Welcome! Here is tonight’s agenda:
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What is Running Start?
Potential pros and cons of Running Start
Process for Running Start enrollment
Panel of current Running Start Students
Questions & Answers:
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MTHS Counselor
MTHS Running Start Students
EdCC Running Start Advisor

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Allows 11 th and 12 th grade students to take college classes at any community or technical college in the state, and most or all of the tuition is covered.
Students earn college credit while meeting high school graduation requirements.

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Students must apply and take a placement test.
Students make appointments to meet with their high school counselor before every quarter to determine registration for classes.
Students can attend full-time or part-time.
Students can still participate in high school sports.
Students should register early, as classes fill up and e nrollment is not guaranteed.
Both in-class and online courses qualify.
1.20 FTE limit = 3 free college credits each quarter.

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If you do not take 11 th grade US History at MTHS, you will need complete a WA State History through eLearning or an additional approved Running Start class. The high school counselor will work with you on this.
A list of approved Running Start courses and the high school credit equivalency areas is available on both the EdCC website and MTHS Counseling website.
Students can log into Skyward and click on
Graduation Requirements to see which high school requirements are being covered by current and past
Running Start classes.

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Warning: students need to follow the exact course registration listed on their high school enrollment form. Taking less classes or different classes could affect their ability to graduate on time.

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Grades for Running Start paid classes are sent to both the high school college transcript.
Most college courses are 5 credits, so a B in one college course is equal to a B in two semester high school courses.
Running Start students must earn a 2.0 grade point average each quarter to avoid probation/suspension.

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No student information will be released to anyone unless the student provides written permission or the parents establish the student’s dependency by completing an affidavit available at the EdCC
Enrollment Services Office (Lynnwood Hall, first floor).
Parents may discuss the Running Start student’s final quarter grades and academic progress with the high school counselor.
College instructors are not available to speak with parents regarding academic progress of a student.

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Running Start: take courses at the college, tuition free but fees still exist, credits added to college transcript
Tech Prep: take courses at the high school, pay a fee to have professional technical credits added to college transcript, high school grade = college grade
College in the High School: take courses at the high school, pay a fee to have transferable credits added to college transcript, high school grade = college grade
AP: take courses at the high school, take an exam at the end of the course, exam score accepted for college credit and/or higher placement at most colleges.

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Risks?
Fewer assignments
Less teacher flexibility
Less fin aid eligibility
Fall further behind
Transcript/GPA damage
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Rewards?
Less distractions
More adult discussions
College tuition savings
Earn credits faster
Good GPA = good start

11,800 total student body
30 years old average student age
35% students of color
53% female / 47% male
81% live within 8 miles of campus
22:1 student to instructor ratio
750 running start students (6%)

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ALL applicants must take a placement test: Accuplacer/ LOEP.
Reading, writing and math skills are assessed. All students are admitted to the Running Start program. With that said, students must meet course prerequisites in order to register for those courses.
The EdCC Running Start office will provide you with lists of courses that you qualify for depending on your placement scores. Those lists are also on the Running Start website.

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Students pay for :
Textbooks and supplies
Quarterly & Class Fees
Excess credit
Transportation
Full-time students may pay several hundred dollars per quarter
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Low-income students may qualify for fee waivers:
Complete form from the Running Start website and return to the Running Start office (Lynnwood Hall, Room 235)
Documentation is required (F/R lunch letter, tax return)

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Apply for “new student admission” online
2. Take the placement test and go talk to Running
Start staff to receive list of eligible courses.
3. Complete the online Running Start orientation
4. Meet with high school counselor, bring placement test results, and fill out the running start quarterly enrollment form
5. Submit all paperwork to the EdCC Running
Start office in order to register for classes
6. The EdCC Running Start office will accept paperwork beginning March 16 th (remember that college classes may fill up quickly).

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Bus vs. Parking: It can be tough to find parking on campus. Bus passes are available from the EdCC EdPass office for $25 your first quarter, $15 each quarter after that.
Academic Advising: This degree planning service is available to all students, including running start students.
Running Start: start there for most initial questions.
Tutoring Center: available for all students.
Professor office hours: see the course syllabus for weekly office hours and contact information.
Mental Health Counseling: available for all students. Note that they will stabilize and refer to outside/private counselors.