SENATE BILL REPORT
HB 1146
As Passed Senate, February 29, 2024
Title: An act relating to notifying high school students and their families about available dual credit programs and any available financial assistance.
Brief Description: Notifying high school students and their families about available dual credit programs and any available financial assistance.
Sponsors: Representatives Paul, Steele, Ramel, Taylor, Callan, Rude, Timmons, Chopp, Lekanoff, Duerr, Ramos, Shavers, Stonier, Pollet, Santos, Riccelli and Ormsby.
Brief History: Passed House: 1/11/24, 97-0.
Committee Activity: Early Learning & K-12 Education: 3/20/23, 3/22/23 [DP]; 2/14/24, 2/21/24 [DP].
Floor Activity: Passed Senate: 2/29/24, 46-0.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Requires school districts to provide information about dual credit programs and any financial assistance available to reduce dual credit and exam costs for students and their families. 
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING & K-12 EDUCATION
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Wellman, Chair; Nobles, Vice Chair; Wilson, C., Vice Chair; Hawkins, Ranking Member; Dozier, Hunt, McCune, Mullet and Pedersen.
Staff: Benjamin Omdal (786-7442)
Background:

Dual Credit Programs. High school students have the opportunity to enroll in post-secondary courses while simultaneously earning high school and college credit.  Dual credit programs can be course-based or exam-based.  Examples of course-based programs include Running Start, College in the High School, and Career and Technical Education dual credit.

 

Running Start allows eligible students in grades 11 and 12 to apply for admission at a participating public institution of higher education.  Students in the Running Start program do not pay tuition, but do pay for educational materials, mandatory fees, and transportation costs.  Public institutions of higher education must make fee waivers available for low-income Running Start students. Students receive both high school and college credit for passing these classes. 

 

College in the High School courses are college-level courses taught by high school teachers at the high school and may include academic and career technical education.  Students who participate in a College in the High School program are able to earn both high school and postsecondary credit by completing postsecondary level courses with a passing grade.  An institution of higher education may charge tuition fees per credit to each student enrolled in a program course. 

 

Exam based programs include Advanced Placement, Cambridge International, and International Baccalaureate.  In these programs, students take rigorous high school courses, taught by high school teachers, at the high school.  Upon completion of the course, students may take a standardized exam.  Depending on how students score, they may earn college credit.  Institutions of higher education award varying levels of credit based on exam scores.

 

Notifications about Dual Credit Programs. School districts must notify students and parents or guardians regarding the academic acceleration policy and advanced courses or programs available to students, including dual credit courses or programs.  For Running Start, institutions of higher education with relevant student associations must make efforts to communicate the benefits of fee waivers and provide assistance to students and their families on how to apply.  A high school that offers College in the High School must provide general information about the program to all students in grades 8 through 12 and to the parents and guardians of those students.  Information includes a description and breakdown of fees and financial options available to students.
Summary of Bill:

Prior to course scheduling or course registration for the next school term, each public school that serves students in grades 9 through 12 must provide all students and their parents or legal guardians with information about each available dual credit program and any financial assistance available to reduce dual credit course and exam costs for students and their families.

 

The information must be provided via email and other communication methods, and it must be translated into the primary language of each parent or legal guardian to the extent feasible.  Public schools are encouraged to include this notification along with other information notifying parents or guardians regarding the academic acceleration policy and advanced courses or programs.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony (Regular Session 2024):

PRO: The Legislature has done great work to expand dual credit access in Washington State.  Not all families know about these programs, leading to these families missing out on dollars when they go to the college level.  Although Washington has a plethora of dual-credit opportunities, many students are not aware of such programs.  Parents need timely and informative information about dual credit opportunities to determine what course registration best suits their families.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Representative Dave Paul, Prime Sponsor; Natalya Yudkovsky, Washington State PTA; Kia Franklin, Stand for Children WA.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.