SHB 1565
In CommitteeHouse
Dual enrollment scholarship
Continuing the Washington dual enrollment scholarship.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill makes the Washington dual enrollment scholarship permanent and expands it to cover more costs—including books, tools, and basic needs—for low-income high school students in running start and other dual credit programs. It shifts administration to the Washington Student Achievement Council, sets new rules, and funds the program through 2027 with $750,000 per year from the state’s General Fund.
- Expands the existing Washington dual enrollment scholarship pilot program to all eligible running start students statewide (not just 13 pilot sites).
- Increases the types of expenses covered: now includes mandatory fees, course/laboratory fees, textbook vouchers, professional technical program materials (e.g., tools, work clothes), and—subject to remaining funds—a basic needs stipend for food and transportation.
- Requires the Washington Student Achievement Council to adopt formal rules by January 1, 2026, and provide consistent guidance and technical assistance to colleges and universities.
- Sets eligibility based on income (free/reduced lunch, SNAP, College Bound Scholarship, or Washington College Grant) and enrollment in a dual credit program like running start.
- Extends the program’s expiration date from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2032, and repeals the old statutory language effective July 1, 2033.
- Requires participating colleges to report how scholarship funds (especially basic needs stipends) are used, and to submit annual reports to the legislature.
Who is affected
- Low-income high school students in running start/dual enrollment programs — Low-income high school juniors and seniors enrolled in running start (or other dual credit programs) who qualify for free/reduced-price lunch, SNAP, College Bound Scholarship, or Washington College Grant. They become eligible for expanded financial support covering fees, books, materials, and potentially food/transportation.
- Participating higher education institutions (community colleges and universities) — Community colleges and universities that host running start students must implement the scholarship, track student expenses, report usage, and provide access to scholarship benefits per state guidance.
- Washington Student Achievement Council — The Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) becomes the official administrator of the scholarship, responsible for rulemaking, technical assistance, oversight, and annual reporting to the legislature.
- State of Washington (General Fund) — State taxpayers and the General Fund, which fund the program through annual appropriations.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (5)
The bill expands the existing pilot to *all* running start students statewide and explicitly covers mandatory fees, course/laboratory fees, textbook vouchers, and professional technical program materials—removing major out-of-pocket barriers for low-income students. Research cited in the bill (2024 ESDC brief) shows dual enrollment accelerates degree completion, so this expansion directly supports improved educational outcomes for historically underserved students.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 2(3)(a), (4)(a)-(d)By tying eligibility to free/reduced-price lunch, SNAP, College Bound, or Washington College Grant, the bill targets students in the lowest income quartiles. These students face the highest relative burden from non-tuition costs; removing those barriers is likely to increase enrollment and persistence—especially for first-generation students.
FinancialPeopleRef: Sec. 2(3)(a)The bill shifts administration to the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) and mandates formal rulemaking and technical assistance by January 2026. This creates more consistent, statewide implementation—reducing variability across districts and colleges, and improving equity in access. WSAC’s centralized oversight is likely to improve compliance and reduce administrative confusion for local school districts.
Local GovernmentPeopleRef: Sec. 2(2), Sec. 4The inclusion of a basic needs stipend for food and transportation—though contingent—acknowledges the link between basic needs insecurity and academic success. Even partial relief can improve attendance, concentration, and mental health, especially for students juggling jobs, caregiving, or housing instability.
HealthcarePeopleRef: Sec. 2(4)(e)The bill requires participating institutions to report how scholarship funds—including basic needs stipends—are used, and to submit annual reports to the legislature. This transparency improves accountability and enables data-driven adjustments, ensuring the program remains responsive to student needs over time.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 2(9), Sec. 4
Potential Concerns (5)
The bill authorizes a basic needs stipend for food and transportation, but only *if sufficient funding remains* after covering mandatory fees, books, and materials. This creates a contingent benefit that may not materialize for most students, especially if enrollment grows faster than anticipated—reducing actual impact below the stated intent.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 2(4)(e)The bill requires participating colleges to track and report how scholarship funds—including basic needs stipends—are used, and to submit annual reports to the legislature. While this improves accountability, it adds administrative burden to community and technical college staff, who are already resource-constrained, potentially diverting time from direct student support.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 2(4)(c), (d)The basic needs stipend explicitly covers food and transportation, but *not housing or rent*, despite those being the largest cost components for low-income students. This leaves a significant gap in support, especially for students living independently or caring for dependents.
HousingLean peopleRef: Sec. 2(4)(e)The bill appropriates $750,000 per year for two years from the General Fund—roughly $1,500 per eligible student assuming ~500 students receive the full award each year. While modest in scale, this represents a reallocation of state funds that could have gone toward broader K–12 or higher ed needs, with opportunity costs for other programs.
FinancialRef: Sec. 3The bill’s stipend for basic needs is *contingent on remaining funds* after covering tuition-adjacent costs, making it unreliable in practice. Without statutory priority or guaranteed funding, the stipend may be de facto unused in many years—undermining the stated goal of reducing non-tuition barriers to participation.
EducationLean peopleRef: Sec. 2(4)(e)
Who Is Most Affected
Low-income high school juniors and seniors in running start programs—especially those qualifying via SNAP, free/reduced lunch, or College Bound/Washington College Grant—will see direct financial relief from fees, books, tools, and possibly food/transportation. This is likely to increase enrollment, reduce dropout risk, and accelerate time-to-degree.
Community and technical colleges will bear added administrative duties—tracking expenses, verifying eligibility, reporting usage—but gain more consistent state guidance and reduced variability across districts. No new costs are imposed beyond existing reporting obligations, and the program expands their student base.
WSAC gains formal authority over the scholarship, including rulemaking and technical assistance responsibilities. This expands its operational scope but also increases accountability and visibility—potentially strengthening its role as a statewide coordination body.
State taxpayers fund $750K/year for two years—a modest appropriation relative to the state budget. However, the program’s benefits (increased degree completion, workforce readiness, reduced remediation) likely yield long-term fiscal returns. The cost is small, but not zero-sum neutral.