Washington Business Summer 2018 | Washington Business | Page 43

business backgrounder | education & workforce different pathways, sometimes that’s a four-year degree path and other times students realize they can have the career they want with a certificate or two-year degree. I can’t thank the community colleges, the state superintendent of public instruction, business leaders and others enough for advocating so strongly in support of the program.” Anderson added that it was great to see lawmakers recognize the need to offer a broad range of educational options to students. Flores agreed. “Running Start is a terrific way for students, parents and the state to save money on college costs,” he said. “We’re grateful the Legislature pulled through for our Running Start students last session.” Kim Reykdal, former program supervisor for dual-credit programs at the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and wife of state Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal, said the agency recently published a six-year vision that includes an ambitious goal that by 2019 all student dual credit program fees will be paid in Washington, making the program “a cost-neutral decision for students and their families.”. next frontier for running start “Our superintendent at OSPI has published a six-year vision that includes a very ambitious goal that by 2019 we would have all dual credit program fees paid in Washington, making the program a cost-neutral decision for students and their families.” — Kim Reykdal, former program supervisor for dual-credit programs, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Running Start turned 25 years old this year. And, while it is a success for the students that utilize it, all involved acknowledge there is more work ahead to attract a more diverse array of students. Running Start Program: Reykdal said there is very clear data around who is accessing http://bit.ly/RunningStartProgram dual-credit programs, and Running Start in particular, which is Study: Rethinking Dual Enrollment to Reach More Students: heavily skewed to white, Asian and middle-class students. “So, http://bit.ly/StudyRethinkingDualEnrollment we’re not seeing the racial diversity and certainly not students with disabilities and other learning factors that might make it more challenging for them,” she said. A recent study by the Education Commission of the States outlines several ways to increase diversity, including recruiting middle-achieving high school students, developing alternative criteria to assess student readiness for the program and limiting admission exams. Because Running Start is the only program where students leave the high school and operate in a different environment, another major push to improve the program is to put in place a more holistic view of students interested in the program to ensure they are academically ready and prepared for the college-level expectations. “Our work to help students be successful in the program is focused on how we improve the process so students have a better understanding of what they are getting into and know where they can go for support,” Reykdal said. For more information on Running Start and other education issues AWB is working on, contact Amy Anderson at 360.943.1600 or [email protected]. summer 2018 43