HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 2233
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. |
As Reported by House Committee On:
Education
Title: An act relating to expanding the college in high school program to students in ninth grade.
Brief Description: Expanding the college in high school program to students in ninth grade.
Sponsors: Representatives Van Werven and Barkis.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Education: 1/20/20, 2/3/20 [DP].
Brief Summary of Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION |
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 17 members: Representatives Santos, Chair; Dolan, Vice Chair; Paul, Vice Chair; Steele, Ranking Minority Member; McCaslin, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Volz, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Bergquist, Caldier, Callan, Corry, Harris, Ortiz-Self, Rude, Stonier, Thai, Valdez and Ybarra.
Staff: Megan Wargacki (786-7194), and Riley O'Leary (786-7296).
Background:
Some school districts offer students opportunities to earn both high school and college credit through various programs, including Running Start, Tech Prep, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and College in the High School (CHS).
The CHS programs include both academic and career and technical education and are taught at the participating high school, by high school teachers, with college curriculum, college textbooks, and oversight by college faculty and staff. Students pay credit fees but may qualify for some state subsidies. If a student passes a CHS course, then the school district must grant high school credit to the student and the participating institution of higher education must grant college credit to the student.
Students eligible for tenth, eleventh and twelfth grade may participate in a CHS program. Participating school districts must provide general information about the CHS programs to all students in grades nine through twelve and their parents or guardians.
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Summary of Bill:
Students eligible for ninth grade are made eligible to participate in a College in the High School (CHS) program. Participating school districts must also provide general information about the CHS programs to all students in grade eight and their parents or guardians.
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Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Preliminary fiscal note available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:
(In support) Currently the College in the High School (CHS) program is available for tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grade students. It is a very successful program and it would help ninth grade students earn college credit. This bill addresses an equity concern because other forms of dual credit like Advanced Placement and Career and Technical Education are already available for ninth grade students.
Dual credit programs like CHS are basic education and the work that goes into these programs is part of basic education. Expanding the CHS program to ninth grade students applies to a small number of advanced students.
Expanding the CHS program access to ninth grade students is helpful for reducing the student debt crisis in our country and our state and expanding these dual-credit programs gives students the potential to avoid the high costs of higher education, making higher education more accessible.
Principals are concerned about the amount of regular contact that school administrators and counselors have with students who earn college credit off-campus. Because CHS is taught in the high school, on-campus, counselors work closely with students and parents to ensure the students are college ready. Principals would like to provide input on what makes a "college ready" student. The state should explore the possibility of accepting high school staff as college faculty and there should be consultation with institutions of higher education to make sure that high school student work is appropriately valued for college credit.
There is too much pressure on younger students to gear up for college and this bill may contribute to that pressure by informing students in the eighth grade.
(Opposed) None.
(Other) College in the High School is a valuable dual-credit program because it promotes collaboration between institutions of higher education and high schools. Ensuring academic preparedness is paramount because when students choose to begin a rigorous form of education like a dual-credit program, they are also creating a college transcript that has future grade point average and financial aid implications. Advising these students in an accurate and timely manner will be important to their success.
Persons Testifying: (In support) Representative Van Werven, prime sponsor; Roz Thompson, Association of Washington School Principals; Sandy Hayes, Washington State School Directors' Association; Jason Boatwright, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction; and Bennett Massey-Helber, Associated Students of Western Washington University.
(Other) Ruben Flores, Council of Presidents.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.