HB 2375
In CommitteeHouse
Running start allocations
Concerning the running start allocations granted to school districts.
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 updates Washington’s Running Start program to expand student eligibility (including rising 11th graders), clarify payment and fee structures, strengthen fee waivers for low-income students, and improve coordination between schools and colleges. It also formalizes how school districts pay colleges for student enrollment and updates reporting and documentation requirements.
- Expands eligibility to include rising 11th graders (students who have completed 10th grade but not yet started 11th), who can enroll for up to 10 quarter credits (or semester equivalent) in summer terms.
- Clarifies that homeschooled and private school students may participate in Running Start, and specifies they won’t be counted in state/federal accountability reporting if they previously received home-based instruction.
- Allows institutions to charge an additional fee of up to 10% on top of tuition and fees, prorated by credit load, and permits use of Advanced College Tuition Payment Program tuition units to pay these fees.
- Requires colleges to offer fee waivers to low-income students (based on eligibility for free/reduced-price school meals), and mandates schools to provide documentation of low-income status to colleges.
- Updates how school districts pay colleges for Running Start students — using a formula based on a 7% withholding from basic education funding, adjusted by program type (vocational vs. nonvocational).
- Requires colleges to send written notice to students and school districts within 10 days of acceptance, specifying course and enrollment hours.
Who is affected
- High school students (11th and 12th grade, including homeschooled and private school students) — Students in 11th or 12th grade (or those who haven’t earned a high school diploma yet), including those homeschooled or attending approved private schools, gain clearer access to college courses through Running Start.
- Public school districts — School districts must now follow updated rules for student eligibility, fee reporting, and payment calculations for Running Start, and may receive state funding to cover part of the cost.
- Colleges and universities offering Running Start — Community and technical colleges, as well as other higher education institutions, must adjust their Running Start programs to meet new fee structures, fee waiver requirements, and reporting obligations.
- Low-income families and students — Families with low-income students may benefit from fee waivers and simplified documentation, reducing out-of-pocket costs for college courses.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (5)
Expands eligibility to rising 11th graders (students who completed 10th grade) and explicitly includes homeschooled and private school students, significantly broadening access to college-level coursework for a wider range of Washington students—including those in under-resourced or non-traditional educational settings.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 1(2), Sec. 1(6)Mandates fee waivers for low-income students based on federal meal program eligibility and requires school districts to proactively provide documentation to colleges, reducing administrative barriers and out-of-pocket costs for low-income families seeking college credit.
FinancialPeopleRef: Sec. 1(8)(a), Sec. 1(8)(b)(i)Formalizes a state-funded payment mechanism (7% withholding from basic education funding) to cover Running Start costs, reducing the burden on districts to negotiate individual contracts and providing more predictable funding for colleges.
Local GovernmentPeopleRef: Sec. 1(9)(a)Requires colleges to provide written notice of acceptance within 10 days and clarifies how districts pay for enrollment, improving transparency, predictability, and coordination between K–12 and higher education systems.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 1(4), Sec. 1(9)(a)Allows use of Advanced College Tuition Payment Program (ACTPP) tuition units to pay the new 10% fee, preserving the utility of pre-paid units and giving families who invested in ACTPP more flexibility to use them for the full cost of participation.
FinancialPeopleRef: Sec. 1(7)(c)
Potential Concerns (5)
Allows institutions to charge an additional 10% fee on top of tuition and fees, which increases out-of-pocket costs for students—even those who qualify for tuition waivers—since fee waivers (Sec. 1(8)) do not explicitly cover this new fee unless explicitly included in institutional policy, and the bill does not mandate that fee waivers apply to the 10% fee.
FinancialIndustryRef: Sec. 1(7)(a)Requires school districts to pay colleges a formula-based amount derived from a 7% withholding of basic education funding, which may strain district budgets—especially for districts already underfunded—since the state does not fully fund the program’s costs and districts must redirect existing resources to cover the gap.
Local GovernmentIndustryRef: Sec. 1(9)(a)The payment formula (withholding percentage based on statewide uniform rates minus tuition/fees) may disproportionately benefit larger, more resource-rich community and technical colleges that can absorb lower per-student payments, while smaller or rural institutions may face financial strain due to lower enrollment volumes and higher per-student costs.
Business & EmploymentIndustryRef: Sec. 1(9)(b)The centralized system for low-income documentation is “subject to appropriation,” meaning its implementation is uncertain and may not materialize—leaving school districts with added administrative burden to manually verify and transmit documentation, without guaranteed state funding.
Local GovernmentLean industryRef: Sec. 1(8)(b)(ii)The 10% fee applies to all institutions—including four-year universities—potentially reducing access for students who might otherwise choose a university-based Running Start program due to higher perceived prestige or pathway alignment, especially if fee waivers are not uniformly applied across institution types.
EducationIndustryRef: Sec. 1(7)(a)(ii)
Who Is Most Affected
Low-income high school students benefit significantly from fee waivers and expanded eligibility, reducing financial barriers to college credit. However, the 10% fee (not automatically waived) may still pose a modest burden if families lack awareness or documentation access.
Public school districts gain clearer funding rules and reduced negotiation burden, but face new administrative costs and potential budget strain from the 7% withholding requirement—especially in districts already underfunded or with high Running Start participation.
Community and technical colleges benefit from guaranteed state payment formulas, but may face financial pressure if the 7% withholding does not fully cover per-student costs—particularly at smaller or rural institutions with higher operational costs per student.
Families with moderate or high incomes may face new 10% fees not covered by existing tuition waivers, increasing out-of-pocket costs—especially if they do not qualify for meal-program-based fee waivers or lack ACTPP units.
Homeschooled and private school students gain formal inclusion in Running Start for the first time, but may face challenges in obtaining required documentation or navigating new administrative processes without district support.