Running Start & Interlake High School… benefits and challenges

What is Running Start? Requirements: Cost: An opportunity to earn College credit and High School credit at the same time. Requirements: Must be a high school junior or senior to participate Must be enrolled in a public high school Must pass an assessment test at community college Must meet all program deadlines Cost: Local school district pays the tuition (state budget covers up to 1.2 FTE) Students pay for books, fees and parking

Is Running start right for you? Do you consider yourself more mature than most high school students? Are you comfortable with diverse situations? Can you be assertive and ask for help on a large college campus? Are you excited about academic challenges? Have you done well in previous academic work? Are high school activities important to you?

BENEFITS of Running Start Free college tuition! Advanced course work and academic challenge Variety in course selection (foreign languages, sciences, astronomy with a real planetarium, etc) Flexible schedule (can take up to 15 credits) Develop independence Make connections with college faculty A new social environment

How does it work? Students must pass the COMPASS Test. Students may attend Running Start full time or part time. Students indicate an interest in Running Start in the spring during high school registration (now). Students attend the information session at BC and complete all of the registration steps. Students schedule a meeting with the counselor to plan schedule. One 5-credit college course is equal to one year of the high school level course. Student must take district required classes (more on this later).

Challenges of Running Start Scheduling challenges Quarter system vs. semester system Must meet high school graduation requirements- specific classes required at BC as well. Parents have limited control and cannot check grades. Transfer credit issues- can be a problem at private schools and universities in other states Books, fees and transportation costs- can be a few hundred dollars per quarter

Challenges of Running Start cont. Fast pace and time demands of college studies A new social environment and age diversity Harm to your college and high school transcript by doing poorly at Bellevue College More and more classes are online Conflicting vacations- different Spring Breaks, no Mid-Winter break Sports- getting back to Interlake in time for practice

BC Running Start Academic Policy BC requires all students to maintain a 2.00 GPA (“C” average) If your GPA for one quarter is below a 2.00, you will be placed on academic probation. Running Start students who achieve below a 2.00 GPA for ANY TWO QUARTERS will become ineligible to participate in the program. 15 credit limit per quarter or ( 1.2 FTE) between Interlake HS and the college.

BSD Running Start Policy Students must enroll during the BC enrollment period during the spring prior to the first fall quarter After Interlake starts school, NO IHS classes will be dropped to accommodate Running Start classes. After BC starts, NO IHS classes will be ADDED for credit. Students turn in signed BSD Running Start contract. Students must make an appointment with his/her IHS counselor before each quarter’s registration date (we may not be able to meet with you if you just show up).

Next Steps Step 1: Read Step 1 before you apply: You will first be asked to set up an account with your own user ID and password. After that you will then need to fill out the application to attend BC through the Running Start Program. Step 2: Take the COMPASS Assessment, cost=$21.50. Test Services is located in B142. Step 3: Create your BC email account: You will be enrolled in the online Running Start Pre-Orientation class that starts April 6, 2015. This class will need to be completed and you must pass the class in order to register to attend mandatory Running Start Orientation/Registration.

Next Steps cont. Step 4: Submit the Enrollment Verification Form: Make an appointment to meet with your High School Counselor, The Running Start Enrollment Verification Form must be submitted to the Running Start Office (B233) by 4:00 PM, Wednesday, May 20, 2015 Step 5: Sign up for the Mandatory Orientation/Registration: We will offer several dates and times for students to attend Running Start Orientation/Registration. You will receive THE FINAL STEPS email only if you place into English 101 and completed and passes the Running Start Pre-orientation online class. The final email is how you will register for an optional advising workshop and mandatory Running Start Orientation/Registration. Step 6 – OPTIONAL – Sign up for the Advising Workshop 3:30PM – 4:30PM Room N201- Main Campus – TBD

Important Dates Info Sessions –Fall 2015 Quarter Information Sessions: Held in Building N room 201 on the main campus. Saturday March 14, 2015 at 9:00AM, and 11:00AM, Thursday March 19, 2015 at 6:30PM, Saturday April 4, 2015 at 9:00AM, and 1:00PM, Saturday April 11, 2015 at 8:30AM, and 11:00AM, and 3:00PM Parents and students are strongly urged to apply by the Priority Application Deadline –Wednesday, May 6, 2015 at 4:00 PM Late applications for the fall 2015 quarter will open on Monday, July 6, 2015 Make appointment with IHS counselor to select classes. The Running Start Enrollment Verification Form must be submitted to the Running Start Office (B233) by 4:00 PM, Wed May 20, 2015

Is Running start right for you? Are you/is your son/daughter a good self-advocate? Are you good at managing your own time? Can you be assertive and ask for help on a large college campus? Are you excited about academic challenges? Can you maintain a 2.0 or higher without parental oversight? Please know that full-time Running Start students will not receive a school issued laptop in the Fall

Questions? Contact your Interlake HS Counselor- turn in your running start contract. http://www.bellevuecollege.edu/runningstart Power point will be available on the Interlake Counseling Website