Report Title:

Education; Running Start Program; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates $50,000 for each year of the fiscal biennium to the GEAR UP Hawaii scholarship fund for the scholarships to students in underrepresented populations in higher education for tuition at the University of Hawaii to participate in the running start college preparatory program and ensures credit for both high school and college degrees is granted for courses taken while in the program.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	767
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO THE RUNNING START PROGRAM FOR COLLEGE PREPARATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  Students and families of underrepresented populations in higher education are often discouraged by the perceived costs of college attendance.  Scholarships embedded in a program of college preparation and support can be an effective motivating factor for these students to pursue and attend college.

     Students often want to enroll in classes other than those on the currently approved department of education list.  They should be allowed and, in fact, encouraged to take university courses at the one-hundred level and above and have those classes qualify as credit toward high school graduation.  Running start, a joint program of the department of education and the University of Hawaii, created in section 302A-401, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is helpful in preparing students of underrepresented populations prepare for college entry.  Earning dual credit for both high school and college can provide motivation and preparation that enhance these students' opportunities to attend college.

     Experience with the running start program has shown that students in underrepresented populations may not be participating in the program because of financial difficulty.  It has also shown that there has been some confusion in obtaining dual credit for courses completed at the University of Hawaii.

     The purpose of this Act is to increase the financial support to families of underrepresented college student populations who participate in the running start program and ensure those students earn credit toward their high school and college degrees for the successful completion of University of Hawaii courses at the one-hundred level and above.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§302A‑   Running start credits. The department of education shall provide students participating in the running start program guidance to earn credit toward high school graduation for satisfactory completion of University of Hawaii courses at the one-hundred level and above in compliance with section 302A-401."

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $50,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009, to the GEAR UP Hawaii scholarship trust fund.

     SECTION 4.  There is appropriated out of the GEAR UP Hawaii scholarship trust fund the sum of $50,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009, to the department of education to grant scholarships to students who are members of underrepresented populations in higher education, as determined by the department of education, to participate in the running start program.

     SECTION 5.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval, provided that sections 3 and 4 shall take effect on July 1, 2007.

INTRODUCED BY:

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