Commentary: Running Start Proves Cooperation Between Colleges, K-12 Reaps Rewards

Posted

At Centralia College, we’ve known for years that Running Start works. Students, especially low- and middle-income students, have higher graduation rates and go on to complete more job training programs and earn more college degrees than students who don’t participate in Running Start. We see that every day in the Running Start students who attend Centralia College.

Now, there’s national research to prove it. The Community College Research Center at Columbia University studied dual-enrollment programs across the country, including Running Start, and found that Washington students who take college classes while still in high school earn more college degrees, and more bachelor’s degrees, than students who do not participate in Running Start.

That’s good news for Washington’s young people.

At Centralia College, we have Running Start students from 23 high schools across the state. All of our Lewis and south Thurston county high schools participate in the program, as do online high schools from Eastern Washington and beyond. We have students from Eatonville, Tacoma, and Castle Rock. In total, we have 451 Running Start students at Centralia College this fall. That’s a 32 percent increase since fall quarter 2013.

The word is clearly getting out. Running Start works.

For those not familiar with Running Start, it is a program that allows high school juniors and seniors to take college classes without paying tuition. They can earn credits toward their high school diploma and complete their first two years of college at the same time. This represents a huge cost savings for families.

Running Start students typically only pay for class fees and books. However, Centralia College offers book and fee waivers to ensure low-income students can still attend classes. In addition, Running Start students have access to every service that is available to any other Centralia College student. This includes personal and academic counseling, career advising, tutoring, writing and math support, access to campus computer labs and libraries, and even student government. In fact, all five members of this year’s student government are Running Start students from W.F. West and Centralia high schools.



We are so proud of the active role Running Start students play on our campus and in their high schools. They are proof that cooperation between K-12 schools and colleges works, and that students bear the rewards of that cooperation.

And, to the high school juniors and seniors who haven’t considered Running Start, we urge you to visit our campus and sit down with a Running Start adviser. This is a great opportunity. 

We’re here to help you meet your goals for high school and beyond.

•••

Robert Mohrbacher is the president of Centralia College.