Senators Hassan and Young Introduce 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 grant program aimed at helping more students earn college credits while still in high school; apply Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and dual-enrollment credits to their college degrees; and receive credit for introductory college courses taken during high school.

“Many high school students in New Hampshire and across the country are ready for college-level coursework, and it is important that they have opportunities to continue developing skills that will help them succeed in school and eventually in the workforce,” said Senator Hassan. “The bipartisan Fast Track To and Through College Act will allow more high school students to pursue advanced coursework, which in turn will allow them to earn college credits and potentially save money by decreasing their college tuition costs. I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in ensuring that our students have the opportunities that they need to 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 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:

• Allowing students enrolled in early college programs to take as much as a full year of early college courses toward their postsecondary degree or credential
• Ensuring that students receive credit for the classes that they take by requiring public colleges and universities to accept credit from early college programs
• Expanding 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

New Hampshire has extensive dual-enrollment programs in place, 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 the opportunity to receive college credit while they are still in high school.

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. Senator Hassan 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, along with the rest of the New Hampshire delegation, Senator Hassan announced federal funding to support projects across New Hampshire, including workforce development initiatives. In 2022, President Biden signed into law Senator Hassan and colleagues’ bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, 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 reintroducing the bipartisan Gateway to Careers Act, which would support career pathways strategies that combine work, education, and support services to help individuals earn recognized postsecondary credentials.

Read a one-pager on Senator Hassan and Young’s bill here.

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