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Running Start Frequently Asked Questions
Running Start is a program approved by the Washington legislature which allows qualifying high school juniors and seniors to take classes at Clark College which fulfill high school graduation requirements plus earn college credit.
Running Start students attend regular Clark classes during the day or in the evening, along with “regular” college students. College credit is granted upon completion of the course requirements, and these credits normally transfer to most colleges and universities. Your enrollment at Clark College creates your official college transcript. College transcripts are considered confidential information and are released to no one – including parents -- without your permission. At the end of each quarter, your grades are mailed to your high school and included in your high school GPA. Credits also apply to high school graduation according to individual school district policy.
You can choose from a full range of academic and professional / technical courses as long as they are college-level (numbered 100 or higher) and you meet the qualifying criteria. Your high school counselor can tell you which courses at Clark are accepted by your high school to meet specific graduation requirements, such as CWP or CWI.
Running Start is not for everyone. It requires not only college-level skills, but also college-level maturity. Successful Running Start students are generally self-motivated, emotionally mature, and looking for additional academic challenges. They also have excellent study and time management skills.
There are advantages to all of the above programs. Much would depend on whether you want to challenge yourself at the high school environment or want a different learning environment, such as Clark College. You should contact the university to which you plan to transfer to ask about their acceptance policies in regards to each of the above.
If eligible, the tuition for college-level classes is covered by the school district. You pay for books, transportation, and any miscellaneous class fees. Limited textbook assistance is available for those with financial need.
Yes. If you do not have a car or a driver’s license, there is a special bus pass for students who are enrolled at Clark College. It’s called “backPass” and is available to all students, including Running Start. The backPass must be purchased before the end of the sixth week of the quarter. It costs $3 per quarter for a Clark Student ID card, plus $12 per quarter for the bus pass, then you can ride C-TRAN free anywhere in Clark County. This is a good option to avoid the parking problems at Clark.
Yes. You must enroll through the local public high school and must be considered a junior or senior. You do not have to attend classes in the public high school in order to participate in Running Start.
It is the responsibility of the public school district to establish grade placement criteria for homeschoolers who want to earn a high school diploma from a public high school. Some schools consider age appropriateness; others review credits and prior learning. In other cases, a standardized achievement test may be used in the absence of adequate documentation of a student’s home-based education.
Running Start is limited to juniors and seniors in high school. Home schooled and private schooled students must access the program through a public high school in Washington, thus must also live in the State of Washington. You must have college-level scores on BOTH the Writing and Reading parts of the test in order to qualify for all subjects except math. The College Algebra score is used to determine if you are eligible for college-level Math courses at Clark, and those science classes that specifically state a Math prerequisite. In other words, if you have BOTH college-level Writing and Reading skills, but not college-level Math, you could take any course numbered 100 or higher at Clark -- except Math. You would continue to take Math at your high school. If you qualify at college-level on all 3 parts of the test, you have the choice of taking all your subjects at Clark.
There is a deadline to test for each quarter. Once you qualify, you do not need to test again. The test is given three times a year. Mid-January through mid-March, there are specific dates on which you can test for fall quarter entry (classes starting in September). In October, you can test for winter entry (classes starting in January). In December, you can test for spring entry (classes starting in late March or April). Remember, once you qualify, you do not need to test again. Sign-up for the test on the Running Start by clicking on the Test Sign-up Information link. Print the test time confirmation and test instructions. Be sure to read these carefully, follow the instructions, and bring photo ID to the test.
To comply with federal laws, we are required to ask for your Social Security Number (SSN) or individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). We will use your SSN/ITIN to report Hope Scholarship/Life Time tax credit, to administer state/federal financial aid, to verify enrollment, degree and academic transcript records, and to conduct institutional research. If you do not submit your SSN/ITIN, you will not be denied access to the college; however, in accordance with state law (RCW 28B.10.042) and federal law (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act), the college will protect your SSN from unauthorized use and/or disclosure. If you do not have a Social Security Number or if you do not wish to divulge it for privacy reasons, a randomly assigned Student ID (SID) number will be mailed to you.
If you have college-level skills on the College Algebra section and NOT BOTH of the other two sections (Writing AND Reading), you can only take Math at Clark, and only those science courses which state a specific Math prerequisite (such as some Chemistry and Physics courses). If a course does not state a Math prerequisite, Running Start will not pay for it (e.g., P.E., History, etc.), unless you have both college-level scores in Writing AND Reading. You can re-test on Writing and/or Reading if you go to the Assessment Center in the Penguin Union Building and pay $10.00 per part of the test.
After your initial test you can retest at any time before the quarterly deadline using untimed, computerized, multiple-choice 'COMPASS' examinations on any or all of the three parts (Writing, Reading, or College Algebra). You do not need to wait to take your first retest. You can retest any time that the COMPASS testing lab is open; no appointment is needed. The cost is $10.00 per part. Go to the Assessment Center office in in the Penguin Union Building to initiate the retest process. You should allow at least one hour for each part of the test. Photo ID is required of all examinees at test time. After the first retest, you still have the right to retest again if you are not satisfied with your results, but you will need to wait three months before your next retest and pay an additional $10.00 for each part of the test. See the retesting information page for more details and the quarterly deadline to retest and apply.
Yes, see the sample test questions for each of the three parts of the test: Writing, Reading, and College Algebra.
Eligible students must attend a Running Start Orientation at Clark College. Then, you meet with your high school counselor to “forecast” for your Running Start classes. You must return the white copy of the forecast form, signed by the high school counselor, to the Running Start Office at Clark College before the published deadline. The forecast form is a request only, which is used for planning purposes. You are not officially registered until you complete the registration process. You may find that in some cases, you do not get your first choice of time, or you may find a class closed entirely. You can make substitutions on the day you register from whatever is open at that time, as long as you are eligible to take that class.
There is a deadline for every step of the Running Start process, including a deadline to take the test and apply. You can find the deadlines to sign-up for the next test or forecasting deadlines on the Running Start events page.
If you miss a deadline to test, you must wait until the next quarter's deadline to test. If you miss a deadline to return your forecast form to the Running Start Office at Clark, you will not have to register much later in the registration cycle, and many classes will be closed by then.
Eligible students can participate for a maximum of 6 quarters (Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters of the junior and senior years). In accordance with state rules, there is no Running Start in the Summer quarter. If you want to attend Summer Quarter, you must pay your own tuition.
Your high school counselor can answer this question when you meet with him/her to “forecast” for your Running Start classes. Different schools accept different courses from Clark to meet specific requirements, such as CWP/CWI or Senior English. It is critical that you work with your high school counselor to make sure that you are meeting your high school graduation requirements. You need to meet with your high school counselor every quarter that you are in Running Start to complete a “forecast form”. On this form, the high school counselor will indicate what specific graduation requirement each course meets, even if it is an elective.
The ratio is 5:l
Thus, a Running Start attending Clark College full-time (l5 credits) would earn 3 high school credits per quarter x 3 quarters = 9 high school credits in a school year.
Yes, you can take all of your classes at Clark, or some at Clark and some at your high school. The average credit load for Running Start students is 11 credits per quarter (approximately 3 classes). The maximum number of credits at Clark is 15 for the first quarter.
Yes, Running Start students can attend day or evening classes.
Yes, Running Start students can take college-level courses through eLearning. See the eLearning Self-Assessment link below to determine if online courses are a good fit for you. Successful distance learners need certain skills, most importantly, a high degree of discipline and motivation. http://www.clark.edu/eLearning/self_assess.php
There are advantages to do so in transferring to a 4-year university in Washington and some in the Portland area (universities which have “transfer agreements” with Clark). At some universities in Washington, it may be difficult to transfer with an assortment of credits if you do not complete an A.A. Degree. This is a good question to ask the university to which you plan to transfer.
Yes, it is possible to graduate from high school with an Associate Degree at the same time. Typically about 60 Running Start students graduate from Clark every year with an A.A. Degree at the same time they graduate from high school. This takes careful planning, so be sure to ask the Clark College Running Start Manager to help you plan your courses toward an A.A. degree.
Yes. Some universities will require either SAT or ACT scores, even if you earn an Associate Degree from a community college.
Yes. You may participate in any activities on the college campus, except intercollegiate sports. You may also participate in any high school activities, but may not compete in the same activity at both the high school and college level. Example: a debate student may not compete in both high school and college debate teams. You must choose one level for competition.
You will need to complete a “Transcript Request Form” at the Clark College Registration Office to ask Clark to mail your official transcript to the university where you are applying. You will also need to ask your high school to mail your official high school transcript. |
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