FINAL BILL REPORT
HB 2438
C 80 L 02
Synopsis as Enacted
Brief Description: Expanding the running start program to allow participation by The Evergreen State College.
Sponsors: By Representatives Kenney, Cox, Lantz, Jarrett, Quall, Haigh, Chase, Jackley, Darneille, Ogden and McIntire; by request of The Evergreen State College.
House Committee on Higher Education
Senate Committee on Higher Education
Background:
The 1990 Legislature enacted the Running Start Program to give high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to take college courses for free at Washington's 34 community and technical colleges. This program allows qualifying students to earn college credits while they are in high school. In 1994 the Legislature expanded the program to include three state universities: Washington State University, Eastern Washington University, and Central Washington University. The expansion allowed greater access to the program for students in communities where no two-year colleges were available to directly serve them.
In 2000-2001 the Running Start Program completed its 11th year and enrolled 13,442 individual students (equal to 8,169 FTEs). Of that total, 3,017 students have earned high school diplomas and AA degrees simultaneously. Nine percent of high school juniors and seniors enrolled in at least one running start course last year. In 2000 running start students who attended community colleges had the following characteristics:
$58 percent were female, 42 percent male;
$The average credit load taken by the students was 11-12 credits per quarter;
$38 percent of the students worked part time;
$Almost 80 percent of the students were enrolled in academic courses (primary courses in social science, English, speech, and humanities); and
$20 percent were enrolled in vocational courses.
Summary:
The Evergreen State College is allowed to participate in the Running Start program if its governing board authorizes participation in the program.
Votes on Final Passage:
House940
Senate3316
Effective: June 13, 2002