This bill, known as the "Fast Track To and Through College Act," seeks to enhance college completion rates and decrease educational costs. It proposes to achieve these goals by accelerating the time it takes for students to earn a degree, better aligning secondary and postsecondary education systems, and streamlining the transfer of college credits. The legislation amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 by establishing a new subpart focused on accelerating time to degree. This subpart introduces a competitive grant program, administered by the Secretary of Education, for eligible state-level partnerships. These partnerships must include state educational agencies, public higher education systems, and local educational agencies, with a focus on high-need areas. Grants are awarded for a five-year period, with priority given to applications demonstrating experience in implementing relevant policies, prioritizing early college pathways in high-need areas, and developing multiple pathways including career and technical education. States applying for grants must demonstrate existing early high school graduation policies and uniform statewide criteria for postsecondary credit receipt based on advanced coursework examinations. A core requirement for grant recipients is the implementation of policies to align high school and higher education, including updating high school diploma requirements and developing statewide standards for postsecondary course placement. Crucially, states must establish formal, universal statewide articulation agreements among all public institutions of higher education to guarantee the transferability of credits earned through fast track pathways. The bill outlines two primary "fast track pathways": the Early College Fast Track Pathway , which allows high school students to earn significant college credit, and the Early High School Graduation Fast Track Pathway , which provides scholarships for students who graduate high school early. Eligible entities must ensure these pathways are offered at no cost to students and parents, covering tuition, fees, books, and supplies. Grant funds are to be used for activities such as expanding advanced coursework, creating online course systems, and establishing early college high schools. Significant emphasis is placed on programs and activities to improve student preparation and participation, particularly for historically underrepresented students , first-generation college students, and those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Outreach and communication efforts are mandated to build awareness among these groups and their parents. A key provision allows high school students participating in an early college fast track pathway to receive Federal Pell Grants for up to two semesters. These Pell Grants will not count towards the standard 12-semester eligibility limit, and their amount is capped at the cost of tuition, fees (excluding examination fees), books, and supplies. This aims to make early college opportunities more accessible and affordable. States receiving grants must submit annual reports detailing their progress in establishing alignment policies, the number of local educational agencies offering fast track pathways, and student participation and completion rates, disaggregated by various subgroups. The Secretary, in partnership with the Director of the Institute of Education Sciences, is required to contract for an independent evaluation of the program's impact on student outcomes, credit transfer, and postsecondary attainment and costs. Finally, the bill includes "supplement, not supplant" and "maintenance of effort" provisions to ensure that federal funds add to, rather than replace, existing state and local funding for advanced coursework. States must maintain or increase their average spending on advanced coursework to receive continued assistance, with provisions for waivers in exceptional circumstances.