[Factc] (no subject)

Thu Apr 19 12:38:46 PDT 2018

Hi Arlen,

Many thanks for your valuable input and confirming the SBCTC's position in favor of free or low-cost college.

Regarding the dual credit, I completely understand that the argument can be made that someone who is 14 will have a difficult time in a college environment perhaps even more in terms of social/emotional than the academic adjustments.  However, I argue that the bill has already passed to allow 9th graders to enroll in Running Start Program, so why not giving the same opportunity to 9th graders to enroll in the College in High School (CHS). In fact, giving the 9th graders the opportunity to study college courses in their home schools, where the social and emotional setting is not an uncharted territory compared to an unfamiliar big college campus, makes more sense to me.

Over all, the single most bright point has to do with what you mentioned in your email and that is there will be several proposals for free or low-cost college next year. This indicates that both the lawmakers and general public realize the community and tech college  cost is the foremost major barrier for our children to achieve post-secondary education. Therefore, it is a cause that is well-worth to fight for.

I like your idea of inviting some legislators to our FACTC meeting but I think Gerry has already done this.

Thanks again for your thoughtful comments and hope to see you in Vancouver.

Reza

________________________________
From: Arlen Harris <aharris at sbctc.edu>
Sent: Thursday, April 19, 2018 9:34 AM
To: Reza Forough; factc at lists.ctc.edu
Cc: Joyce Carroll; Smith, Gerard
Subject: RE:

Reza,

Thank you for including me in the discussion.

I think there will be several proposals for free or low-cost college next year.

As these proposals come up it will be our position to support the proposals, so long as they are correctly paid for.

For example, there was a bill this year from Senator Braun, SB 6543<http://apps2.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=6543&Year=2017&BillNumber=6543&Year=2017>, which would have reduced community and technical college tuition by 10%.  The bill did not get a hearing due to Sen. Braun being in the minority party in the Senate, but we would have supported the bill if the legislature would have correctly backfilled that tuition PLUS a 2.2% increase that the State Board may exercise this fall.  Thus for a 10% tuition decrease, the state would need to backfill 12.2% to cover the cost.

Sen. Braun’s position is that CTC tuition has come to a point where even middle-class families pause before enrolling students in our institutions.  Not that the value isn’t there, because he concedes that our colleges provide the greatest value to our state, but it isn’t the “cheaper option” that it used to be.  He also argues that lower tuition will spread financial aid out to more students.

In comment to dual credit, this becomes sticky.  SB 6209<http://apps2.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=6209&Chamber=Senate&Year=2017> from last year caused some concern to a couple presidents.  Among other things it would have allowed 9th & 10th graders to participate in Running Start.  I think many see a huge difference in ability to learn in a college environment between someone who is 17 and someone who is 14.  I’m guessing dual credit options will continue to surface and I think these discussions are perfect for FACTC as you know best the issues facing students in the class room.  Perhaps College in the High School is a better option along with AP/IB/Cambridge programs.

I’d love to hear more and I can suggest a couple legislators who you might invite to a FACTC meeting this year.  I’d be happy to help moderate or help in that conversation.

Arlen Harris| Legislative Director

Washington State Board for Community & Technical Colleges

aharris at sbctc.edu<mailto:aharris at sbctc.edu> | p (360) 704-4394 | c (360) 391.1232

www.sbctc.edu<http://www.sbctc.edu>

From: Reza Forough <reza.forough at bellevuecollege.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2018 5:37 PM
To: factc at lists.ctc.edu
Cc: Joyce Carroll <joyce.carroll at bellevuecollege.edu>; Smith, Gerard <GSmith at clark.edu>; Arlen Harris <aharris at sbctc.edu>
Subject:

Hi everyone,

Gerry is in favor of bringing up the idea of free or low-cost college for discussion in our upcoming meeting to be considered as one possible focus for our legislative efforts.  I mentioned in a previous email that in our last FACTC meeting, Devin from SBCTC presented data on poor college completion across the USA - roughly 50% college drop out rate. The numbers were not much better in WA either. If I remember correctly, we were told that the state of Tennessee since started making education in community and tech colleges free (or almost free) has seen a 10% increase in college attainment. Given this significant improvement rate of success in post-secondary educational attainment over a short period of only few years, why shouldn't we discuss with WA legislators the possibility of replicating a similar model of low-cost education in WA? I also look forward to hear your ideas about how to move forward in working with the lawmakers to increase the educational attainment. If drastic changes such as aiming for free community and technical college education is too ambitious and a hard to reach goal, smaller steps can be taken toward achieving an increase in the post-secondary attainment. For example, a small step would be to ask the lawmakers for work on a bill that allow 9th grade high school students attend college in the high school program (CHS). A strong argument in support of this proposal can be:

there are many  9th grade students who have strong educational background and the desire to take college credit courses but are not allowed to enroll in the CHS due to the state laws. This is difficult to reconcile given that the current law allows for the very same 9th grade students to enroll in the Running Start program.

Joyce Carroll, our Associate Dean, Office of Instruction, kindly agreed that I share below letter regarding her correspondence with the 9th grade students interested in enrolling for the CHS in Bellevue College.

Thank you for your patience and I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

BTW, the weather is beautiful in Bellevue, I hope it is the same in your neck of the woods.

Reza

PS. Arlen, I appreciate your feedback on this proposal.

Hi Reza,

So far, we’ve had to turn away twelve 9th grade students who wanted to register for college credit through College in the High School. Here is the email they are sent:

Dear College in the High School Student,

According to the information we received with your College in the High School application, you are currently in the 9th grade (graduation year of 2021). We are not able to complete your application process at this time. Current law (HB 1546) clearly states that 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students (only) are eligible to enroll in a CHS course. Neither the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction nor the Bellevue College CHS program have the authority to “waive” this law or in any way approve an exception.

While we certainly agree in philosophy about the capability of freshmen to succeed in a college-level course, the only way freshmen will be able to earn college credit through a College in the High School course is if the law is changed. We encourage you to contact your local legislators to share your story and advocate for a change in this law.

If you feel an error was made, please provide us with your correct graduation year.

Sincerely,

The law is especially punitive for students in our area who have multiple opportunities to take higher level courses in middle school, especially in the areas of math and world languages. When transitioning into high school, the counselors review students previous course work and use that to inform their high school choices. If that happens to land 9th grade students in CHS courses it’s too bad for them because they can’t earn the college credit, even if they can perform at a high level. When they enter the 10th grade, there is no option for them to go back and request credit for the previous year. Additionally, if they have begun a sequence in math or in a world language, they may be blocked from earning college credit for other CHS courses. On paper it will look like they have not met course prerequisites.

Joyce

Joyce Carroll | Associate Dean, Office of Instruction

Bellevue College | 3000 Landerholm Circle SE, Bellevue WA 98007-6484

425.564.2257 | joyce.carroll at bellevuecollege.edu<mailto:jocarrol at bellevuecollege.edu>
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