Savanna Hoffman
Running Start is a Washington State program that allows high school juniors and seniors to attend community colleges tuition-free. While the program covers tuition fees, students are responsible for mandatory fees, textbooks, and transportation. Textbook costs can vary depending on the required books and supplies for each class, with the average cost for a full-time student being $100-300 per quarter. Running Start students can apply for the Fee Waiver and Book Loan Program to help with these costs, but they are still responsible for any additional course materials not covered by the program.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Responsibility for book costs | Running Start students are responsible for the cost of books and supplies |
| Book Loan Program | Students can apply for the Fee Waiver and Book Loan Program if they meet certain criteria, e.g. eligible for the Free or Reduced Lunch program |
| Textbook Library | Some colleges, such as Olympic College, have a textbook library for low-income Running Start students |
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What You'll Learn
Running Start students pay for books
Running Start is a Washington State program that allows high school juniors and seniors to attend community colleges tuition-free. While the program covers tuition fees for college-level courses, students are responsible for mandatory fees, books, and transportation.
The average cost of books and supplies for a full-time student is $100-300 per quarter. Running Start students can take advantage of the Fee Waiver and Book Loan Program to help with these costs. This program covers assistance with physical textbooks, but not e-books, access codes, or other supplies. To be eligible for the program, students must meet specific criteria, such as being eligible for the Free or Reduced Lunch (FRL) program in their district.
Additionally, Running Start students who enroll in more than their approved maximum credit amount will be charged tuition and fees for every credit over their approved amount. Students are also responsible for tuition if they take a class under the 100-level.
Some colleges, such as Olympic College, have established a textbook library to help provide required textbooks for low-income Running Start students. Students who are deemed eligible for the Running Start fee waiver also qualify to use this library.
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Book Loan Program
While the Running Start program covers tuition costs for college-level courses, students are responsible for mandatory fees, books, and transportation. The average cost of books and supplies for a full-time student is $100-$300 per quarter.
Running Start students can take advantage of the Fee Waiver and Book Loan Program, which assists students with waiving the cost of quarterly student-voted fees, as well as allowing students to loan required textbooks for classes if they are available. The Book Loan Program covers only physical textbooks and does not include e-books, access codes, or other supplies. Individual class fees are also not waived.
To be eligible for the Fee Waiver and Book Loan Program, students must meet certain criteria. One criterion is being eligible for the Free or Reduced Lunch (FRL) program in the district they are enrolled in. Students can submit a copy of the letter from their district or have their counsellor verify their status on their EVF. Another criterion is being a foster youth, in which case a signed statement from a caseworker or counsellor is required.
The deadline for submitting the application is the Friday before the first day of the quarter, and students are encouraged to submit it as early as possible. If submitted after the 10th day of the quarter, the status will take effect the following quarter.
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Fee Waiver
Running Start students may be eligible for a fee waiver if they meet certain criteria. The fee waiver will cover the cost of fees for eligible courses, but students will still be responsible for some costs, such as textbooks and supplies.
To be eligible for a fee waiver, students must meet one or more of the following criteria:
- The student's family receives public assistance (e.g. TANF, QUEST, ProviderOne, WA Apple Health).
- The student is eligible to receive free or reduced-price lunches at their school district.
- The student is a foster youth or has McKinney-Vento status.
- The student's family income is less than 200% of the federal poverty level or meets the income criteria for the USDA WIC program.
To apply for the fee waiver, students must submit the Running Start Fee Waiver & Textbook Assistance Application or the Running Start Enrollment Verification Form (RSEVF) along with supporting documentation. The specific documentation required may vary, but generally includes proof of income, such as tax returns, and proof of any public assistance received.
In addition to the fee waiver, some colleges offer a Book Loan Program or Book Borrow program to help students with the cost of textbooks. However, these programs may not cover all books and are usually dependent on availability.
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College-level courses
Running Start is a program that allows 11th and 12th-grade students to take college courses at Washington's 34 community and technical colleges. Students can simultaneously earn both high school and college credits for these courses. Running Start students do not pay tuition fees for college-level courses, but they are responsible for mandatory fees, books and transportation.
Students must pay for any pre-college-level courses they take (below the 100 level). They must also return their books at the end of the quarter to maintain their eligibility for the program. Students are also required to maintain a quarterly and cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher.
Running Start students are not eligible for Federal Student Aid (FASFA). However, financial assistance is available for students who are foster youth, qualify for free or reduced-price lunches, and/or receive state-funded public assistance. These students can have quarterly student fees waived and are eligible for the Running Start Book Loan program.
Students can take college-level courses either in summer school or during the regular school year. They can choose to take just one class per quarter or attend full-time. Students can also take courses online.
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Low-income students
Running Start is a dual credit enrollment program in Washington, Hawaii, New Hampshire, Montana, and Illinois. It allows high school juniors and seniors to take college courses while completing high school. Running Start students and their families do not need to pay tuition fees. However, they are responsible for mandatory fees, books, and transportation.
The cost of books and supplies for a full-time student can average between $100 and $300 per quarter. Running Start students from low-income families may apply for the Fee Waiver and Book Loan Program. This program assists students with the costs of textbooks and fees. To be eligible, students must meet specific criteria, such as being enrolled in the Free or Reduced Lunch (FRL) program in their district or providing documentation of their low-income status.
In Washington, institutions of higher education must offer fee waivers for low-income Running Start students. To be considered low-income and eligible for a fee waiver, students must provide proof that they meet the federal eligibility requirements for free or reduced-price school meals. This can include documentation such as a letter from the school district or verification from a high school counselor.
While Running Start has seen a significant increase in enrollment across the United States, statistics from 2016–2017 indicate that the program has been less effective in reaching low-income families compared to Advanced Placement classes. To address this, school districts in Washington are required to provide documentation of a student's low-income status to institutions of higher education, enabling these institutions to offer fee waivers and communicate their benefits to eligible students.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Running Start students are responsible for the cost of their books.
Yes, Running Start students can apply for the Fee Waiver and Book Loan Program. This program provides physical textbooks to students, however, it does not cover e-books, access codes, or other supplies.
To be eligible for the Fee Waiver and Book Loan Program, students must meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Be eligible for the Free or Reduced Lunch (FRL) program in the district enrolled through.
- Be a foster youth and provide a signed statement from a caseworker or high school counsellor.
- Submit a copy of their family's most recent tax filing.
- Submit other relevant documentation, such as a College Bound certificate, Medical ID card, TANF benefits, or a HUD Housing award letter.
The average cost of books and supplies for a full-time student is $100-300 per quarter.
Yes, Running Start students are also responsible for mandatory fees, supplies, and transportation costs. Additionally, if a student enrolls in more credits than approved, they will be charged tuition and fees for the excess credits.
