WASHINGTON HOMESCHOOL ORGANIZATION

In June of 2004, members of WHO formed the Running Start Task Force (RSTF). This group was formed in response to calls and e-mails to our office from parents who were unable to access the Running Start program, due to federal reporting requirements of the “No Child Left Behind” mandate. Running Start is a public school program that allows high school 11th and 12th graders to attend community or technical college. Credits earned in the community or technical college count as college credit, as well as high school credit, which may, but aren't required to, fulfill graduation requirements for a public high school diploma. The state pays the college tuition and parents are responsible for books, fees, and transportation.

The RSTF began meetings with key players from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) in February 2005. Discussions centered on a document that could be created to simplify the Running Start application process for home-based students. While this was being worked on the following Bill was passed on July 24th, 2005. Senate Bill 5289 clarifies that home-based instruction students accessing institutions of higher education are exempt from state and federal accountability reporting. Further, home-based students are not required to meet public school student learning goals, not obligated to obtain a certificate of academic achievement or to master the essential academic learning requirements.

Summary of Senate Bill 5289 - April 21, 2005
"A student receiving home-based instruction enrolling in a public high school for the sole purpose of participating in courses or programs offered by institutions of higher education shall not be counted by the school district in any required state or federal accountability reporting if the student's parents or guardians filed a declaration of intent to provide home-based instruction and the student received home-based instruction during the school year before the school year in which the student intends to participate in courses or programs offered by the institution of higher education. Students receiving home-based instruction under chapter 28A.200 RCW and students attending private schools approved under chapter 28A.195 RCW shall not be required to meet the student learning goals, obtain a certificate of academic achievement or a certificate of individual achievement to graduate from high school, or to master the essential academic learning requirements. " (This Bill is now found in RCW 28A.600.310.)

However, it was agreed upon between OSPI, WHO, and CHNOW (Christian Homeschool Network of Washington) that a document was still needed to clarify the process for HBI students, school districts, and the institutions of higher education participating in Running Start. So OSPI, with input from these two homeschool organizations, distributed “Bulletin No. 086-05 Student Support and Operations” and its accompanying form “Running Start Enrollment Request, Home-Based Instruction Students Only”. These were released to the school district superintendents on September 9, 2005.

Then on October 25, 2007, OSPI sent out new Bulletin 098-07. It rescinded the original September 9, 2005 bulletin and its accompanying enrollment form for homeschoolers. Justification for this was because the original bulletin “…erroneously identified or implied new procedures school districts must follow when enrolling home-based education students in Running Start, which has created ongoing confusion…” Currently, the people at OSPI’s stance is that if you are full time (15 credits or above), you are no longer a homeschooled student and must follow the district policies and procedures. This is against RCW 28A.600.310.

WHO is reviewing and researching to determine whether any action should be taken at this time and what that might consist of. In the meantime, our recommendations are as follows:

Read through the Running Start and Home-Based Instruction Law below, to know the requirements of the state, public school district, and you.

Ask others who have been utilizing Running Start as homeschoolers for their experiences with your district and public high school(s).

Go to the college and take the Compass or Asset Test for entrance into Running Start. If student passes, take last year’s Declaration of Intent and the test results to your district superintendent’s office and ask to enroll in Running Start as a home-based student. It is up to the discretion of the district as to how enrollment is carried out. However…
If the district directs you to go through their Public School Alternative Learning Program, we recommend that you avoid doing so. OSPI’s Bulletin 098-07 states, “School districts have authority to establish policies and procedures requiring such students to enroll in Running Start via enrollment in a high school within the district.” Enrollment is through a district or possibly a local high school, not through a district’s Public School Alternative Learning Program.

If the district or high school wants to verify your student’s home-based classes, level of learning, or transcript, they should be shown RCW 28A.600.310 which states, “…Students receiving home-based instruction…shall not be required to meet the student learning goals, obtain a certificate of academic achievement or a certificate of individual achievement to graduate from high school, or to master the essential academic learning requirements…” As a home-based student, you are not desiring a diploma from the district. Thus, there is no good purpose in their desire to ask for such documentation.

If you experience difficulty enrolling in Running Start, and the concerns on behalf of the district is establishing grade placement, credits, transcripts, diploma, etc., use the “Home-Based Instruction Running Start Student Assurances” form. If necessary, you may want to have the form notarized by a notary public.

If the district is requiring more of you than is required by law, stand up for yourself. Look to the statutes for clarification and point them out to the school official.

We hope this will help you in your educational endeavors. Please contact WHO with any questions.