Running Start is a Washington State funded program for earning college and high school credit at the same time.
Steps to start Running start:
1) Apply to Clark or LCC
2) Fill out the Running Start Contract
3) Your assigned counselor will call you in to review the contract and your first Enrollment Verification Form (EVF). This meeting will not take place until you have completed the Running Start Contract.
During these meetings, students will fill out their Enrollment Verification Form, and counselors will review the form and sign it. Listed below are the dates and times for the meetings scheduled this year.
Important Information:
Running Start Contract - This has to be filled out before your initial EVF meeting.
High School Equivalencies - Please check carefully which classes you need to take to graduate. There may be additional classes that are needed for the individual student to graduate. This will be discussed with the counselor during the EVF meeting.
Running Start Planning Worksheet - This is filled out for a student who is a full-time Running Start student starting their junior year. This worksheet will be changed based on the needs of each student.
Running Start Counselor:
Please contact your grade assigned counselor for questions.
General Information
Running Start is a statewide program which allows high school juniors and seniors to take classes at local community colleges. The credits students earn through community colleges can count toward their high school diplomas while simultaneously giving them a “running start” on earning college credits. In addition community and technical colleges are authorized to issue high school diplomas for Running Start students who enroll in the college and complete an associate degree.
Because the tuition for Running Start is state-funded, costs to students are limited to textbooks and fees. Students are also responsible for providing transportation to the college.
To enter the program, either at Clark College or Lower Columbia College, a student must first demonstrate the ability to perform at the college entry level by taking a college placement test called Compass. These placement tests are offered at different times throughout the school year at both colleges for interested students. There is no charge for the initial testing at either school. Each of our local community colleges, Clark and Lower Columbia, has different guidelines for their particular Running Start Program. Please check their web sites or contact the Running Start Offices for specific information.
Lower Columbia College
Coordinator
Guadalupe (Lupe) Rodriguez
360.442.2444
grodriguez@lowercolumbia.edu
Clark College
Clark College Running Start information
Coordinator
Karmel Baldwin
360.992.2284
kbaldwin@clark.edu