AN ACT Relating to enrollment of secondary students at community colleges; and adding new sections to Title 28A RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. As used in sections 1 through 10 of this act, community college means a public community college as defined in chapter 28B.50 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) 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 grades may apply to a community college to enroll in courses or programs offered by the community college. If a community college accepts a secondary school pupil for enrollment under this section, the community college shall send written notice to the pupil, the pupil's school district, and the superintendent of public instruction within ten days of acceptance. The notice shall indicate the course and hours of enrollment for that pupil.

(2) If a pupil enrolls in a course for high school credit, the pupil's school district shall transmit to the community college a sum not exceeding the amount of state funds under RCW 28A.41.140 generated by a full time equivalent student in proportion to the number of hours of instruction the pupil receives at the community college. The community college shall not require the pupil to pay any other fees. The funds received by the community college from the school district shall not be deemed tuition or operating fees and may be retained by the community college. A student enrolled under this subsection shall not be counted for the purpose of determining any enrollment restrictions imposed by the state.

(3) If the pupil enrolls in a course for postsecondary credit, the community college shall notify the pupil about the student's obligation to pay in the customary manner for postsecondary credit.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. By March of each year, a school district shall provide general information about the program to all pupils in grades ten and eleven and the parents and guardians of those pupils. To assist the district in planning, a pupil shall inform the district by May 1st of each year of the pupil's intent to enroll in community college courses for credit during the following school year. Students are responsible for applying for admission to the community college.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A pupil who enrolls in a community college in grade eleven may not enroll in postsecondary courses under sections 1 through 10 of this act for high school credit for more than the equivalent of the course work for two academic years. A pupil who first enrolls in a community college in grade twelve may not enroll in postsecondary courses under this section for high school credit for more than the equivalent of the course work for one academic year.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. Community colleges shall enroll eleventh and twelfth grade students taking courses for high school credit on a space available basis. Once a pupil has been enrolled in a postsecondary course under this section, the pupil shall not be displaced by another student.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. A pupil may enroll in a course under sections 1 through 10 of this act for either high school credit or postsecondary credit. At the time the student enrolls in a course, the pupil shall designate whether the course is for high school or postsecondary credit.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. A school district shall grant academic credit to a pupil enrolled in a course for high school credit if the pupil 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 pupil enrolls in the course. The credits shall be applied toward graduation requirements and subject area requirements. Evidence of the successful completion of each course in a community college shall be included in the pupil's secondary school records and transcript. The transcript shall also note that the course was taken at a community college.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. Any state institution of higher education may award postsecondary credit for courses successfully completed for high school credit at a community college. The state institution of higher education shall not charge a fee for the award of the credits.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. Transportation to and from the community college is not the responsibility of the school district.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. (1) The superintendent of public instruction, the state board for community college education, and the higher education coordinating board shall jointly develop and adopt rules governing sections 1 through 9 of this act, if rules are necessary. The rules shall be written to encourage the maximum use of the program and shall not narrow or limit the enrollment options under sections 1 through 9 of this act.

(2) The program in sections 1 through 9 of this act shall be implemented beginning with the 1991-92 school year.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. Sections 1 through 10 of this act are each added to Title 28A RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 12. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.