Sens. Hagan & Coons introduce bill to give students a head start at a college degree

From a press release:

Fast Track to College Act supports state and local efforts to establish early college high schools and other dual or concurrent enrollment programs

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Kay Hagan (NC) and Chris Coons (DE) introduced legislation to help more low-income students access and complete a college education. The Fast Track to College Act supports state and local efforts to implement early college high schools and other dual or concurrent enrollment programs that enable students to start earning college credits while in high school – free of cost.

“As the cost of college continues to rise, we need creative, commonsense solutions to ensure that college stays within reach for every student who wants to pursue it,” Senator Hagan said. “The bill Senator Coons and I introduced today will help students get a jumpstart on a college degree, saving them time and money once they walk onto campus and better preparing them to succeed in college coursework. College shouldn’t be a pipedream, and I will continue working to make college more affordable and accessible for students in North Carolina and around the country.”

“A college education is a critical piece of the American Dream,” Senator Coons said. “For too many students, high tuition costs put a college education – and the lifetime of opportunities it creates – out of reach. The Fast Track to College Act offers an innovative solution by supporting and expanding programs that allow students to earn college credit – and even an Associate’s degree – for free. If we want to see more of our students earning college degrees, we have to invest in programs that make college more affordable and accessible. The Fast Track to College Act will help make the dream of college a reality for more Americans, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to make it law.”

The Fast Track to College Act would authorize a competitive grant program to establish and support early college high schools and other dual and concurrent enrollment programs serving low-income students.

Research has shown that early college high school students are significantly more likely to graduate from high school, enroll in college, and earn a college degree than other students. Among early college students, 90% are awarded a high school diploma, and 30% earn an Associate’s degree or other credential simultaneously with that diploma.

Specifically, the legislation would:

·      Authorize six-year grants to partnerships of school districts and institutions of higher education to support new or existing early college high schools or other dual and concurrent enrollment programs which allow students to earn a high school diploma and one to two years of college credit, including an associate’s degree – tuition-free.

·      Authorize five-year grants to states to provide planning, technical assistance, community outreach, data collection and evaluation, and other support services to early college high schools and other dual and concurrent enrollment programs.

·      Ensure students are equipped with skills needed to succeed in a 21st century economy by encouraging cooperation between schools, colleges and universities, nonprofits, industry, and labor.

·      Evaluate student outcomes by requiring the Secretary of Education to conduct an independent evaluation of the program.

Hagan, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, has made it a priority to ensure that college remains affordable for North Carolina students. Most recently, she cosponsored legislation to allow eligible student loan borrowers to refinance their loans at today’s low interest rates. Last year, Hagan introduced legislation and worked across the aisle to pass a compromise bill that prevented student loan rates from doubling for new borrowers.