These programs grew from an education model that has spread in the past decade to 150,000 students in almost 300 schools in 12 states, called P-TECH, for Pathways in Technology Early College High School. Overall, 13 percent of California community college students get their associate degree in two years, while in New York state, poor and minority P-TECH students graduate from college at a rate four times higher than their peers. In California’s version of the program, students earn up to 15 community college credits a term, and studies have shown that once community college students have 30 credits, they are highly likely to complete their degrees.