One of the best decisions of my life thus far has been partaking in the Running Start program. As someone who places heavy emphasis on academics and aspires to pursue a fulfilling college career and beyond, Running Start has allowed me to get a jump start on my career pathway of becoming a lawyer and it has saved me thousands of dollars in the process. Since I see law school in my future, any bit of tuition money that I can save is a game changer.
State lawmakers passed a concerning budget cutting $14 million from the state’s Running Start program. This would first cut the ability for students to take classes over the summer quarter and it would also limit the number of credits that students can take each quarter. These cuts will make it significantly harder for students to graduate with their associate degree at the same time as receiving their high school diploma.
These cuts were proposed as a method towards balancing the state’s budget. Education, though, should not be what takes the fall in an effort to balance the budget. Investing in education will always result in more significant returns for the state economy as a whole, considering that programs like Running Start encourage more students to pursue a college education and take higher-paying jobs.
State Superintendent Chris Reykdal previously said in February that “these budgets continue a disturbing trend of cutting the K–12 system to balance the state budget. Further, they make substantial cuts to higher education, starving students of future opportunities.”
Even though I am an outgoing Highline student and these cuts won’t affect me personally, I feel this budget cut immensely. I knew that I wanted to do Running Start from the moment I learned about the program in elementary school, and I created a college plan shortly after that depended on my first two years of college being at Highline. If I were entering the Running Start program this year, I would be very concerned that my carefully crafted plan might go awry.
I know I’m not alone in that sentiment. Many of my peers have relied on Running Start as an affordable way to earn a higher education.
The option of taking summer classes, in particular, was an important part of adjusting to a college routine for outgoing Running Start student, Victoria Kee. “Having the option to take a summer class allowed me to adjust to the harsh transition from high school to college in a low stress environment. I was able to make connections and explore campus early, meaning I felt more prepared during the fall than I would’ve otherwise” said Kee, when asked about the importance of taking classes during the summer quarter.
The benefits of Running Start are clear and the program, which has been robust and appreciated for years, shows students the power of a community college education, whether that be as a launching pad for further education, or that student’s college experience as a whole. Clearly, the Running Start program should be maintained and nurtured, not subjected to shrinkage and budget cuts.