Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Education Committee

HB 1031

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Sponsors: Representatives Johnson, Santos, Haler, Appleton, Sells, S. Hunt, Gregerson, Reykdal, Bergquist, Van De Wege, Hargrove, Ormsby, Fey and Walkinshaw.

Brief Summary of Bill

Expands eligibility to participate in College in the High School (CHS) programs to 10th graders.
Requires participating school districts to provide general information about CHS programs to 9th graders and their parents.

Background:

College in the High School (CHS) programs provide college level courses in high schools to qualified 11th and 12th grade high school students, or students who have not yet received a high school diploma or equivalent but are eligible for 11th or 12th grade. The CHS programs are defined in contract between a high school and a college or university. The CHS program contracts must, among other things, define the criteria for a student's eligibility for the program, specify whether the student or the high school pays for tuition fees, state that students who successfully complete a CHS program course receive both high school credit and college credit, and provide general information about the CHS program to students in grades 10 through 12. In the 2011-12 school year, 112 schools and 12,742 students participated in the CHS programs.

Summary of Bill:

High school students in the 10th grade, and students who have not yet received a high school diploma or equivalent but are eligible for 10th grade, are added to the list of students who are eligible for the CHS programs.

Students in the 9th grade and their parents, in addition to students in the 10th through 12th grades and their parents, must be provided general information about the CHS programs.