New rules passed by the Washington state Legislature limit the combined high school and college credits that the state will fund for each student enrolled in the Running Start program. Running Start allows high school students to take college classes for credit.

Generally, a student can still receive funding through Running Start if he or she is taking less than 120 percent of the combined course load for a full-time student (FTE), which is considered 1.2 FTEs.  The combined course load would include the student’s high school and college classes.  If students take additional credits, they would pay full tuition and fees.

For example, students who are enrolled in 15 credits at the college could take no more than one class at his or her high school in order to have all of their credits funded through Running Start.  A student who is enrolled full-time at their high school would only be eligible to receive tuition for three credits through Running Start.

Students who had planned to enroll beyond the new limits have options.  They may choose to reduce their schedules, or they may provide parental approval to exceed the state-funded limit and pay the college tuition.  That is done by using the new Running Start Enrollment Verification Form.  The form provides information to help students and parents know which combinations add up to a tuition-free schedule.  The form and additional information are available at www.clark.edu/runningstart. All Running Start students must have their schedules reviewed by their high school counselors. They must also submit the new Running Start Enrollment Verification Form to the Clark College Running Start office.  The deadline is Friday, Sept. 9.