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Eligibility
Q-44. May
a high school seek reimbursement from a Running Start student for failure
of a course?
A. No.
Q-45. How can
colleges determine which fees RS students can be charged?
A. A college may not require
a Running Start student to pay any tuition or fee as a condition to
the student's full participation in college or university course work
and related activities, or as a condition to the award of credit. A
useful way of approaching a question about any particular fee is to
ask whether the Running Start student can participate as fully and effectively
in the educational program as other students if the Running Start student
were not to receive the services/materials supported by the fee. Each
fee must each be evaluated individually for its impact on course work
and related activities and charged (or not) based on that determination.
Fees subject to this
analysis include, but are not limited to the following: Mandatory, student
approved fees, such as transportation demand management fees; facility
use fees; other optional use fees, such as those required for participation
in student activities not directly related to the course work; fees
for parking, student I.D. cards, recreation center access fees; and
computer lab fees (unrelated to course work).
Students may be charged for consumable supplies, texts,
or other materials to be retained by the student If the fee can be legitimately
characterized as a consumable cost and does not restrict access to the
student's full participation in course work and instruction-related
activities, it is likely allowable. Colleges should consult with their
assigned assistant attorney general before deciding to pass any new
fee along to Running Start students.
Colleges may also internally charge costs to the Running
Start income received from the school district for the Running Start
enrollments.
Q-46. What is
the credit maximum for student tuition and when do colleges charge extra
tuition for overloads taken by students?
A. With the exception of
vocational program enrollments, the first credit beyond the 18 credit
maximum allowed in the Running Start rules, as amended, should be charged
as the first state credit at appropriate per-credit rates and the two-credit
minimum would apply. For students enrolled in vocational programs, where
program requirements necessitate enrollment for more than 18 credits
per quarter (or five clock hours for technical colleges), the college
can waive the credits above 18. Student enrollment in classes beyond
program requirements should be charged at regular state rates.
Q-47. Can school
districts assess a fine or fee against students for failing running
start courses, or withdrawing from RS courses or never showing up for
RS courses.
A. There is no basis for
such a fee, particularly for academic failure. Assessing a penalty against
one subset of students for failing academically is inequitable and raises
an equal protection question. Under RCW 28A.225.210, each district is
to admit all students residing within its borders on a tuition free
basis. Under RCW 28A.600, participation in Running Start is an option
open to all student who attain junior or senior status. Thus, assessing
a financial penalty for poor academic performance is contrary to the
tuition-free provision of basic ed services.
Regarding assessment of a fee for withdrawing or not attending
RS classes, there is a general rule regarding government's imposition
of fees that holds fees are collectible only when and to the extent
authorized by law. There is no express authority to assess such fees.
Further, the running start legislation makes it clear that schools cannot
condition running start participation in any way on payment of fees.
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