Senator Hassan Reintroduces Bipartisan Bill to Reduce College Costs and Increase College Completion Rates

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Todd Young (R-IN) reintroduced the bipartisan Fast Track To and Through College Act, which would create a federal grant program to help states expand opportunities for high school students to begin earning college credits, including through Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and dual-enrollment courses. The program would also require public colleges and universities to accept the credits, making the transfer process more seamless, saving students money and time.

"In New Hampshire and across the country, many high school students are ready for college-level coursework that will help them develop the skills to be successful in the workforce and life," said Senator Hassan. "The bipartisan Fast Track To and Through College Act will allow more students to earn college credits while in high school, helping families save money, making college both more accessible and affordable. Young people in our country are looking for pathways to opportunity that won't saddle them with debt as they face a rapidly changing economy. I encourage my colleagues to join me in lowering college costs and increasing opportunities that help students thrive."

"Early college programs provide students with affordable opportunities to prepare for postsecondary education," said Senator Young. "Our bill would help create a pathway for more high school students to earn college credits, including providing access to advanced coursework, dual credits, and professional support."

The bipartisan Fast Track To and Through College Act would create a competitive grant program to help more high school students receive college credit toward their future college degree. The bill supports early college programs like the ones in New Hampshire by equipping states to:

• Enroll more students in early college programs to help them take as much as a full year of early college courses toward their postsecondary degree or credential

• Ensure that students receive credit for the classes that they take by requiring public colleges and universities to accept credit from early college programs

• Expand need-based financial aid access to the programs by allowing Pell Grants to cover dual-enrollment costs for low-income, Pell-eligible students in states receiving a fast-track grant

There are extensive dual-enrollment programs in place in New Hampshire, with more than 100 high schools in the state offering the Early College program in partnership with the Community College System of New Hampshire. These types of early college programs provide academically prepared high school students with the opportunity to receive college credit while they are still in high school and demonstrate the potential of this bill.

The bipartisan Fast Track To and Through College Act is supported by AASA, The School Superintendents Association, Advance CTE, All4Ed, Association for Career and Technical Education, Bard Early Colleges, Center for Higher Education Policy and Practice at SNHU, Complete College America, Education Reform Now, Empower Schools, Jobs for the Future, KnowledgeWorks, Linked Learning Alliance, Massachusetts Alliance for Early College, National Association of Secondary School Principals, National Urban League, New Hampshire Learning Initiative, Michigan Association for Computers in Learning, and Third Way.

Senator Hassan has led efforts in the Senate to expand access to workforce development programs. She has successfully worked to double funding for a program that supports rural students, including through college prep and career pathway programs, in rural communities. Earlier this year, Senator Hassan, along with the New Hampshire Congressional Delegation, announced federal funding for New Hampshire through the Northern Border Regional Commission, which included support for workforce development initiatives across the state. In 2022, Senator Hassan and her colleagues' bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act was passed into law, which authorized federal funding for New Hampshire and other states to expand workforce training programs in science, engineering, and manufacturing fields. Senator Hassan has also led her colleagues in introducing the bipartisanGateway to Careers Act, which would support career pathways strategies that combine work, education, and support services to help individuals earn recognized postsecondary credentials.

Click HERE to read the bill text.

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