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Tom Reed continued the push for affordable and accessible higher education with the introduction of new legislation which would make it easier for students to obtain college credit before graduating from high school.

"We care about making higher education affordable for everyone," said Reed. "This is one way to reduce college costs and I'm proud to be part of it."

The bipartisan bill creates a grant program to provide additional opportunities for colleges and universities to develop and expand dual enrollment programs. Grant funding can be used for the program itself, as well as professional development for dual enrollment teachers. Dual and concurrent enrollment programs allow high school students to save on the cost of college by acquiring college credits before entering college full-time.

"I worked my way through college and understand the burden of student loan debt," said Reed. "As college costs continue to climb we have to find ways to stand with hardworking students. It's unfair that intelligent kids are denied an education because of cost, and that is why it is critical that we work together to make college more affordable."

Reed was joined by Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO), and Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Gary Peters (D-MI), to sponsor the The Making Education Affordable and Accessible Act (MEAA).

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) dual enrollment students earn 36 college credits on average, and 30% of early college students earn an associate's degree.
 
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