; and (ii) not later than three years after the date on which the State first receives a grant under this subpart, certify to the Secretary that such alignment has been achieved. (B) Failure to certify If a State does not provide the certification required under subparagraph (A) by the date specified in such subparagraph, the State shall submit to the Secretary, at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may require— (i) a written explanation for the delay in making the certification; and (ii) a plan that will enable the State to make the certification by not later than 5 years after the date on which the State first received a grant under this subpart. (2) Transfer pathways (A) In general The State shall— (i) submit a plan, developed in collaboration with faculty from institutions of higher education in the State, to improve transfer pathways between institutions of higher education in the State, including by ensuring that associate degrees awarded by public institutions in the State are fully transferable to, and credited as, the first 2 years of related baccalaureate programs at public institutions of higher education in such State; and (ii) not later than 3 years after the date on which the State first receives a grant under this subpart, certify to the Secretary that an associate degree in an academic major in the arts or sciences that is awarded by a public institution of higher education in the State on or after the date that is not later than 3 years after the date on which the State first receives a grant under this subpart shall be fully transferrable to, and credited as, the first 2 years of a related baccalaureate program at a public institution of higher education in such State. (B) Failure to certify If a State does not provide the certification required under subparagraph (A) by the date specified in such subparagraph, the State shall submit to the Secretary, at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may require— (i) a written explanation for the delay in making the certification