Bill > HB1565

This bill continues and expands the Washington Dual Enrollment Scholarship program, which helps low-income high school students participate in the Running Start program by providing financial assistance for educational expenses. The legislature recognizes the benefits of dual enrollment programs, noting that students who participate complete college degrees faster and with fewer credits compared to the statewide average. The bill transforms the previous pilot program into a permanent scholarship program available to all Running Start students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, food benefits, college bound scholarship, or Washington college grant. The scholarship will now cover mandatory fees, course and laboratory fees, provide a voucher for required course books and materials, and potentially offer a basic needs stipend for food and transportation, depending on available funding. The Washington Student Achievement Council will be responsible for establishing and administering the program, adopting rules, developing guidance for participating institutions, and reporting annually to the legislature about scholarship usage. The bill appropriates $750,000 for each of the fiscal years ending June 30, 2026, and June 30, 2027, to support the program, and extends the program's termination date from 2025 to 2032, with a full repeal of related statutes effective July 1, 2033.

Budget and Finance, Education

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1565&Year=2025&Initiative=false