Bill Helps Students Get A Jump On College Meyer Creates Program Similar To Washington’s Running Start

When Mike Palmer’s sons graduated from high school, they already had a year’s worth of college under their belts.

The boys were earning high school and college credit at the same time thanks to a special Washington state program.

Palmer, a Coeur d’Alene High School teacher who lives in Spokane, worked with Rep. Wayne Meyer to create a similar program in Idaho. Meyer made the issue, called “Wing for Idaho Students,” his top priority for the 1997 legislative session and the bill now awaits the governor’s signature.

“By the last semester of the senior year, they’re basically wasting their time, sometimes the whole year,” said Meyer, a Rathdrum Republican. “If they can get one year of college in before graduating from high school it allows them to get in the work force faster.”

Meyer’s bill would allow high school juniors and seniors to take college courses, and receive both high school and college credit. It doesn’t guarantee funding like Washington’s program, but Meyer and Palmer think it’s a great start.

“The way this bill is written, if you wanted to take an English course at the college, that would count for high school credit,” said Palmer.

Meyer, who was educated in Washington, is excited to bring the program to Idaho.

Meyer picked up the idea from a bill that Rep. Fred Tilman proposed last year. Tilman, a Boise Republican, worked hard with Meyer to make the changes needed to get the bill through this year.

School counselors say many students are interested in this opportunity.

“We just have to get the word out so that they can take advantage of this,” said Meyer.

In the Washington program, students take college courses at the expense of their high schools. The Idaho version allows schools to pay for the students’ higher education if they see fit.

“I don’t mind that (clause) so much,” said Palmer. “It sounds like it will leave a local option. It’ll be the school district’s choice if they want to pay that for a student.”

Palmer said the program will give kids a chance to make the most of their educations while still allowing them to play high school sports and act in high school plays.

“My kids completed a year of college, and all I had to pay for was the books,” he said. “Man, it’s a heck of a deal.”

Palmer said the program also gives a chance to those students who normally wouldn’t be able to afford higher education.

“I see youngsters who could benefit from this,” he said. “It will offer young people a chance to get a free year’s worth of college and they are more likely to finish if they start.”

With colleges and universities complaining that it’s getting tougher to get students graduated in four years, this bill could make a difference, said Palmer.

Washington provides $3,700 each year for each student’s education. When a student enters the program, that money goes toward college tuition.

Palmer said that last year the program saved Washington more than $5 million, because students were getting two educations for the price of one.

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