Running Start Information for Parents
We understand your child's education is important. That is why we want to provide you with some helpful information on how to keep your student on track during their time at Clark.
High School vs College
Your Student will find that college is very different from high school. Running Start is a good fit for high school students who:
- Are ready for the challenge of college-level coursework and increased personal freedom.
- Are motivated to participate in the college environment and have the maturity to do so.
- Seek academic challenges not offered at their high school.
To learn more, download our “How is College Different From High School” guide sheet.
Accessing Your Child's Information
The most dramatic difference for parents is that access to information about your Running Start student is not as readily available as it was in high school. The college must abide by strict privacy rules which apply to all students, even minors in the Running Start program. We have provided more information about the privacy of student records on the link below.
To learn more, download the “Privacy Guidelines for Parents”
Setting Expectations for Your Child
You can help prepare your child for Running Start by helping set the following expectations:
- Students should check their student email on a regular basis for important announcements.
- Students are responsible for arranging their college class schedule, registering, and/or withdrawing from classes.
- Students are required to turn in an Enrollment Verification Form (EVF) each quarter, signed by their high school counselor and a parent. This is important because this is the form that pays the tuition.
- Students are expected to participate fully in all course activities, including labs and field trips. Clark’s spring quarter usually starts during the high school’s spring break, and students need to attend Clark classes.
- Running Start is not 100% free. Students pay for books, transportation, and some class fees.
- Students are responsible for meeting all high school graduation requirements, and should meet with their high school counselor each quarter to discuss this.
- Students should complete their high school requirements either fall or winter quarter of their senior year (in other words, before spring quarter!).
- Grades earned in Running Start should be taken seriously, as they will be recorded on the high school transcript and factored into the high school GPA, in addition to creating a permanent college record.
Student Success
Your student’s academic success is important to us. There are many resources at Clark College to help your student including a Tutoring Center, a Writing Center, Disability Support Services, Student Success Sessions, Health Services, and Counseling. A list of these free services is on the link below.
For more information, download the “Free Services to Support Student Success” guide
"Three words come up for me as I reminisce about my daughters experience in the Clark College running start program: Exposure-Confidence-Growth. My daughter was exposed to a variety of outstanding faculty members , a campus wide social support system, and effective learning opportunities. Her confidence in herself, her ability to extend beyond what she believed she could, and her perspectives about the future took her developmentally to new levels of growth! She assumed she would stop at a bachelors degree; however, she is now working on her second Master's degree and working in fashion management! As a parent I would not trade the contributions made by this program to my child's life for anything!"
- Debbie, parent of Running Start student