HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

95

TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO DUAL CREDIT PROGRAMS.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce has projected that, by 2020, seventy per cent of jobs in Hawaii will require that employees have some postsecondary education.  However, according to the United States Census, currently, just forty-two per cent of Hawaii's adults hold a two- or four-year college degree.  Several national and local studies have shown the effectiveness of dual credit programs (programs in which students earn both high school and college credit simultaneously) on rates at which students go to, stay in, and graduate from college with a postsecondary degree or certificate.

     A study recently conducted by Hawaii P-20 Partnerships for Education on current dual credit programs, such as running start, show similar gains for students taking college-level courses while still in high school, despite the high financial cost to students and their families.  Nationally, of the forty-seven states (plus the District of Columbia) that have statewide policies governing at least one dual credit program, Hawaii is one of only nine states that requires payment for participation in a dual credit program.

     Increasing numbers of students in Hawaii are taking dual credit courses through programs that include the running start, jump start, or early college high school programs.  However, maximizing the available credits and the opportunity for students to earn both an associate degree and a high school diploma, requires that academically prepared students be allowed to start during their first year of high school.  This will bring Hawaii in line with over twenty-eight states that currently allow college-ready high school students to begin taking dual credit courses in ninth grade.

     Finally, there is a growing trend for student assessment of college-readiness, not by a single standardized test, but by multiple measurements such as grades, overall grade point average, teacher recommendations, and various assessments and tests.

     The purpose of this Act is to broaden current law to include all dual credit programs, to broaden eligibility of students, to allow for multiple measures of eligibility assessment, and to appropriate funds for the instruction, courses, and administration of college credits, thus allowing broader student participation in dual credit programs.

     SECTION 2.  Section 302A-401, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§302A-401  [Running start program.] Dual credit programs.  (a)  There [is] are created in the department [the running start program] dual credit programs to permit eligible students to enroll in any qualified course offered by the University of Hawaii system.

     (b)  For the purposes of this section:

     "Eligible student" means a high school student [in the eleventh or twelfth grade] who:

     (1)  Has passed [a standardized test administered] an assessment approved by the college that demonstrates the student's ability to succeed at the college level;

     (2)  Is under the age of twenty-one as of September 1 of the school year in which the college course is taken; and

     (3)  Has other qualifications deemed appropriate by the department of education or the University of Hawaii; provided that subsequent qualifications do not restrict any student from taking the [standardized test.] assessment.

     "Qualified course" means any vocational or academic course offered by the University of Hawaii system that also applies to the department's graduation requirements or is otherwise permitted by department rule or policy.

     (c)  All course credits successfully completed pursuant to this section that would otherwise be transferable but for a student's grade level, shall be transferable to any University of Hawaii system degree granting institution; provided that the student is admitted to the campus where the credit is transferred.

     (d)  [College] One hundred level and above University of Hawaii courses successfully completed under this section shall also satisfy the department's graduation requirements as determined by the department pursuant to rule.

     (e)  This section shall not preclude the department and the University of Hawaii from establishing programs by mutual agreement that permit high school students to enroll in college courses.

     [(f)  Every student enrolled in a college course pursuant to this section shall remit appropriate tuition and fees to the college for every college course.

     (g)  The department shall provide students who participate in the running start program with guidance in earning credit toward high school graduation upon the satisfactory completion of University of Hawaii courses at the one-hundred level and above [pursuant to this section].]"

     SECTION 3.  Section 304A-803, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§304A-803[]]  [Running start program.] Dual credit programs.  (a)  There [is] are established within the department of education [the running start program,] dual credit programs, to allow eligible students to enroll in any qualified course offered by the University of Hawaii system.

     (b)  For the purposes of this section:

     "Eligible student" means a high school student [in the eleventh or twelfth grade] who:

     (1)  Has passed [a standardized test administered] an assessment approved by the college that demonstrates the student's ability to succeed at the college level;

     (2)  Is under the age of twenty-one as of September 1 of the school year in which the college course is taken; and

     (3)  Has other qualifications deemed appropriate by the department of education or the university; provided that subsequent qualifications do not restrict any student from taking the [standardized test.] assessment.

     "Qualified course" means any career and technical education or academic course offered by the University of Hawaii system that also applies to the department of education's graduation requirements or is otherwise permitted by department of education rule or policy.

     (c)  All course credits successfully completed pursuant to this section that would otherwise be transferable but for a student's grade level, shall be transferable to any University of Hawaii system degree granting institution; provided that the student is admitted to the campus where the credit is transferred.

     (d)  [College] One hundred level or above University of Hawaii courses successfully completed under this section shall also satisfy the department of education's graduation requirements as determined by the department of education [pursuant to rule].

     (e)  This section shall not preclude the department of education and the university from establishing programs by mutual agreement that permit high school students to enroll in college courses.

     [(f)  Every student enrolled in a college course pursuant to this section shall remit appropriate tuition and fees to the university.]"

     SECTION 4.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1,840,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2015-2016 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 to provide the department of education with two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) positions, and resources to carry out the purposes of this Act.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of education.

     SECTION 5.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $800,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2015-2016 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 to provide the University of Hawaii with one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) position, and resources to carry out the purposes of this Act.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii.

     SECTION 6.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 7.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 


 


 

Report Title:

Running Start Program; University of Hawaii; Department of Education; Appropriation

 

 

Description:

Replaces the running start program and jump start program with dual credit program; amends definition of "eligible student" to include all high school students; replaces standardized test to determine college readiness with an assessment approved by the college.  Appropriates moneys.

 

 

 

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