RUNNING START
101
SPRING OPEN HOUSE 2009, SHORECREST HIGH SCHOOL
What is Running Start?
“Learning by Choice” bill passed by the State
Legislature in 1990, creating the Running Start
program
Must be a high school junior or senior to participate
Must be enrolled in a public high school
What is Running Start?
Local school district pays the tuition
Student is responsible for books, parking and additional fees
Students may attend the community college
campus full or part time
Students must be at Junior credit level
(10 credits or more) to access
What is Running Start?
Must pass an assessment test to participate ASSET or COMPASS
http://www.act.org/asset/tests/
http://www.act.org/compass/
You MUST place into English 101 on the assessment to qualify for
Running Start
This placement will tell us that you are currently reading and writing
at the level of a college freshman
If this is not currently your skill level, you must remain in the high
school program
Running Start=Dual Enrollment
Running Start is a “dual enrollment” program, similar to
programs in 47 other states
Students earn high school and college credits
simultaneously
One 5-credit college course is equal to one year of the
high school level course
(5 - 1.0, 4 - .80, 3 - .60, 2 - .40, 1 - .20)
Available at all 32 Washington state community colleges
Is Running Start right for YOU?
Are you excited about academic challenges?
Do you consider yourself more mature than most high
school students?
Are you comfortable with diverse situations?
Can you be assertive and ask for help on a large college
campus?
Have you done well in previous academic work?
Are high school activities important to you?
BENEFITS of Participating in
Running Start
Free college tuition!
Advanced course work and academic challenge
Variety in course selection
Flexible schedule (can take up to 18 credits)
Develop independence
Make connections with faculty, many of whom are happy to
write letters of recommendation and recommend programs of
study
A new social environment
CHALLENGES of participating in
Running Start
Transfer credit issues- can be a problem at private schools and
universities in other states
Books, fees and transportation costs- can be a few hundred
dollars per quarter
Fast pace and time demands of college studies
**The material covered in an 11-week quarter at the college is
the equivalent to that which is covered in a year of high school
Must meet all high school graduation requirements
A new social environment and age diversity
CHALLENGES of participating in
Running Start
Potential harm to your college and high school transcript by doing
poorly
FERPA- Parents do not have access to student information unless
student has submitted an Information Release Form to RS office
(parents do not have access to faculty at any time)
Conflicting vacations/semester vs. quarters can be confusing
Sports/Activities/Clubs
As is the case with all students, there is no guarantee that a RS
student will be able to register for a particular class at the
preferred time or quarter
RS at Shorecrest
Students must meet with a counselor to review
graduation plan/goals
Student and Parent/Guardian must sign Running Start
Agreement Form prior to registration at community
college
SC Seniors are required to take three courses at SC:
Senior Consumer Economics, Senior Literature and
Senior History
Running Start Academic Policy
Community colleges require all students to achieve a 2.00 GPA
(“C” average) or be placed on academic probation
Approximately 10-12% of all Running Start students achieve
below a 2.00 GPA in any given quarter
If your GPA for one quarter is below a 2.00, you will be placed
on academic probation
Running Start students who achieve below a 2.00 GPA for ANY
TWO QUARTERS will become ineligible to participate in the
program
Why require a “C” average?
College admissions are getting more competitive every year.
You will typically not gain admission to the college of your
choice with a GPA this low
Poor grades are a sign that you are not yet ready for this
environment, and should do skill-building at your high school
You do not qualify for financial aid (student loans) on future
college tuition if you have an established GPA of less than
2.00
We enforce this policy to protect you. If you achieve less
than a “C” average, you are closing off options for future
studies and financial help. Running Start is designed to
OPEN doors and SAVE you money
Applying to a 4-year school as a
Running Start student
It is important to meet w/ an academic advisor at the
community college
There can be big differences between WA schools and
those out-of-state
Some private colleges do not grant college credit if the
courses were taken while still in high school
You always apply as a “freshman” applicant, and your
credits are awarded after you are admitted
Include your transcript from the Community College with
your application
Initial Steps
Complete the college application form and submit with HS
transcript
Complete the assessment test
Submit Running Start Agreement form, review course
offerings and get approval from HS counselor
Submit course approval form to college and attend a
registration appointment
Helpful Sites/Contacts
Shoreline Community College
http://www.shoreline.edu/runningstart.html
Running Start Office - (206)546-6906
North Seattle Community College
www.runstart.northseattle.edu
Running Start Office - (206) 527-3682
WOIS.org - Site key for Shorecrest: ndm888
Career, Community and Technical College information for the state of WA
Questions?
Feel free to contact the Shorecrest
Counseling Office
to make an appointment with your
assigned counselor if you have
specific questions
(206) 361-4296