Do you have questions about Running Start? Are you considering it as an option for your homeschooler with Junior or Senior standing*? Below are helpful links and resources to aid you in the decision making process.
The first thing you need to understand about Running Start is, it is public education, at the collegiate level. Even if your child is under 16 (and some homeschoolers have attended college very early), your child will be treated as a college student, exposed to very mature content, and challenged in their faith. It is an environment where parental intervention is greatly frowned upon and can actually have negative consequences for your child.
Running Start is an incredible opportunity to earn college credits and even complete an Associates degree with limited cost. The opportunity is not without it's challenges, however. You need to decide what you and your highschooler are comfortable with.
It is also important to remember that Running Start is not a metric of success. If your teenager is not interested, that is totally fine!! You are not a bad parent if your children don't do Running Start. It is a fantastic opportunity, but it may not be right for every high school junior or senior.
That being said, hopefully the information below will help you decide what you want to do and give you the tools to get started. And if you have any questions, please reach out. We'd love to listen and be a sounding board as you process information.
*Your highschooler does not need to be a certain age to qualify for Running Start, they simply need to have reached Junior or Senior standing, which, in essence, means they are academically and intellectually capable of completing work at an advanced level. Some people have started college successfully as early as 14 or 15. Conversely, if your child is more of a late bloomer (Einstein and Edison are great examples), they can still qualify for Running Start until they are 19.
Running Start is an incredible opportunity to earn college credits and even complete an Associates degree with limited cost. The opportunity is not without it's challenges, however. You need to decide what you and your highschooler are comfortable with.
It is also important to remember that Running Start is not a metric of success. If your teenager is not interested, that is totally fine!! You are not a bad parent if your children don't do Running Start. It is a fantastic opportunity, but it may not be right for every high school junior or senior.
That being said, hopefully the information below will help you decide what you want to do and give you the tools to get started. And if you have any questions, please reach out. We'd love to listen and be a sounding board as you process information.
*Your highschooler does not need to be a certain age to qualify for Running Start, they simply need to have reached Junior or Senior standing, which, in essence, means they are academically and intellectually capable of completing work at an advanced level. Some people have started college successfully as early as 14 or 15. Conversely, if your child is more of a late bloomer (Einstein and Edison are great examples), they can still qualify for Running Start until they are 19.
Helpful Links
Washington Homeschool Organization (WHO) has a fantastic resource page on Running Start. You can find a great deal of information here.
Many people choose to utilize the Running Start options available through the Community Colleges of Spokane. You can get more information about their programs here.
Eastern Washington University also offers Running Start. You can get more information about their program here.
Finally, this link will take you to a frequently-asked-questions document that addresses many of the common questions people have about Running Start.
Many people choose to utilize the Running Start options available through the Community Colleges of Spokane. You can get more information about their programs here.
Eastern Washington University also offers Running Start. You can get more information about their program here.
Finally, this link will take you to a frequently-asked-questions document that addresses many of the common questions people have about Running Start.