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Parents of Running Start Students

Running Start is an exciting and challenging opportunity for students, and we hope your student will have a great experience at YVC. We believe that your support and guidance can greatly improve your student’s success during Running Start.

Padres de estudiantes de Running Start

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Access to Student Records

The most dramatic difference for parents is that access to information about your Running Start student is not as readily available as it is in high school.  The college must abide by strict privacy rules which apply to all students, even minors in the Running Start program.  Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), instructors can only communicate with the student about the student’s course work or grades. 

The student is responsible for all communication with instructors regarding course work, grades, and appeals or complaints.

We encourage you to have consistent and quality communication with your student about homework, grades, and their progress. We encourage students to keep parents informed of their progress as well.

Parents can and should reach out to Running Start staff with questions and concerns. We will do our best to help you navigate and answer your questions. We do not have access to attendance records or to grades during the quarter.

FERPA Policy Details and FERPA Release Form

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Expected Costs

Running Start is not 100% free. Students are responsible for required textbooks and materials, transportation, and class fees.

Families should look at the Running Start Fee Waiver to check for eligibility and apply for the waiver. If eligible, this waiver will waive class fees for a student. Students with the waiver must still pay for textbooks and transportation.

There are tuition due dates each quarter and if fees are not paid, students may be dropped from their classes.

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Tips for Parents and Families

You can help prepare your child for Running Start by helping set the following expectations.

• Students should check their email on a regular basis for important announcements. Running Start students have more independent responsibility for keeping track of important announcements and events at both the high school and college.
• Students are responsible for meeting all high school graduation requirements and should meet with their high school counselor each term to discuss progress. Student have the final say in their college class schedule and have control over adding and dropping classes.
• All instructors provide a syllabus to each student during the first week of the quarter. The syllabus outlines expectations for the class, and often includes due dates for assignments, test dates, etc. The syllabus is a great way to start a conversation about how a class is going, or to understand the amount and type of work your student must successfully complete.
• If your student is having difficulty in understanding the course material, explore the many Academic Support Programs available to help your student succeed.
• Students are expected to participate fully in all course activities, including labs and field trips. YVC’s spring break rarely matches with the high schools’ and students are expected to attend their YVC courses.
• Courses may also contain R-rated or mature content. Alternate assignments or materials will not be provided.
• Help your students understand the college calendar by using the Important Dates each quarter. Refer to them often for deadlines related to dropping a class, paying fees, and refunds.
• Help your student block out time for study and homework every day.
• Grades earned in Running Start should be taken seriously. They are recorded on the high school transcript and factored into the high school GPA, in addition to creating a permanent college record.