Ewu Giving High School Students ‘Running Start’ At College

High school juniors and seniors soon will be able to take free classes at Eastern Washington University for both college and high school credit.

The Running Start program could save a family more than $2,000 a year in tuition. Only students with good grades who can pass EWU’s math and writing exams will be eligible.

“This is not an alternative to high school,” said EWU Vice Provost Flash Gibson. “Students will be taking real college courses from real professors.”

Running Start, a 2-year-old statewide program for high school students, previously involved only community college classes.

Last year, the Legislature extended it to EWU, Washington State University and Central Washington University, but gave school boards the power to keep their districts out of the program with the fouryear colleges.

The Spokane School Board approved an agreement with EWU on Wednesday. Central Valley, Cheney and Medical Lake school boards have approved similar agreements.

EWU is still negotiating with Mead, East Valley, West Valley, Nine Mile Falls, Liberty and St. John school districts.

Classes in advanced math, humanities and social sciences likely will be the most popular among high school students, said EWU Running Start coordinator Mark Baldwin.

“If they choose good courses they will enter college full speed ahead with a lot of requirements toward graduation already met,” Baldwin said.

“We’re trying to be careful about safeguarding the future of these students. We don’t want them to get into academic difficulties.”

School districts must pay the colleges for students they educate.

Districts will pass on to EWU about $3,300 for each high school student who takes a full load of college courses, and less for part-time students. The districts will keep about $250 of state funding per student to cover administrative expenses.

District officials have complained that Running Start weakens high school advanced-level classes by robbing them of students.

“There’s an impression that the colleges are sweeping in like pirates and stealing the best students,” Baldwin said.

School Board members also have been dismayed that students were able to take classes such as jogging and bowling at the community colleges.

Running Start students will be barred from taking remedial classes or physical education classes at EWU.

Currently, there are 354 high school students in the Spokane and Colville areas taking Running Start classes through Spokane Community Colleges.