Today marks the opposite house cutoff deadline, when bills from the opposing chamber need to be approved to continue in the legislative process. Also this week, Monday marked the last fiscal committee cutoff deadline, when bills with a financial impact coming from the other chamber needed to be voted out of those committees to continue.

State Board representatives testify against Running Start cuts in House fiscal committee

Mar. 5 — The House Appropriations Committee at its hearing Thursday heard testimony on Sen. Wellman’s SB 6260, which includes a reduction to Running Start from 1.4 to 1.2 full-time equivalency (FTE).

Jamie Traugott, director of student services and K12 alignment at the State Board, testified in opposition to the bill.

“We’ve been here before,” she told committee members. “In 2011, during the state revenue shortfall, the legislature reduced the funding cap for Running Start from 2.0 to 1.2. Students had to make hard choices, losing the opportunity to complete workforce programs or delay entrance into STEM pathways. Thanks to Chair Paul’s leadership in 2023, we passed the 1.4 [enrollment cap]. Enrollment has surged with 40% increase. Summer participation is over 400%. Students of color by 500% increase in the summer. Forty-one percent of our low-income students now enroll in summer quarter.”

Ruffaro Guzha, student legislative intern at the State Board, also testified against the bill.

“Running start works because it trusts students to challenge themselves at a pace that fits their academic readiness,” she said. “This bill ultimately takes that autonomy away and ultimately harms the most marginalized students who use the program. As someone whose life was changed by Running Start, I ask you to consider the real impacts this bill will have.”

Lori Christmas, director of educational partnerships, K-12 outreach and recruitment at Grays Harbor College, also testified against the bill.

“At Gray’s Harbor, Running Start isn’t just a program, it’s a lifeline for students living in Gray’s Harbor and Pacific counties,” she said. “Ninety-three percent of our students qualify for free or reduced lunch, and the majority are first in their families to attend college.”

The bill is scheduled for executive session on Monday, March 9.

Trustees, State Board appointments confirmed by Senate

The Senate confirmed six trustees to the boards of their colleges and one State Board member this week:

Coming up next week

Session wraps up Thursday, and members of the House and Senate will spend the remaining days of the session working out any differences between bills that were amended after they left their originating chamber, including the final operating and capital budgets.