District reports rapid growth in dual-credit options; Running Start summer funding may see state cut

Bonnie, the district presenter on March 2, told the Yakima School District board that dual-credit participation has expanded substantially in recent years and described multiple pathways for students to earn college credit while in high school. "More than half of our Yakima School District students are earning college credit while in high school," Bonnie said.

She presented participation figures the district is tracking: a 4-year graduation rate of 83.4 percent for the 2425 school year and, notably, that 51 percent of high school students completed at least one dual-credit course during 2425. Bonnie credited district high school administrators and partners for expanding access through Running Start, CTE dual credit, college-in-high-school offerings and IB/AP options.

Bonnie said Running Start participation has grown and that the district currently partners with Yakima Valley College (YVC), Central Washington University (CWU) and Eastern Washington University (EWU); additionally, articulation agreements support CTE dual-credit courses taught by credentialed district instructors. She described an Arizona State University AA-in-high-school partnership launched in 2022 that enabled 51 students (13 from Davis, 38 from Eisenhower) to be on track to complete both Yakima graduation requirements and an ASU associate's degree; she said the ASU cohort will be the final year of that specific partnership.

Board members asked for more granular data: which courses students complete toward AA requirements, how many students earn the full IB diploma, and an updated estimate of the district's cumulative tuition savings for families (a previously cited figure of about $3.5 million). Bonnie said the district can provide rosters from Skyward and college A-19 verifications for completed college credits, and she agreed to supply updated dollar-savings calculations.

On funding, Bonnie cautioned the board that current legislative proposals could change Running Start funding: "...the 0.2 cut from Running Start from a 1.4 to 1.2, what we call a super FTE ... that's taking out the summer opportunities for kids to take the classes," she said, adding that the district's understanding is the change would primarily affect summer funding. She also said the college-in-high-school option is covered through legislative funds at this time and that a Gates grant supports some CWU initiatives.

Board members discussed transferability and alignment concerns — for example, how many high-school-earned credits transfer into an AA program at a community college — and urged improved communication with families so students can carry clear credit-transfer documentation to postsecondary institutions.

The presentation concluded with a request from the board for updated and downloadable materials for families explaining which credits count toward specific associate-degree pathways and how the district verifies completed college coursework.

No formal action was taken; presenters agreed to provide requested data.