S. 3359 — Fast Track To and Through College Act

This section establishes subpart 5, "Accelerating Time to Degree," in part A of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.)—which authorizes Pell Grants—by redesignating existing subparts 5, 6, and 7 as subparts 6, 7, and 8, respectively; states the subpart's purpose of increasing college completion rates and reducing costs through accelerating time to degree, aligning secondary and postsecondary education, and improving credit transfer; and defines key terms. Definitions include (1) advanced coursework (e.g., Advanced Placement, dual enrollment); (2) early college fast track pathway (i.e., high school sequence equivalent to at least two semesters of full-time postsecondary credit toward an associate or baccalaureate degree or career credential, part of statewide articulation agreements); (3) early college high school and dual or concurrent enrollment program (as defined in ESEA); (4) early high school graduation fast track pathway and policy (i.e., statewide policy for regular diploma in ≤3 years based on assessments, competency, and postsecondary supports); (5) eligible entity (i.e., partnership required to include state educational agency, all public 2-year/4-year higher education institutions or covering consortium, and ≥1 local educational agency including ≥1 high-need agency serving ≥10,000 low-income children; may include workforce development boards under WIOA §101); and (6) first-generation college student (i.e., neither parent completed a baccalaureate degree).