This is a hearing of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, and it is focused on, "Effective Strategies for Accelerated Learning." This phrase "accelerated learning," has been used to refer to a variety of issues in education. In the context of this hearing, the Committee is referring to different approaches that allow students to access higher education coursework before they get to college. These approaches include exam-based approaches such as the Advanced Placement courses; dual credit or concurrent enrollment courses; Early College High Schools, what has been referred to as middle college high schools. There are some important differences across these approaches, and one of the Committee's purposes is to try to understand those differences, and which of these approaches makes the most sense. Following opening statements by Honorable Jeff Bingaman (U.S. Senator from the State of New Mexico), Honorable Al Franken (U.S. Senator from the State of Minnesota), and Honorable Michael F. Bennet (U.S. Senator from the State of Colorado), the following provide prepared witness statements: (1) Thomas W. Rudin, Senior Vice President, The College Board, Washington, DC; (2) Carolyn Bacon Dickson, Executive Director, O'Donnell Foundation, The Texas AP Incentive Program, Dallas, Texas; (3) Peter Winograd, Director, University of New Mexico Center for Policy Research, Albuquerque, New Mexico; (4) Marybeth Schubert, Executive Director, New Mexico Advanced Programs Initiative, Santa Fe, New Mexico; and (5) Joel Vargas, Vice President, Jobs for the Future, Boston, Massachusetts.