RUNNING START 101

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RUNNING START 101
SPRING OPEN HOUSE 2009, SHORECREST HIGH SCHOOL
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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

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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

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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

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Running StartDual 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

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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?

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Helpful Sites/Contacts

• Shoreline Community College
• http//www.shoreline.edu/runningstart.html
• Running Start Office - [phone]
• North Seattle Community College
• www.runstart.northseattle.edu
• Running Start Office - [phone]
• WOIS.org - Site key for Shorecrest ndm888
• Career, Community and Technical College
  information for the state of WA

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Questions?

• Feel free to contact the Shorecrest Counseling
  Office
• to make an appointment with your assigned
  counselor if you have specific questions
• [phone]