Running Start program is running colleges into red

High school? Who needs it?

It turns out that so many high-school students are also taking college classes that it is costing the community-college system nearly $35 million a year.

A program called Running Start, which began modestly in the 1990s as a way to bolster high-school education, now serves 10 percent of all high-school juniors and seniors in the state.

Put another way, more than 17,000 high-school students are taking free classes at community colleges — many full time. Some universities also offer Running Start.

The increasing popularity of the Running Start program prompted the state Board for Community and Technical Colleges Friday to ask the Legislature for an extra $7 million a year. The board hopes to increase that amount each year until it reaches the estimated $34.5 million annual shortfall.

According to the board, colleges spend about $7,600 on each high-school student completing a full-time program. But the state reimburses them just $4,500 for each student, a much lower rate than colleges are reimbursed for post-high-school students.

When the Running Start program was small, colleges could absorb the loss, said board spokeswoman Suzy Ames. But not anymore. The Legislature will decide on the colleges' request next spring.

College classes attract high-school students for a variety of reasons, say counselors and administrators. Some students want to push themselves academically; others want to get a jump on college and finish a year or two while still in high school. Others want to save money. And some struggling students simply want to catch up on courses they've failed in order to graduate on time.

"I think it works very well for students who are ready for the faster college pace," said Sandie Jones, director of the Running Start program at Edmonds Community College, which enrolls 600 high-school students, 100 more than two years ago. "Hands down, students say the best part is the heterogeneous student population — they're mixed with 49-year-olds and 23-year-olds."

According to a recent board report, some 59 percent of Running Start participants are female, and about 18 percent are students of color.

Green River Community College in Auburn and Bellevue Community College enroll the most Running Start students. During the 2005-06 year, Green River had 1,281, and Bellevue 1,144.

The program has taken off in the Highline School District, where students have realized they can save money and be ready for the work force. More than 300 students participate this year.

"From our students' standpoint, we are talking a lot about college, career and citizenship," said district spokeswoman Rexanne Forbes. "You can't get family-wage jobs anymore without a college degree."

But not everyone is enamored with Running Start. Some worry it allows high schools to avoid providing academically rigorous programs — or that it forces kids to grow up too fast. Others point out that increasing demands in high school, such as standardized tests and senior projects, already challenge young students.

Garfield High School Principal Ted Howard said Running Start works well for some mature students, but he wishes he could offer more advanced classes in high school so that students wouldn't need to go. He also worries that the experience can be socially isolating for some. "You need the spirit-filled hallway. You need homecoming. You need all that stuff," he said.

Nick Perry: 206-515-5639 or nperry@seattletimes.com;

Emily Heffter: 206-464-8246 or eheffter@seattletimes.com