Section 3
Running Start Program: Questions & Answers

Credit (C)

CQ-1: May a high school district elect to reduce the rate of credit granted a Running Start student for five-quarter (credit) hours of college work to less than one credit?

Ans: No. State law has established that five-quarter (credit) hours shall equal one high school credit. School districts therefore, are required to grant one full high school credit for every five-quarter credit hours of work successfully completed by a Running Start student.

CQ-2: May high school districts split the credits between required and elective courses?

Ans: Yes, but not on a uniform rate basis, but rather on a case by case evaluation of the extent to which a college course is the equivalent of required high school course work. An arbitrary uniform rate is squarely at odds with the course-by-course comparison and judgment required by WAC 392-169-050. It is permissible for the common school district superintendent, on an individual course basis, to split the credit for a course that is not comparable, following consultation with a college representative. The total credit awarded must still equate to the five-quarter credits equals one high school credit basis.

CQ-3: May a high school restrict Running Start students from taking two like subjects in the same academic year? (example: English 101 and 102).

Ans: No.

CQ-4: Are Running Start students allowed to take on-line and telecourse classes?

Ans: It depends on local School Board policy applicable to all students. If School Board policy states that credit will not be granted for Distance Ed courses and the policy applies to all students, not just Running Start students, the District can deny the credit.

CQ-5: May a Running Start student "challenge" a course and have the high school pay for the credits?

Ans: No.

CQ-6: Do credits earned in private school count toward a public high school diploma?

Ans: Credits earned in a private school may count toward a public high school diploma. It is up to the district and/or high school to determine if a private school student’s credits satisfy the district and/or high school graduation requirements.

CQ-7: May a school district or school award a diploma to a private school student who enrolls in the public district, but takes classes only through Running Start?

Ans: The general rule is that a district’s high school graduation policy must apply equally to all students. Thus, if a public school student is enrolled in Running Start and is completing remaining graduation requirements solely via Running Start, and is otherwise eligible to be awarded a diploma, it is fundamentally no different from the private school student who does the same thing by enrolling in the district, but attending classes only through Running Start.

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