HB 1273 — Improving student access to dual credit programs.

H-1427.1H-0340.2 SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1273 State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session By House Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Paul, Eslick, Salahuddin, Bergquist, Reed, Nance, Timmons, Pollet, Fey, and Simmons)Simmons READRead FIRSTfirst TIMEtime 02/21/25.01/14/25.

Referred to Committee on Postsecondary Education & Workforce.

addingamending newRCW sections28B.50.531; to chapter 28B.50 RCW;

creatingadding a new sections;section to chapter 28A.310 RCW;

andadding providinga expirationnew dates.section to chapter 28A.150 RCW;

adding a new section to chapter 28A.245 RCW;

adding a new section to chapter 28A.300 RCW;

adding a new section to chapter 28B.10 RCW;

and creating new sections.

However, it lags behind other course-based dual credit programs in ensuring that students receive a transcripted credit while in high school, and that the creditp. they earn will transfer to the postsecondary institution of their choice.

(3)1 Therefore,HB the1273 legislaturecredit intendsthey toearn extendwill andtransfer expandto a pilot program for the purposepostsecondary institution of increasingtheir CTEchoice. dual credit p.

1(3) SHBTherefore, 1273the participationlegislature andintends credentialto attainmentstreamline inregional professionalefforts technicalthat programs,support planstudents' fordual credit access and attainment by increasing the improvementcollaboration orbetween replacementstate and local partners, study the feasibility of improving the statewidestate's enrollmentdual credit administrative data management system, create and reportingencourage systemthe use of statewide articulation agreements for CTE dual credit,credit courses, and receive recommendations on future amendments to state dual credit policies.

A new section is added to chapter 28B.5028A.310 RCW to read as follows:

(1) SubjectEach toeducational theservice availabilitydistrict ofshall amountscollaborate appropriatedwith for this specific purpose, the collegefollowing boardentities shall administer, and award grant funding to, up to threestreamline regional pilotefforts programs,that forsupport thestudents' purpose of increasing career and technical education dual credit participationaccess and credentialattainment: attainment in professional technical programs.

(2)(a)The Oneoffice pilotof programthe mustsuperintendent beof apublic continuationinstruction, the state board for community and technical colleges, regional participating institutions of thehigher piloteducation, programregional skill centers established inunder sectionchapter 601(47)(a),28A.245 RCW, regional registered apprenticeship programs approved under chapter 376,49.04 LawsRCW, oflocal 2024.public high schools, and each school district operating within the educational service district.

This(2) pilotSubject programto maythe receiveavailability grantof fundingamounts appropriated for upthis tospecific twopurpose, years.the regional efforts required by subsection (1) of this section must include the following activities:

(b)(a) TheDeveloping, collegeand board,updating inannually, collaborationa withcomprehensive thecatalog office of thedual superintendentcredit ofcourses publicand instruction,programs mustoffered selectto participantsstudents forenrolled thein othereach twolocal pilotpublic programshigh basedschool; on educational service district regions.

The(b) pilotAligning programscareer mustand betechnical geographicallyeducation dispersed,dual withcredit atprograms leastavailable onewithin inthe an educational service district with ruralregional communitiespostsecondary thatcredential lackpathways convenientand studentapprenticeships accessleading to skillin- centersdemand orcareer otherfields; workforce development facilities or programs.

These(c) pilotProviding programstechnical mayassistance receiveto grantpublic fundinghigh forschools upand institutions of higher education to fourimprove years.the accuracy and speed of awarding and transcripting dual credits;

(3)(d) CommunityProviding andprofessional technicaldevelopment colleges,for staff of the public high schools,schools and skillthe centersinstitutions participatingof inhigher aeducation pilot program may use grant funding to coverdevelop, expensesalign, forand thearticulate followingdual activities:credit courses;

(a) Developing, and updating annually, a comprehensive catalog of dual credit courses and programs offered to students enrolled in public high schools;

(b) Aligning career and technical education dual credit programs with postsecondary credential pathways and apprenticeships leading to in-demand career fields;

(c) Providing technical assistance to public high schools and institutions of higher education to improve the accuracy and speed of awarding dual credits and updating transcripts;

(d) Providing professional development for staff of public high schools and institutions of higher education to develop, align, and articulate dual credit courses;

2 SHBHB 1273 (i) Outreach to prospective students and students who have completed career and technical education dual credit courses and are eligible for postsecondary credit about how to receive and where to apply the credit;

(ii) Providing technical assistance to public high school staff in course curriculum alignment for career and technical education dual credit courses;

(iii) PartneringProviding withtechnical assistance to staff of the public high schools and the institutions of higher education toin developthe development of articulation agreements for career and technical education dual credit courses;

(4)(3) For the purposes of this section,section: the following definitions apply:

(a) "Public"Institution highof school"higher meanseducation" ahas publicthe schoolsame meaning as defined in RCW 28A.150.01028A.600.287. with any of grades nine through 12;

and (b) "Skill"Public centers"high refersschool" tomeans thea regionalpublic careerschool andas technicaldefined educationin partnershipsRCW established28A.150.010 underwith chapterany 28A.245of RCW.grades nine through 12.

(5) This section expires July 1, 2030.

(2) The stateplan boardmust forinclude communityan andestimated technicaltimeline collegesand shallcost hireestimates, aincluding consultant to conduct a comprehensive, written assessment of technology solutions with the goalcost of enhancingtechnical secondaryassistance and postsecondarytraining, careertechnology updates, and technicalongoing educationmaintenance dualrequirements, creditthat systemsmay tobe ensureneeded seamlessto, integrationamong andother accessibilitythings: for users.

(3)(a) TheImprove objectivescross-system compatibility with the community and scopetechnical college administrative system, as well as the comprehensive education data and research system of the assessmentoffice areof asthe follows:superintendent of public instruction;

(a)(b) EvaluateCreate currenttracking technologyof, used by state agencies involved in dual credit programs to identify strengths, weaknesses, and gapsalerts infor, thearticulation systems;agreement updates;

(b)(c) GatherCreate inputsearchable fromfields allfor interestedcourse parties,titles; including students, educators, administrators, and policymakers, then document and prioritize the needs and requirements of each group;

(c)(d) ReviewImprove andstudent evaluateaccount existingverification; technology solutions available on the open market, then compare features, costs, and implementation requirements of each solution;

and (e) Add data validation features.

(2) In developing the plan, the state board for community and technical colleges shall:

3 SHBHB 1273 (d)(a) DevelopReview aits comprehensiveJune strategy2022, forWashington implementingcareer theand chosentechnical technologyeducation solutions,dual includingcredit afinal detailedreport, timelineincluding outliningthe keyinterim milestonesreport and deliverables;appendices;

and(b) (e)Conduct Estimatea thecost-benefit totalanalysis costof moving to implementa thesingle, chosenstatewide technologysystem solutionsfor administering either all dual credit programs or only the career and identifytechnical potentialeducation fundingdual sources.credit program;