SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6438

BYSenators Lee, Bailey and Conner

Facilitating eleventh and twelfth grade students' enrollment in public community colleges.

Senate Committee on Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 23, 1990; January 31, 1990

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6438 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Bailey, Chairman; Lee, Vice Chairman; Anderson, Bender, Benitz, Craswell, Fleming, Gaspard, Metcalf, Murray, Rinehart.

Senate Staff:Leslie Goldstein (786-7424)

                  February 1, 1990

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JANUARY 31, 1990

BACKGROUND:

At least seven other states, including Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, and Ohio have adopted programs permitting high school students to take college level courses at postsecondary institutions.  These programs have been found to provide additional alternatives and to provide incentives increasing achievement for some high school students.

SUMMARY:

Students in the 11th or 12th grades may take courses offered by public community colleges.  Students who are eligible to be in the 11th or 12th grade but who have not received a high school diploma are also eligible to participate.  The student may take the course for high school or college credit.  A student may not take more than the equivalent of two academic years of course work. 

The community colleges may accept the students on a space available basis.  A student enrolling in a community college for high school credit is not counted for the purpose of determining any enrollment restrictions imposed on community colleges by the state.

If the student enrolls for high school credit, the school district reimburses the community college from state funds received by the district.  The reimbursement is proportional to the time spent at the community college.  The funds received by the community college from the school district may be retained by the community college.  The school district superintendent determines the high school course equivalencies when necessary.  An institution of higher education may award postsecondary credit, without charging tuition, for courses successfully completed for high school credit at a community college.

If the student enrolls for postsecondary credit, the student pays the applicable tuition and fees.

Transportation to and from the community college is not the responsibility of the school district.

The Superintendent of Public Instruction, the State Board for Community College Education, and the Higher Education Coordinating Board may adopt rules if necessary.

The program begins during the 1991-92 school year.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

The substitute bill provides for implementation of the program by three community college districts and three school districts in the 1990-91 school year and throughout the state thereafter.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      requested January 17, 1990

Senate Committee - Testified: PRO:  Ken Watson, Seattle Schools; Kris Van Gorkom, Washington Association of School Administrators