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Tuesday, Mar 10, 2026
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Proposed Washington Budget Changes Could Raise Costs for Students in Running Start College Program
Lower enrollment caps under a new state budget proposal may reduce free college credits for high school students and shift thousands of dollars in tuition costs to families.
Proposed changes to Washington state’s budget could significantly alter the Running Start program, a widely used dual-enrollment pathway that allows high school students to earn college credit while completing their secondary education.
Under the proposal being debated in Olympia, lawmakers would lower the maximum amount of combined high school and college coursework that Running Start students can take each year.
The policy would reduce the cap from one point four full-time equivalent enrollment to one point two beginning in the 2026–2027 school year, effectively limiting the number of college credits students can complete through the state-funded program.
Running Start allows juniors and seniors in Washington’s public schools to attend classes at community and technical colleges while still enrolled in high school, earning both high school and college credit.
The program has long been promoted as a cost-saving route to higher education, enabling students to complete substantial portions of a degree before graduating from high school.
Advocates say that limiting enrollment would reduce the amount of tuition covered by the state and could force some students to pay out of pocket for additional credits if they want to maintain their academic plans.
For students pursuing demanding programs or attempting to complete an associate degree before finishing high school, the shift could translate into thousands of dollars in added tuition costs.
The proposed cap is part of broader budget negotiations as Washington state works to close a projected multi-billion-dollar shortfall.
Policymakers are reviewing a range of spending reductions affecting education and other programs in order to balance the state’s finances.
Supporters of the Running Start program warn that tightening the enrollment limit could slow students’ progress toward degrees and reduce access to early college opportunities, particularly for families who cannot afford additional tuition.
Rural school districts may feel the impact most strongly, as Running Start often provides access to advanced courses that smaller high schools cannot offer.
Data from Washington education agencies show that participation in Running Start has grown in recent years, with tens of thousands of students enrolling annually.
Recent policy changes had expanded the program to allow more flexible enrollment and summer participation, contributing to increased course-taking and faster completion of college credits.
Education groups and school leaders have urged lawmakers to reconsider reductions that could restrict access to the program, arguing that dual-credit opportunities are an important pathway for college readiness and cost savings.
Budget negotiations in the state legislature are continuing, and the final scope of the proposed changes to Running Start will depend on the outcome of discussions between lawmakers and the governor’s office.
Under the proposal being debated in Olympia, lawmakers would lower the maximum amount of combined high school and college coursework that Running Start students can take each year.
The policy would reduce the cap from one point four full-time equivalent enrollment to one point two beginning in the 2026–2027 school year, effectively limiting the number of college credits students can complete through the state-funded program.
Running Start allows juniors and seniors in Washington’s public schools to attend classes at community and technical colleges while still enrolled in high school, earning both high school and college credit.
The program has long been promoted as a cost-saving route to higher education, enabling students to complete substantial portions of a degree before graduating from high school.
Advocates say that limiting enrollment would reduce the amount of tuition covered by the state and could force some students to pay out of pocket for additional credits if they want to maintain their academic plans.
For students pursuing demanding programs or attempting to complete an associate degree before finishing high school, the shift could translate into thousands of dollars in added tuition costs.
The proposed cap is part of broader budget negotiations as Washington state works to close a projected multi-billion-dollar shortfall.
Policymakers are reviewing a range of spending reductions affecting education and other programs in order to balance the state’s finances.
Supporters of the Running Start program warn that tightening the enrollment limit could slow students’ progress toward degrees and reduce access to early college opportunities, particularly for families who cannot afford additional tuition.
Rural school districts may feel the impact most strongly, as Running Start often provides access to advanced courses that smaller high schools cannot offer.
Data from Washington education agencies show that participation in Running Start has grown in recent years, with tens of thousands of students enrolling annually.
Recent policy changes had expanded the program to allow more flexible enrollment and summer participation, contributing to increased course-taking and faster completion of college credits.
Education groups and school leaders have urged lawmakers to reconsider reductions that could restrict access to the program, arguing that dual-credit opportunities are an important pathway for college readiness and cost savings.
Budget negotiations in the state legislature are continuing, and the final scope of the proposed changes to Running Start will depend on the outcome of discussions between lawmakers and the governor’s office.
