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Bill

SB 5670

Permitting 10th grade students to participate in running start in online settings.

2023-2024 Regular Session Introduced by Brad Hawkins and 7 co-sponsors

Allows rising juniors (students who have finished 10th grade) to enroll in Summer Running Start courses up to 10 credits, expanding summer college access without new funding.

Effective date 6/6/2024.
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Bill Summary · SB 5670

Summary — SB 5670 (Engrossed Second Substitute)

Title: Permitting 10th grade students to participate in Running Start in online settings / Providing summer Running Start for rising juniors

Purpose

SB 5670 codifies and clarifies eligibility for the Running Start (RS) program so that students who have completed 10th grade (i.e., rising 11th graders) may enroll in RS courses during the summer academic term. The intent is to increase early access to college coursework, ease the transition to college-level study, and expand postsecondary opportunity and on‑time credential attainment.

Key provisions

  • Summer eligibility: Students who have completed 10th grade and not yet begun 11th grade (rising juniors) may enroll in Running Start courses during the summer academic term for up to 10 quarter credits (or the semester equivalent).
  • Information requirement: School districts must provide information about Running Start summer enrollment opportunities to students in grades 10–12 and to their parents/guardians (in addition to existing RS information requirements).
  • Builds on prior OSPI rules/pilot: The bill affirms the policy previously adopted under emergency rules and prior pilot and funding provisions that limited summer RS funding to 10 college credits per student per summer term.
  • Fiscal/fees: The bill contains no appropriation. Existing RS rules remain in effect regarding tuition waiver (students generally do not pay tuition), responsibility for materials/course fees and transportation, institution-imposed fees (prorated by credit load), and availability of fee waivers for low‑income students.

Who is affected

  • Primary: Students who have just completed 10th grade (rising juniors) who wish to take college courses in the summer.
  • Secondary: School districts (information and administrative coordination duties), community and technical colleges and other participating institutions (admissions, fee/waiver administration), Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) for rule/funding implementation, and parents/guardians.
  • Potential system effect: Likely increased summer enrollments at community/technical colleges and administrative coordination for funding, registration, and student supports.

Timeline and procedural status

  • Passed Legislature: February 2024 (Senate and House; final House vote 92–1).
  • Governor signed: March 18, 2024 (Chapter 159, 2024 Laws).
  • Effective date: June 6, 2024.
  • Appropriation: None specified; preliminary fiscal note available.

Notes and context

  • The enacted measure focuses on summer-term access for rising juniors (up to 10 credits). Earlier substitute language in prior drafts also addressed 10th grade participation in online RS settings during regular terms, but the final enacted version affirms summer-term enrollment for rising 11th graders.
  • Existing Running Start policy (unchanged in material respects) continues to require students to apply to institutions, with tuition generally waived but with student responsibility for materials, course fees, and transportation; institutions may offer fee waivers for low‑income students.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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