered in any enrollment statistics that would affect higher education budgetary determinations.
(((d)))(7) A school district must 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.
(((e)))(8) A participating institution of higher education must grant college credit to a student enrolled in a program course if the student successfully completes the course. The college credit shall be applied toward general education requirements or degree requirements at institutions of higher education. Evidence of successful completion of each program course must be included in the student's college transcript.
(((f) Tenth, 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 tenth, eleventh, or twelfth grades may participate in the college in the high school program.
(g)))(9) Participating school districts must provide general information about the college in the high school program to all students in grades ((nine))eight through twelve and to the parents and guardians of those students.
(((h)))(10) Full-time and part-time faculty at institutions of higher education, including adjunct faculty, are eligible to teach program courses.
(((6)))(11) The superintendent of public instruction shall adopt rules for the administration of this section. The rules shall be jointly developed by the superintendent of public instruction, the state board for community and technical colleges, the student achievement council, and the public baccalaureate institutions. The association of Washington school principals must be consulted during the rules development. The rules must outline quality and eligibility standards that are informed by nationally recognized standards or models. In addition, the rules must encourage the maximum use of the program and may not narrow or limit the enrollment options.
(((7)))(12) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section.
(a) "Institution of higher education" has the definition 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.
Sec. 8. RCW
28B.92.030 and 2019 c 406 s 21 are each amended to read as follows:
As used in this chapter:
(1) "Council" means the student achievement council.
(2) "Financial aid" means either loans, grants, or both, to students who demonstrate financial need enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a student at institutions of higher education.
(3) "Financial need" means a demonstrated financial inability to bear the total cost of education as directed in rule by the office.
(4) "Institution" or "institutions of higher education" means:
(a) Any public university, college, community college, or technical college operated by the state of Washington or any political subdivision thereof; or
(b) Any other university, college, school, or institute in the state of Washington offering instruction beyond the high school level that is a member institution of an accrediting association recognized by rule of the council for the purposes of this section and that agrees to and complies with program rules adopted pursuant to RCW
28B.92.150. However, any institution, branch, extension or facility operating within the state of Washington that is affiliated with an institution operating in another state must be:
(i) A separately accredited member institution of any such accrediting association;
(ii) A branch of a member institution of an accrediting association recognized by rule of the council for purposes of this section, that is eligible for federal student financial aid assistance and has operated as a nonprofit college or university delivering on-site classroom instruction for a minimum of twenty consecutive years within the state of Washington, and has an annual enrollment of at least seven hundred full-time equivalent students;
(iii) A nonprofit institution recognized by the state of Washington as provided in RCW
28B.77.240; or
(iv) An approved apprenticeship program under chapter
49.04 RCW.
(5) "Maximum Washington college grant":
(a) For students attending two or four-year institutions of higher education as defined in RCW
28B.10.016, is tuition and estimated fees for fifteen quarter credit hours or the equivalent, as determined by the office, including operating fees, building fees, and services and activities fees.
(b) For students attending private four-year not-for-profit institutions of higher education in Washington, in the 2019-20 academic year, is nine thousand seven hundred thirty-nine dollars and may increase each year afterwards by no more than the tuition growth factor.
(c) For students attending two-year private not-for-profit institutions of higher education in Washington, in the 2019-20 academic year, is three thousand six hundred ninety-four dollars and may increase each year afterwards by no more than the tuition growth factor.
(d) For students attending four-year private for-profit institutions of higher education in Washington, in the 2019-20 academic year, is eight thousand five hundred seventeen dollars and may increase each year afterwards by no more than the tuition growth factor.
(e) For students attending two-year private for-profit institutions of higher education in Washington, in the 2019-20 academic year, is two thousand eight hundred twenty-three dollars and may increase each year afterwards by no more than the tuition growth factor.
(f) For students attending Western Governors University-Washington, as established in RCW
28B.77.240, in the 2019-20 academic year, is five thousand six hundred nineteen dollars and may increase each year afterwards by no more than the tuition growth factor.
(g) For students attending approved apprenticeship programs, is tuition and fees, as determined by the office, in addition to required program supplies and equipment.
(6) "Maximum Washington college grant for eligible dual credit students" means:
(a) Beginning in the 2022-23 school year, for students enrolled in college in the high school courses under RCW 28A.600.290, all direct costs as determined by the office. For the purposes of this subsection (7)(a), "direct costs" means tuition fees, associated fees, or any other direct charge to students required for the enrolled course. (b) Beginning in the 2022-23 academic year, for students enrolled in running start, as defined in RCW 28A.600.300, any fees, textbooks, and other direct costs of participation in the program described in RCW 28A.600.310 that are not paid for through the funds transmitted to the participating institution of higher education by the student's school district under RCW 28A.600.310. (7) "Office" means the office of student financial assistance.
(((7)))(8) "Tuition growth factor" means an increase of no more than the average annual percentage growth rate of the median hourly wage for Washington for the previous fourteen years as the wage is determined by the federal bureau of labor statistics.
Sec. 9. RCW
28B.92.205 and 2019 c 406 s 20 are each amended to read as follows:
In addition to other eligibility requirements outlined in this chapter, students who demonstrate financial need are eligible to receive the Washington college grant. Financial need is as follows:
(1) Until academic year 2020-21, students with family incomes between zero and fifty percent of the state median family income, adjusted for family size, shall receive the maximum Washington college grant as defined in RCW
28B.92.030. Grants for students with incomes between fifty-one and seventy percent of the state median family income, adjusted for family size, shall be prorated at the following percentages of the maximum Washington college grant amount:
(a) Seventy percent for students with family incomes between fifty-one and fifty-five percent of the state median family income;
(b) Sixty-five percent for students with family incomes between fifty-six and sixty percent of the state median family income;
(c) Sixty percent for students with family incomes between sixty-one and sixty-five percent of the state median family income; and
(d) Fifty percent for students with family incomes between sixty-six and seventy percent of the state median family income.
(2) Beginning with academic year 2020-21, students with family incomes between zero and fifty-five percent of the state median family income, adjusted for family size, shall receive the maximum Washington college grant as defined in RCW
28B.92.030. Grants for students with incomes between fifty-six and one hundred percent of the state median family income, adjusted for family size, shall be prorated at the following percentages of the maximum Washington college grant amount:
(a) Seventy percent for students with family incomes between fifty-six and sixty percent of the state median family income;
(b) Sixty percent for students with family incomes between sixty-one and sixty-five percent of the state median family income;
(c) Fifty percent for students with family incomes between sixty-six and seventy percent of the state median family income;
(d) Twenty-four and one-half percent for students with family incomes between seventy-one and seventy-five percent of the state median family income; and
(e) Ten percent for students with family incomes between seventy-six and one hundred percent of the state median family income.
(3) Beginning with academic year 2022-23, Washington college grant eligible dual credit students with family incomes up to one hundred percent of the state median family income, adjusted for family size, shall receive the maximum Washington college grant for eligible dual credit students, as defined in RCW 28B.92.030. Sec. 10. RCW
28B.92.200 and 2019 c 406 s 19 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) The Washington college grant program is created to provide a statewide free college program for eligible participants and greater access to postsecondary education for Washington residents. The Washington college grant program is intended to increase the number of high school graduates and adults that can attain a postsecondary credential and provide them with the qualifications needed to compete for job opportunities in Washington.
(2) The office shall implement and administer the Washington college grant program and is authorized to establish rules necessary for implementation of the program.
(3) The legislature shall appropriate funding for the Washington college grant program. Allocations must be made on the basis of estimated eligible participants enrolled in eligible institutions of higher education or apprenticeship programs. All eligible students are entitled to a Washington college grant beginning in academic year 2020-21.
(4) The office shall award Washington college grants to all eligible students beginning in academic year 2020-21.
(5) To be eligible for the Washington college grant, students must meet the following requirements:
(a) Demonstrate financial need under RCW
28B.92.205;
(b)(i) Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment for at least three quarter credits or the equivalent semester credits at an institution of higher education in Washington as defined in RCW
28B.92.030; or
(ii) Be enrolled in a registered apprenticeship program approved under chapter
49.04 RCW;
or(iii) Be enrolled for at least three quarter credits or the equivalent semester credits in a program under RCW 28A.600.290 or 28A.600.310; (c) Be a resident student as defined in RCW
28B.15.012(2) (a) through (e)
or a student enrolled in a program under RCW 28A.600.290 or 28A.600.310 and domiciled in Washington state;
(d) File an annual application for financial aid as approved by the office; and
(e) Must not have earned a baccalaureate degree or higher from a postsecondary institution.
(6) Washington college grant eligibility may not extend beyond five years or one hundred twenty-five percent of the published length of the program in which the student is enrolled or the credit or clock-hour equivalent.
(7) Institutional aid administrators shall determine whether a student eligible for the Washington college grant in a given academic year may remain eligible for the ensuing year if the student's family income increases by no more than three percent.
(8) Qualifications for receipt and renewal include maintaining satisfactory academic progress toward completion of an eligible program as determined by the office and established in rule.
(9) Should a recipient terminate his or her enrollment for any reason during the academic year, the unused portion of the grant shall be returned to the state educational grant fund by the institution of higher education according to the institution of higher education's policy for issuing refunds, except as provided in RCW
28B.92.070.
(10) An eligible student enrolled on a part-time basis shall receive a prorated portion of the Washington college grant for any academic period in which he or she is enrolled on a part-time basis.
(11) The Washington college grant is intended to be used to meet the costs of postsecondary education for students with financial need. The student shall be awarded all need-based financial aid for which the student qualifies as determined by the institution.
(12) Students and participating institutions of higher education shall comply with all the rules adopted by the council for the administration of this chapter.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. Section 3 of this act expires July 1, 2022.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 12. Section 7 of this act takes effect July 1, 2022."
SSB 6505 - S AMD 1107
By Senator Mullet
EFFECT: (1) Allows Running Start and College in the High School (CiHS) students to use Washington College Grant funds to cover direct costs associated with these programs, beginning in the 2022-23 school year.
(2) Establishes that Running Start students not eligible for the Washington College Grant are responsible for all direct costs, beginning in the 2022-23 school year.
(3) Requires districts to cover direct student costs of CiHS and career and technical education dual credit programs for students not eligible for the Washington College Grant, subject to appropriations.
(4) Clarifies that districts will cover exam-based dual credit costs for students subject to appropriations.
(5) Modifies provisions relating to the dual credit task force.
(6) Allows the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to enter into a state-level contract directly with exam providers for exam fees charged to Washington students.
(7) Requires OSPI to administer a cost-sharing pilot program with select school districts to split the cost of exam fees, subject to appropriations.
--- END ---