Fast Track To and Through College Act

High school students could graduate faster and start college with up to a full year of credits already earned — at no cost to them or their families. The Fast Track To and Through College Act creates two new pathways: an "early college fast track" that lets students take college-level courses like AP, IB, or dual enrollment during high school and guarantees those credits transfer to any public college in their state, and an "early graduation" option that awards scholarships to students who finish high school in three years and enroll in a public college. Federal Pell Grants would be extended to high school students in these programs for up to two semesters without counting against their lifetime Pell eligibility. States would compete for five-year federal grants to build out these programs, with priority going to those serving low-income students, first-generation college students, students of color, and rural communities. At least half of each grant must be spent supporting historically underrepresented students. The bill also requires every state that participates to create universal credit-transfer agreements across all its public colleges, so students don't lose credits when they transfer.