{"id":725549,"date":"2024-04-18T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-04-18T19:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.the74million.org\/?post_type=article&p=725549"},"modified":"2024-04-17T11:34:28","modified_gmt":"2024-04-17T15:34:28","slug":"was-incoming-juniors-will-be-allowed-to-enroll-in-college-courses-this-summer","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/www.the74million.org\/article\/was-incoming-juniors-will-be-allowed-to-enroll-in-college-courses-this-summer\/","title":{"rendered":"WA\u2019s Incoming Juniors Will Be Allowed to Enroll in College Courses This Summer"},"content":{"rendered":"

This summer, Washington\u2019s high schoolers will be able to get an even earlier start on college courses.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s because of a bill led by Sen. Brad Hawkins, R-Wenatchee, which expands the state\u2019s popular Running Start program<\/a>. Running Start has allowed Washington\u2019s high school juniors and seniors to earn college credit tuition-free since the early 1990s.<\/p>\n

Under Hawkins\u2019 measure, incoming 11th graders will be allowed to take college courses and earn up to 10 credits over the summer. The legislation sailed through both legislative chambers and Gov. Jay Inslee signed it into law in late March.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI\u2019ve been calling my bill a \u2018Walking Start to Running Start\u2019 because it will ease students into their college experience, minimize their debt, and get them a bit closer to earning their degrees,\u201d Hawkins said in March.<\/p>\n

The bill goes into effect in June, in time for this year\u2019s cohort of 10th grade graduates to enroll, Hawkins said in an email to the Standard. Hawkins\u2019 local community college, Wenatchee Valley College, is currently working on enrollment forms and other information related to implementing the new law.<\/p>\n

Faimous Harrison, Wenatchee Valley College\u2019s president, said the program helps students transition into college in a less intimidating environment and gives them a jump on figuring out a career path.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we talk about the value of a degree, one of the concerns is there are so many people who get all the financial debt from going to school and then they can\u2019t find jobs or they\u2019re not interested in that field,\u201d Harrison said.<\/p>\n

\u201cRunning Start also creates opportunities for early exploration. It also offers opportunities to meet with different people, learn about different fields,\u201d Harrison said.<\/p>\n

School districts must also provide information about Running Start summer enrollment opportunities to students and their families under the new law. Students can take part-time or full-time classes and some earn associate\u2019s degrees by the time they graduate high school.<\/p>\n