Course sharing across the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education is one step closer to becoming reality.

It’s a program that will make education easier for college students, particularly those who are attending smaller, rural state colleges in the PASSHE system. Many of the students within the PASSHE system opt to attend the school in or near their hometown, which can limit their studies depending on the strengths and individual course offerings of their respective schools. For some students, the availability of more classes can make the difference of whether or not they choose to attend college at all.

Course sharing might not be close to reality were it not for a $536,000 grant that will support the training for 165 faculty members to develop the required skills to implement course sharing. The newly trained faculty will join more than 500 other teachers who have already completed the training to improve academic outcomes for students both online and in-person. The new program requires a uniform, shared platform for managing classes, bills and financial aid, which has already been rolled out to some of the schools.

Pennsylvania is on the right track when it comes to making its state college system more affordable and accessible. That’s important for families who are paying more for everything under the sun these days. Offering students the courses they need without having to transfer to another college, or graduate from one state college to then have to take courses at another college, makes students’ lives easier and saves them and their families money.

What’s happening in Pennsylvania needs to happen in state college systems throughout the country – particularly in areas that have small community colleges that have struggled with decreasing enrollment in the recent past. Give the state a B for its work so far. The state can earn an A if its course-sharing system implements the system in a way that is actually used by students.