Section 3
Running Start Program: Questions & Answers

Memorandum

DATE: July 2003

TO: Interested Parties

FROM: Office of the Attorney General (AGO)
Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)
State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC)
Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB)
State Board of Education (SBE)

SUBJECT: Running Start Program –– Questions and Answers

The Running Start Program was initiated by the Legislature as a component of the 1990 parent and student “Choice” Act (Chapter 9, Laws of 1990, 1st Ex. Sess.). It is intended to provide students a program option consisting of attendance at certain institutions of higher education and the simultaneous earning of high school and college/university credit.

Eleventh and twelfth grade students have a right granted by the Legislature to participate in Running Start at public expense. The exercise of that right is subject only to minimal eligibility and procedural requirements, which are spelled out, in state administrative rules.

This document is the 2003 updated version of the “brochure” first printed in April 1997. The answers have been developed in collaboration with a variety of K-12 and higher education representatives and the Office of the Attorney General. The answers reflect how schools, school districts, and higher education institutions need to implement or administer various elements of Running Start in order to be in compliance with state statutes. There are a total of 51 questions distributed among the following categories:

The applicable statutes are RCW 28A.600.300 through 28A.600.380, RCW 28A.150.260, and RCW 28A.150.290 (see Appendix A).

The applicable implementing rules are found in Chapter 392-169 WAC (OSPI rules) (see Appendix B).

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