Jeff Charbonneau: Legislature should allow all students equal access to dual credit

We want all students in Washington to achieve more. I think that is a pretty universal statement. The hard part is the how.

As a high school teacher for the past 14 years, I continually push myself to come up with better answers to how to help my students reach higher. In my first few years teaching, very few students enrolled in chemistry and physics at Zillah High School – until I changed one simple thing.

I made the classes harder. And it worked.

The irony, to some, is that the harder I have made my courses, the more students have enrolled – and succeeded. It turns out, in fact, that students want to be challenged.

The courses are so rigorous that Central Washington University and Eastern Washington University allow my high school classes to count for college credit for any of my juniors and seniors. Under what is termed “dual credit,” my students are able to stay on their high school campus and take college-level courses for both high school and college credit.

The advantage to the students is huge, but the impact is sometimes misunderstood.

Many will point to the fact that students will save time – having possibly earned more than a year of college credit while still in high school. Others will point to the huge cost savings – depending on the school district, the college offering the courses and the kind of dual-credit program – students can receive some of their credits for free. Those who pay, do so at a reduced rate. And while the savings are reason enough to support the program, I see an even larger impact in the classroom.

Students learn to believe that they can be successful in college. Students who once sold themselves short gain confidence after successfully completing their first course. Suddenly, a whole new world of possibilities ignites inside them. I cannot understate the influence this has had on my students, their families and, more importantly, their futures.

In short, the data is very clear: Students enrolled in dual credit are more likely to graduate from high school, enroll in a post-secondary program and graduate from that program. If we want students in Washington to achieve more, then dual credit is an excellent investment.

There are two ways for students to earn dual credit by taking college courses on their high school campus.

One way is called Running Start in the High School. In this model, a student can take one course per semester and have their tuition paid for by the state. However, the limit is one course.

The second way is called College in the High School. In this model, students can take as many credits offered by their high school as they can fit in their schedule. However, they have to pay for them. These students do get a break on tuition. A student will pay $275 for a five-credit College in the High School course, which is far less than the $1,325 they might pay if they took the same course later as a university undergraduate.

So, what’s the problem? The problem is students don’t have equal access to dual credit.

I have some students in my senior-level courses who have to pay for their credits this year, but who would fully qualify for need-based assistance next year as college freshmen. There are no scholarships or grants currently available for high school students in dual-credit courses. Some students facing these costs choose not to enroll in my dual-credit classes because of financial constraints.

As a state, we must provide a free and appropriate education to all students, regardless of income. The cost of tuition is a barrier for both low-income students and students from middle-class families.

I ask simply this: Why is it that the students who do everything that we ask – get good grades, push themselves into more rigorous classes and fill their senior year schedules to the maximum – get rewarded with a tuition bill?

Our Legislature has the opportunity to fund equal access to dual credit this year. I hope our legislators seize this opportunity to invest in the future of our students and our state.