BILL REQ. #:  H-3597.1 

Read first time 01/14/2004.   Referred to Committee on Education.

     AN ACT Relating to providing a financial incentive for high school students who complete postsecondary credits; and adding a new section to chapter 28A.600 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 28A.600 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) It is the legislature's intent to encourage high schools and high school students to maximize available learning opportunities that reduce the overall time and taxpayer support for a student to complete a postsecondary degree. It is further the legislature's intent to encourage institutions of higher education to expand programs for students to earn postsecondary credit while in high school.
     (2) For purposes of this section:
     (a) "Dual credit student" means a student who: (i) Graduates from a public high school with a high school diploma; and (ii) at the time of graduation, has accumulated postsecondary course credits through participation in running start, advanced placement, tech-prep, skills centers, college in the high school, international baccalaureate, or any other program that provides high school students with the opportunity to earn college credits.
     (b) "Institutions of higher education" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 28B.10.016(4).
     (3) Subject to legislative appropriation, each dual credit student who has accumulated two academic years of postsecondary course credits shall generate an incentive payment equal to the statewide annual average allocation for a full-time equivalent high school student under RCW 28A.150.260, excluding small high school enhancements. For dual credit students who have accumulated fewer than two academic years of course credits, the incentive payment shall equal a pro rata share of the full allocation.
     (4)(a) The superintendent of public instruction shall allocate the incentive payment as follows:
     (i) One-half of the incentive payment goes to the school district from which the dual credit student earned a high school diploma; and
     (ii) One-half of the incentive payment goes to the institution or institutions of higher education from which the dual credit student earned postsecondary course credits. If a student earns postsecondary course credit from more than one institution of higher education, the superintendent shall allocate to each a pro rata share of the higher education portion of the incentive payment based on the number of credits earned. If a student earns postsecondary course credits from an entity other than an institution of higher education as defined in this section, the superintendent shall allocate that entity's portion of the incentive payment to the school district.
     (b) The superintendent shall allocate the incentive payment in the school year following the dual credit student's graduation from high school based on the prior school year's statewide annual average allocation amount.
     (5) The superintendent of public instruction may adopt rules under chapter 34.05 RCW to implement this section, in consultation with the state board for community and technical colleges and the higher education coordinating board.