‘‘(v) representatives of Indian Tribes 
located in the State; 
‘‘(vi) charter school leaders (if the 
State has charter schools); 
‘‘(vii) civil rights organizations in the 
State; 
‘‘(viii) business leaders or their rep-
resentatives in the State; 
‘‘(ix) teachers, principals, and other 
school leaders; and 
‘‘(x) parents and students. 
‘‘(H) Assurances that the eligible entity 
will— 
‘‘(i) allow students who choose to par-
ticipate in an early college fast track path-
way the opportunity to do so at no cost to 
students and parents, including that such 
students and their parents shall not be re-
quired to pay the cost of related tuition, 
fees (including examination fees), books, 
and supplies necessary to successfully com-
plete the early college fast track pathway; 
‘‘(ii) comply with the supplement, not 
supplant and maintenance of effort re-
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quirements described in sections 416G and 
416H; and 
‘‘(iii) use not less than half of the 
grant funds for purposes described under 
subsections (a)(2) and (b) of section 416D 
to support subgroups of students, students 
who would be first-generation college stu-
dents, and, as applicable, other historically 
underrepresented students. 
‘‘(g) REPORTING.—Each eligible entity receiving a 
grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary a 
report on an annual basis that includes, for each State 
within the eligible entity— 
‘‘(1) information on the progress of the eligible 
entity in establishing the policies and completing the 
required activities as specified in subparagraphs (C) 
and (D) of subsection (f)(2) to align high school 
education with postsecondary education; 
‘‘(2) the number and percentage of local edu-
cational agencies and schools in the State offering 
an early high school graduation fast track pathway 
and each early college fast track pathway consistent 
with its timelines and plans as specified in clauses 
(i) and (ii) of subsection (f)(2)(F), progress against 
the goals established by the eligible entity for demo-
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graphically diverse student participation in fast 
track pathways specified in subsection (f)(2)(F)(iii), 
and evidence demonstrating how the eligible entity 
certified each such pathway meets all requirements 
of this subpart; 
‘‘(3) the number and percentage of students in 
the State, including for each subgroup of students, 
who— 
‘‘(A) are eligible to participate in an early 
college fast track pathway; 
‘‘(B) participate in an early college fast 
track pathway; and 
‘‘(C) successfully complete an early college 
fast track pathway; 
‘‘(4) the number and percentage of students in 
the State, including for each subgroup of students, 
who— 
‘‘(A) are eligible to participate in an early 
high school graduation fast track pathway; and 
‘‘(B) participate in an early high school 
graduation fast track pathway; 
‘‘(5) the average scholarship award amount for 
students, including for each subgroup of students, in 
the State who participate in an early high school 
graduation fast track pathway; and 
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‘‘(6) any additional information as the Sec-
retary may reasonably require to ensure compliance 
with the requirements of this subpart and to effec-
tively evaluate, monitor, and improve grant imple-
mentation. 
‘‘SEC. 416D. USE OF FUNDS. 
‘‘(a) REQUIRED ACTIVITIES.—Each eligible entity 
that receives a grant under section 416C(b) for a fiscal 
year shall— 
‘‘(1) use funds for activities to implement the 
alignment 
requirements 
pursuant 
to 
section 
416C(f)(2)(D) for a period of time not to exceed the 
first 2 fiscal years for which the grant is provided; 
and 
‘‘(2) use funds to support statewide implemen-
tation of early college fast track pathways and early 
high school graduation fast track pathways con-
sistent with the timeline, plan, and goals specified in 
section 416C(f)(2)(F), including— 
‘‘(A) expanding advanced coursework to in-
crease the availability of early college fast track 
pathways, which may include— 
‘‘(i) tuition, fees (including examina-
tion fees associated with Advanced Place-
ment, International Baccalaureate, and 
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similar examinations), books, and supplies 
for eligible students; 
‘‘(ii) creating or expanding statewide 
systems to provide each of the advanced 
courses in the early college fast track path-
ways online; and 
‘‘(iii) establishing or expanding early 
college high schools; 
‘‘(B) programs and activities to improve 
student preparation for, and participation in, 
an early college fast track pathway or early 
high school graduation fast track pathway, es-
pecially among subgroups of students, students 
who would be first-generation college students, 
and, as applicable, other historically underrep-
resented students, which may include— 
‘‘(i) use of data from evidence-based 
early assessment programs or evidence- 
based early warning indicator systems; 
‘‘(ii) enhanced advising or counseling 
activities, such as providing course-taking 
and financial aid guidance as early as the 
middle grades; and 
‘‘(iii) other evidence-based services as 
described by the eligible entity; and 
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‘‘(C) outreach and communications with 
students and parents, particularly historically 
underrepresented students, to build awareness 
of early college fast track pathways and early 
high school graduation fast track pathways. 
‘‘(b) ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES.—To support effective 
statewide implementation of fast track pathways con-
sistent with the timeline, plan, and goals specified in sec-
tion 416C(f)(2)(F), each eligible entity that receives a 
grant under section 416C(b) for a fiscal year may use 
funds to— 
‘‘(1) offer students who graduate high school 
early scholarships and support for matriculating to 
postsecondary education as part of an early high 
school graduation fast track pathway; 
‘‘(2) provide training, professional development, 
or recruitment for faculty who teach courses that 
are included in an early college fast track pathway; 
‘‘(3) provide students with transportation to 
and from advanced courses in an early college fast 
track pathway; 
‘‘(4) convene secondary and postsecondary edu-
cation and workforce leaders in the State and other 
stakeholders to coordinate and monitor grant imple-
mentation; and 
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‘‘(5) provide incentives for local educational 
agencies and institutions of higher education to en-
courage student participation in early college fast 
track pathways and early high school graduation 
fast track pathways. 
‘‘SEC. 416E. FEDERAL PELL GRANT AWARDS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding the require-
ment under subsections (a)(1) and (d) of section 484 that 
a student not be enrolled in an elementary school or sec-
ondary school to be eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant 
under subpart 1, for the award years beginning on July 
1, 2026, the Secretary shall, in each State within an eligi-
ble entity awarded a grant under this subpart, award high 
school students who meet the eligibility requirements de-
scribed in section 416C(f)(2)(E) and participate in an 
early college fast track pathway, a Federal Pell Grant 
based on the determination of the student aid index for 
such student. 
‘‘(b) TWO SEMESTER CAP WAIVER.—For a period 
not to exceed 2 semesters (or the equivalent of 2 semesters 
for students who are not enrolled full time, consistent with 
regulations promulgated by the Secretary described under 
section 401(d)(5)), Federal Pell Grants awarded to eligible 
students under subsection (a) shall not count toward the 
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12-semester eligibility period for Federal Pell Grants de-
scribed under section 401(d)(5). 
‘‘(c) AMOUNT OF PELL GRANT.—Notwithstanding 
paragraphs (3) and (5) of section 401(b) and section 472, 
the amount of the Federal Pell Grant received under sub-
section (a) shall not exceed the cost of tuition, fees (ex-
cluding fees associated with Advanced Placement, Inter-
national Baccalaureate, and similar examinations), books, 
and supplies. 
‘‘(d) APPLICABILITY.—The Secretary shall continue 
awarding Federal Pell Grants to students pursuant to this 
section in a State whose grant under this subpart has ex-
pired based upon the eligible entity’s continued compliance 
with the requirements of this subpart as determined by 
the Secretary. 
‘‘SEC. 416F. EVALUATION. 
‘‘The Secretary, in partnership with the Director of 
the Institute of Education Sciences, shall contract with a 
third party to conduct an independent evaluation not later 
than September 30, 2028, and preceded by interim re-
ports, of the policies and services provided under this sub-
part, including at a minimum, the impact of such policies 
and services on outcomes for all students and subgroups 
of students with regard to each of the following: 
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‘‘(1) Enrollment in and completion of advanced 
coursework during high school, including the number 
of courses students take and the number of credits 
students earn. 
‘‘(2) Postsecondary enrollment, remediation, 
first-year credit attainment, and persistence. 
‘‘(3) The rate at which credits transfer from 
advanced coursework in high school, including dual 
or concurrent enrollment programs, and public insti-
tutions of higher education and between such insti-
tutions. 
‘‘(4) Postsecondary degree attainment, includ-
ing completion of an associate’s degree, bacca-
laureate degree, or recognized postsecondary creden-
tial, and the time it takes students to earn a degree. 
‘‘(5) The cost of a postsecondary degree, by de-
gree type, for participating students in an early col-
lege fast track pathway or an early high school grad-
uation fast track pathway. 
‘‘SEC. 416G. SUPPLEMENT, NOT SUPPLANT. 
‘‘Funds made available under this subpart shall be 
used to supplement, and not supplant, non-Federal funds 
that would otherwise be used for activities authorized 
under this subpart. 
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‘‘SEC. 416H. MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT. 
‘‘(a) MAINTENANCE
OF
EFFORT
REQUIRED.—A 
State that receives assistance under this subpart shall pro-
vide for institutions of higher education and local edu-
cational agencies in such State for any academic year be-
ginning on or after July 1, 2026, an amount that is equal 
to or greater than the average amount provided for ad-
vanced coursework by such State to such institutions of 
higher education and local educational agencies for ad-
vanced coursework during the 2 most recent preceding 
academic years for which satisfactory data are available. 
‘‘(b) ADJUSTMENTS
FOR
BIENNIAL
APPROPRIA-
TIONS.—The Secretary shall take into consideration any 
adjustments to the calculations under subsection (a) that 
may be required to accurately reflect funding levels in 
States with biennial appropriation cycles. 
‘‘(c) WAIVER.—The Secretary may waive the require-
ments of subsection (a) for not more than 2 consecutive 
years, if the Secretary determines that such a waiver 
would be equitable due to exceptional or uncontrollable cir-
cumstances, such as a natural disaster or a precipitous 
and unforeseen decline in the financial resources of a 
State or State educational agency, as appropriate. 
‘‘(d) VIOLATION OF MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT.— 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary 
shall withhold from any State that violates subsection (a) 
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