New information from the Iowa Department of Education shows Iowa high school students are getting in more college class credit than their counterparts in other states. Education Department program consultant, Eric St. Clair, says joint enrollment in high school and college courses set a new record for the state at 44-thousand in 2015.

St. Clair says the state’s decision to help schools pay for the courses is a big reason behind the increase.

St. Clair says while the students get college credit, he says it also helps the school districts and the state as a whole.